T HE MY T H O LO G Y O F ALL RAC ES

VO LUME I

G REEK AN D
 VO LUME I . Gree k a nd Roma n
WmLLur Sn En w o o n Fo x P h D , Pi r n ce t o n Uni versity .

VO LUME I I . Teuto n ic
m x . 0m m , Ph D .
, Um v e rsi t y o f Co p e nha g en .

VOLUME III Celtic , S la vic

CA O JOH
.

A hrIA C CULLOCB D D udg e o f lla n Sc o t la n d B A

P
N N N .
, .
, , .

JAN Mi m P h D Bo h e mm n Un ive rsnt y

,
ra gue ,
.

V OLUME I V Fin no Ugr ic S iber ia n -

H OLMB RG Ph D U w ity f Fx l d H l i g f
.
,

UNO E . .
, n e rs o n an , e sn o rs.

V OLUME V S em i tic
THO MP S O N M A
.

R Gu nm an
. .
, . .
, F RG S .
, Ox o rd f .

VOLUME V I I n dia n , I r a n i a n
.

A BE RR AL K x
IED E E rn D C Edm b urg h Un ive rsxty L
ALBER T C
. .
,

J . ARN OY , P h D Um ve rsxty o f Lo uv a m .
, .

VOLUME VII . Ar m en i a n Af r ica n ,

MARDI ROS AN ANII I AN , BDK dy S h l en n e c oo of Mi ss o ns,i Ha rt

f d C
.
,

ut o n n ec t x

OR
or c

t u b L
.

D oc
,

GE GE Fo um r. e F hI
r e e t t res, re n c nst xt ut e o f Omen t a l
A h l gy C i
rc aeo o . a ro .

V OLUME VIII . Chi n ese , Jap a nese

U HATTO RI Li To k yo tt D U n iv e rs it y of

E h P
.

d
.
, , .

(Ja p a ne se xc a n g e rof esso r at Ha rva r Un i versz ty , 1 9 15— 1 9 1 6 )

MAS ABAR U A
N E S AK I Lnt t D , Um ve rsnt y o f T o k yo
E h P Ha rva rd Un we rsrty
. .
,

(Ja p a nese xc a n g e f
ro esso r at , 1 9 1 3—1 9 1 5 )

VO LUME Di Ocea n ic
R OLA B
.

ND o nn e r: D D( ON Pb D , . H a rv a r d Unive rsit y .

V OLUME X Ame r ic a n (N or th of Mexic o )

HA R TL BO RE AL A R P h D U i
.

EY ty f N b EX ND E , n versx o e rask a .

V OLUME X I Amer ica n (La ti n ) .

HAR TL EY Bunk AL xA ER P h D Um ty f N b E ND , ve rsn o e rask a .

V O LUME X II Egypt Fa r East .

,

W MAX MULLER Pb D U w uty f P yl ia

S m Gu ms) G O R
n c rs o e nns va n
So on K C I E L d
. .
,

E GE , . . on on.

VO LUME X III I ndex .

 P LA T E I
A P H RO D I T E THE MO T H E R
O n Ap h ro dit e s l e ft a rm o ri g i n ally r e s t e d a n i n fa nt
’

t h e fi n g e rs o f w h o se littl e h a n d m ay s ti ll b e se e n o n t h e

dra p e ry o f it s m o t h e r s b o s o m T h e g o dde ss is l o o k
’
.

in g s t rai gh t b e fo re h e r n o t ho w e v e r wit h h e r vi s i o n
, , ,

c o n c e n t rat e d o n a de fi n it e O bj e c t b ut rat h e r ab s t ra c t
,

e dl a s if s e re n e ly ro ud o f h e r m o t h e r ho o d S h e
y, p .

se e m s t o r e p r e s e n t h e r e t h at s e c ial de v e l o m e n t O f
p p
t h e e a rt h go dde ss w h o ty p i fi e d t h e k i n dly f o st e r i n g ,

c a re o f t h e s o il ,
a n d r e m i n ds o n e O f c e rtai n Asiati c

i m age s o f t he divi n e m o t h e r an d c hil d F r o m a .

m a r bl e stat ue O f t h e f o urt h o r t h i rd c e n t ury B C . .

,

fo un d o n t h e G re e k m ai n la nd a n d n o w in t h e Ro yal
-

O n ta ri o Mus e um o f Arc ha e o l o gy T o ro n t o (p b ot a ,

g r ap b ) . Se e pp . 1 96 ff .
T HE MYT HO LO G Y
O F AL L RAC E S
I N THI R TEEN V OL UM ES

LO U I S H E R B E RT G RA Y ,
A . M .
, PH D . .
,
E D IT O R
G EO RG E FO O T MO O RE A M
, . .
, D D
. .
, LL D
. .
, CONS UL TI G ED IT R
N O

G REEK AN D RO MAN
BY
V

W I L L I A M S H E RW O O D F O X ,
A . M .
,
PH D . .

ASS I S T AN T PRO FESS O R O F C LASS I C S

P RI N CET O N UN I V ERS IT Y

V O L U ME I

BO S T O N
MA RS HA L L JO N ES C O MPA N Y
M D C C CC X VI
 AS I OB
'‘
LDNOX ‘
AND
I ATI ONS
.

I T L DEN FOUND
B 1938 L

C O P Y R I G HT ,
1 9 16

BY MA R S HA LL JO N E S CO MP A N Y

En t d
e re at S t ti
a
’
o n e rs H a ll ,
Lo n d on

All r ig hts r eserve d

Pr inte d J un e ,
19 16

P R IN TE D IN T HE TA T S
S E OF A ME R I CA BY THE UN IV E R S ITY PRES S
CA MB R I G D E, MAS S A CH US ETTS

BO UND BY T HE BO S TO N I I G
BOO K B ND N CO MP A NY
 TO T HE MEMO RY
OF

H A RRY L A N G F O R D W I L S O N

S C H O LA R T EA C H E R F RI EN D
 C O N S ULT IN G E D I T O R S P R E FA C E
’

H E RE a re many good boo ks o n t h e mythology O f pa r

t ic ul a r peo p les or ra ces a ncient a n d modern a nd mu c h
, ,

materi a l access ible i n boo ks O f travel a nd works o n eth nology

a nd religion ; for cl a ssi c al a nti qu ity excellent dictiona ries O f
mythology exi st Th ere are a lso boo ks O f na rrowe r or wi de r
.

range on comp arative mythology besid es m any i n which

,

myth a nd cu stom h ave bee n p ressed i nto th e service of t h eories

O f society civilization a nd religion o r a re a d duced for th e
, , ,

i llu stration O f a rt a nd a rch aeology B u t a com p rehensive

.

collection b y competent sc h ol a rs O f myt h s fro m al l qu arters

O f the ea rth a nd a ll ages h a s not h ith erto been attem p ted ;
for seve ral i mportant p a rts O f th e field n O s ati sfactory works
,

exist i n E nglis h w h ile i n some there i s none i n a ny l angu age

, .

On the va lu e O f a n u nderta king li ke th e Mytho l ogy of All

Ra ces t h erefore no words need be s p e nt
, ,
.

Th e i ntrinsic interest O f the subj ect i s very great ; for b ette r

t h an almost a nythi ng el se myt h s revea l men s fi rst notion s ’

abou t thei r worl d a nd th e powers at work i n it a nd th e rel a ,

tions between men a nd those p owers Th ey S how wh at th i ngs

.

i n t h ei r su rrou ndi ngs ea rly engaged men s attention ; w h a t

’

t h ings seemed to t h e m to nee d exp la nation ; a nd h ow they

expl ai ned them .

For a myth i s commonly a n expla nation O f someth i ng i n ,

the form O f a story — w h at h a p p ened once u pon a time or ,

wh at re p eats itself from d ay to d ay a n d i n n atu r a l myth s ,

a s di stinct from th e i nvented myth s O f p h iloso p hers a nd p oets ,

th e story i s not th e a rtifici a l vestu re O f a n i dea bu t its s p on

t a n e o us ex p ression not a fiction b ut a self evi dent fact
,
-
T he.

student O f th e mi nd O f ma n i n its u nifo rmity a n d its va ri a

 CO N S ULT I N G E D I TO R S P RE FA CE
’
viii
tion s therefore fi n ds i n m y tho l og y a great fu nd O f i nstru ctive
m a teri a l A com p rehens ive co l l ection l i ke the p res ent len ds
.

itse l f a l so to com p a r ative stu dy O f s ing l e myth s or sy stems O f

m y th among different a n d wi de l y remote p eo p les and th i s ,

u se O f the volu mes will be facilitated b y a su itable an a lytic a l

i n dex .

It i s one O f the merits O f th i s collection th at it i s made for

its own sa ke with no theor y to mai nta i n o r illu strate Th e
, .

contributors h a ve been given free h a n d to trea t th ei r subj ects

b y su ch metho ds a s m a y be best ad a p ted to th e natu re O f the
sou r ces a n d th e p ecu l i a rities O f th e mytholog y itself withou t ,

a ny attem p t to im p ose u p on eith er the materi a l or t h e writers

a schematic p l a n .

Th e n a mes O f th e contributors a re a su fficient gu a ra ntee O f

th e thorough nes s a nd tru stworth ines s O f th ei r work wh ile the ,

gener a l e ditor i s h imse l f a schola r O f wide a tt a inments i n th is

fi e l d T h e volumes wi l l be a m p ly illu strated not for th e sa ke
.
,

O f ma king p ictu re books but for th e legitimate p u r p oses O f

,

i l l u str a tion a featu re wh ich will add mu ch to th e u seful

—

nes s a s we l l a s to th e attractivenes s O f the series T a ken all i n .

a l l therefore the Mytholo gy of All Ra ces may safel y b e p ro

, ,

n o un c e d one O f th e most important enter ri ses O f t h i s age O f

p
c o O p erati v e scho l a rsh i p
-
.

G EORG E FOOT MOORE .

HA R A R U I R IT
V D N VE S Y

M h a rc19 6 2 0, 1 .
 E D IT O R S P R E FA C E
’

HE t h eme Of mythology i s O f p erenni a l i nterest a nd , ,

more th a n th i s it p ossesses a va lu e th at i s ver y real I t

,
.

i s a document a nd a record existing not merel y i n th e d im

—

’
p a st b u t i n the livi ng p resent
,
O f ma n s thou ght
—
Of hi s ,

cea seles s e ndeavou r to attai n th at ve ry real h a p p i nes s wh ich ,

“
a s Ve rgil tells us a rises from knowle dge O f th e c au ses O f
,

th ings . E ven i n h i s most p rimitive st a ges O f d evelo p ment

ma n find s h i mself dwelli ng i n a world filled wi th p henomen a
th a t to h i m a re strange someti me s friendly O ften hos ti le
, ,
.

Why a re these th ings S O ? Rightly m a nkin d p erceives th at a

phenomenon i s not a T h i ng i n I tself a n Ab solu te b ut th at it
, ,

i s a n effect th e re sult of a cau se N O W the immed i ate cau s e

,
.
,

may O ften be fou nd ; but then I t W l ll be seen th at th i s c au s e i s

itself only a resu lt O f a n a nterior c au se ; a n d 8 0 ste p by step , ,

th e searc h for u lti mate Cau se p roceed s T hu s myt h ology i s

.

a very rea l p h a se —
p erh a p s the most i m p orta nt p ri mitive
phase O f th at ete rna l qu est O f Truth wh ich ever d rives u s
—

on thou gh we know th at i n its fu ll b eau ty it ma y neve r b e

,

revealed to mortal eye nor hea rd by ea r O f ma n th at qu est

more p reciou s th a n meat o r rai ment th at qu est wh ic h we
—

may not ab a ndo n if we will sti ll b e men .

M y thology i s not th en a th i ng O f mere ac ademic i ntere st ;

, ,

its value i s real real to you a n d to me I t i s th e h i story O f

.

th e thou ght O f ea rly man an d O f p ri mi tive m a n tod ay I n i t

,
.

we ma y fin d mu ch to tell u s how h e lived a n d how h e h a d ,

lived i n the ages O f whi ch h i s myth s recou nt As a ff ord ing u s .

materi al s fo r a h is tory O f civilization mytholog y i s O f in e st im

ab le valu e We know now that h i story i s some t h ing more th a n
.
x E D I TO R S ’
P RE FA CE

a matter O f d ates a nd events Ma g ma Ch a rta wa s signed by

.

King Joh n at Run n im e de i n Wh at O f it if th at b e a ll ? ,

The ex a ct wor ds O f the docu ment the pa rticula r mona rch w h o ,

signe d it th e p reci se s p ot t h e s p ecific date a re O f no wo rth

, ,

i n themselves Th e rea l h i stori ca l question is Wh a t were the

.
—

cau ses wh ic h led th e English B a rons at a certain p oi nt i n th e ,

d evelo p ment O f the B ri ti sh Nation to com p el the King to s a nc ,

tion a docu ment a b ridging the Royal p rerogatives ; a nd wh at

h ave been the consequences not merely to th e subsequ ent evo
,

l ut io n of the B ritis h Cons titu tion but to al l S tates a nd Colonies

,

thereby aff ected ? SO too we rea d mythology not only for

, , ,

its s p ecific statements it s legend s O f gods and O f heroes its ,

th eories O f th e world a nd its attem p ts to solve th e mystery O f

,

th e destiny O f ea ch a nd eve ry i ndividu al —

b u t also with a ,

wid er p u rview for the light wh ic h it s h ed s u p on the i nfancy

,

a nd the ch ild hoo d O th e race to w h ich e

f w —
you who rea d
a n d I who write belong .

S cience ; ha s mythology augh t to do wit h t h at ? As su redly ,

yes Mythology i s s cience i n its i nfa ncy Does t h e geologis t

. .

s ee k to determine how the ea rth ca me i nto bei ng how the ,

mou ntai ns a nd the la kes were formed ; does the as tronome r

essay to know th e sta rs a nd thei r n atu res ; do the zoologist a nd
the bota nist endeavou r to ex p lai n why a nimal s a nd trees a re
a s they a re the ma ke r O f m y th does even the sa me Th e
—
.

s cientist today i s the lineal des cenda nt O f the myth ma ker O f -

O lden d ays T O sa y t h i s i s to honou r both a li ke

. both with ,

all the ligh t a t t h ei r command h ave soug h t and eve r s ee k

, , ,

the Truth The hypotheses O f the myths do the y d i ffer i n

.
,

p ri nci p le from the hy p otheses O f s cience ? We th i n k not .

Th ere i s no rea l sc ientist who does not know th at the h y p otheses

with wh ich he needs mu s t work a nd wh ich seem thu s fa r in
f a llible i n p rovi ding ex p l anations for a ll p henomena i n h i s field
m a y some d ay be mod ified or even u tte rl y destroyed b y new
d iscoveries The Ptolema ic T h eor y i s gone the Atomic Theory
.
,

i s q uestioned B u t no s a ne m a n will for th at reason condemn

.
 E D I TO R S’
P RE FA CE xi
h ypoth eses i n to to neit h er will h e d es p ise those w h o i n thei r
, ,

d ay h eld h y p otheses th en d eemed i rrefu table

,
.

Th e connexion O f myt h ology with re l igion i s O bviou s yet a ,

word O f c aution is needed h ere M y thology i s not sy n o n y

.

mou s with religion b u t only a p a rt O f i t Religio n cons i sts

,
.

O f at lea st t h ree p a rts th e a ttitu de O f sou l wh i c h i s religion,

p a r e x ce lle n ce ; th e ou twa rd a c t O f worshi p wh ich is ritu a l

, ;
a nd t h e sc ientific ex p lan ation wh ic h ,
i n th e very h ighes t a nd
nobles t sense O f the term i s myth ; a nd thes e th ree wh ich —

we may ca ll the attitu de O f sou l body a nd mi n d , ,go to

—

geth er to m a ke religion Th rou ghou t ou r stu dy O f mythology

.

we mu s t b ea r cons tantly i n mi nd th at we a re dealing wit h

only one featu re O f religion — i ts c au sa l aspect We mus t .

not ta ke th e p a rt for th e whole else we s h all be one s i ded a nd

,
-

u nj u s t i n ou r a p preci ation O f religion a s a whole .

One atti tu de O f mi nd i s ab solutely essenti a l i n readi ng m y

t h o lo gy symp at h y a nd a lmost a s importa nt a requ i site
i s th at w h ile read i ng i t it s p remis ses mu st b e gra nted
, , .

I f we app roac h mythology with th e p reconce p tion th at i t i s

fals e o r nonsens ical or trivi al i t will be bu t wa ste O f ti me to
,

read it ; i ndeed i t will lie better never to h ave rea d it for rea d ,

i ng i n su ch a sp i rit will only embitte r It i s perh ap s not .

, ,

su ffi c iently recognized h ow im p o rta nt a factor one s attitu de ’

O f symp athy is not merely i n regard to religion o r p sychology

,
“ ”
or p h iloso p hy or a ny ot h er menta l a nd mora l science but
, ,
“ ”
a lso towa rd th e exact sciences I f for exa m p le I m a ke up
.
, ,

my mi nd th at S p ectra l a n alysi s i s u tte rly im p ossible th e d i s ,

c o v e ry O f a new element i n th e gaseou s ema nation O f a d i sta nt

pl anet by su ch a n alysis wi ll be to me noth ing b u t folly I f .

,

again I rej ect th e m ath ematic a l conce p t of i nfinity wh ic h

, ,

I h ave never seen a nd wh ic h can not be weighed or measu red

, ,

then I Sh al l O f cou rse d eny th at p a rallel li nes meet i n i nfinit y ;

you ca nnot give me the p reci se location O f i nfi nity a nd b e , ,

sides all, p a rallel li nes th a t I h ave eve r see n a re equ idista nt a t

all p oints fro m ea ch oth er Th i s i s a r educt io a cl a bsur dum O f
.
 E D IT O R S ’
P RE FA CE

a n atti tu de wh ich i s fa r too common i n rega rd to mytho l og y

a n d reli g ion . T hi s doe s not O f cou rse mea n th at we mu st
, ,

i m p l icit l y believe a l l th a t we read ; but i t does mea n th at we

Shou l d a p p roach with ki ndl y h ea rts With reverence th en .
, ,

a nd with l ove we ta ke up myth s We may s mile a t ti mes at .

, ,

their n a i oe te; but we Sh all never s neer at them Unb l u sh ing .

,

sometimes we sh al l fi n d them a nd c ru el ; b ut i t i s th e un
, ,

mo dest y a nd the cruelt y O f th e ch ild Myth s ma y be mora l .

or um—mora l ; they a re not i mmoral a nd only a morbi d mi nd ,

wi l l se e u ncleannes s i n th em .

N O attem p t h as h itherto been made to collect the myth s

O f th e enti re hu ma n r a ce i nto a si ngle se ries Y et thi s i s not .

S O strange a s it migh t a p p ear at fi rst S c attered i n ma ny .

volu mes both O ld and new and i n p e rio dic a ls O f m a n y ki n ds

,

a n d la ngu ages it i s a n i m p os sib le t a s k for one ma n to know

,

a l l m y th s or to master more th a n one or two s p ecific mythol

,

ogie s or a few s p eci al th emes i n m y tholog y a s a whole I t i s .

qu ite tru e th at cou nt l es s volu me s h ave bee n wri tten on th e

m y th s O f i n divi du al p eo p le s and on s p eci a l m yt hi c themes ,

b ut thei r a ssemblage i nto a si ngle u nit h a s not t h u s fa r been

a ccom p l i shed T h i s i s the pu rpo se O f the p resent serie s O f the
.

lli ytho l o gy of All Ra ces a nd thi s the reason for its bei ng
, .

He rei n i t d i ff ers from all othe r collection s O f mythologie s i n

th a t the mytholog y O f each race i s not me rely give n a s p eci a l
vo l u me o r h alf volu me O f its own ; but si nce the series i s a n
-
,

o r ganic entity not a ch a nce collection O f monogra p h s

—

the mytho l og y O f a n i nd ivi du al r a ce i s see n to form a cohe rent

p a rt O f m yt hology Moreove r the mythology O f one p eopl e
.
,

wi l l not i nfrequently be fou nd to ca st ligh t u p on p roblems con

n e c t e d with the myth ic s y stem O f qu ite a nothe r peo p le wh ence ,

a n a ccu r a te a n d a thorough u nde rstandi ng O f a ny i ndividu a l

m y tho l og y wh a teve r dem a n ds a n a cqu ai nta nce with th e myth i c
s y stems O f m a nki n d a s a who l e On th e othe r h a n d by th u s
.
,

t a k ing a b ro a d su rve y a n d by consi de ring pri ma ri l y th e si m p le

,

f a cts—
a s p resented ch ie fl y by travelle rs miss iona ries a nd , ,
xiv E D I TO R S ’
P RE FA CE

8 0 th at we mu st give full consideration to th e non Homeri c -

m y th s a n d se e th at h ere too there i s the sa me u nderlying

, ,

p rimitive stratu m common to all th e race O f man Th is mod .

ern scientific treatment O f Cl assica l mythology h a s its i nitia l

English p resentation i n ou r series P erh a p s a t fi rst b lu sh
.
, ,

we sh a ll seem to lose much both h ere a n d elsewhere ; we may ,

p erch ance
,
be d i s a p p ointe d when we fi n d t h at th e vau nted
wisdom O f E gy p tia ns a n d O f D ru id s wa s not so very p rofou nd ;
bu t if we mu st p art with some fa lse though p rett y ideas , , ,

we sh all fi nd am p le com p ensation i n knowing Egy p tians a nd

D ru i ds a s they were After a ll wh ich do we p refer
.
,
a fa ncifu l
pictu re O f ou r friend or h is actu al p ortrait ?
,

M y t h ology may be written i n either of two ways p res

e n t a t io n a l or comparative . I n the former the myth s O f eac h
peo p le a re p resented sepa rately ; i n the l atter some s p eci a l
theme — the deluge legend t h e a fterworld or the li ke
-
, ,

i s considered a s it a p p ea rs i n myth th roughou t the world .

The u tmost c are h a s bee n ta ke n i n the choice O f collabora

tors a nd it i s believed th at to s cholars thei r n a mes will be i n
,

the mselves s uffi ci ent wa rrant t h at t h e volu mes will poss ess
d i stinct s cientific va lue Th e a mple b ibliogra p h ies a nd ref
.

c renees a p p ended to th e perti nent sections will en h a nce th e

tech nic al worth O f ou r series I n ad dition we p ro p ose to give
.
,

i n ou r i n dex volu me not merely the names a nd s ubj ects d i s

cu sse d in the va riou s volumes bu t a lso a top ica l a rra ngement
,

by wh ich th e va ria nt myt h s a nd myth ic th emes O f th e d i ff er

ent p eo p les u pon a given subj ect may b e fou nd read ily a n d
a ccu rately .

T h e selection O f i l l u stration s will it i s hoped meet wit h

, ,

general f a vou r I t wou ld h ave been a very easy matter to

.

p resent f a nc y p ictu res or to re p roduce p ai ntings O f great

mode rn a rti sts I nste a d O f that we h ave deeme d i t mo re i n
.
,

h a rmony with th e p u r p ose O f th e se ries to choose for eac h

section p ictu res O f th e deities o r O f m y th ic i nci dents a s de lin
e a t e d by the p eo p le who themse l ves believed i n those deities
 E D I TO R S ’
P RE FA CE xv

Or i nci dents Th is wil l h ave th e added a dva ntage O f extend ing

.

some knowle dge O f the a rt O f early ti mes a nd th e more p ri m

it iv e p eo p les a s wel l a s O f s uc h h igh ly develo p ed a rts a s those
,

O f the Orient Here th e materia l necess arily ru n s u nevenly

. .

For some mythologies a s G ree k I n di a n a n d Americ a n

—
, ,

there i s tru ly a n e m b a r r a s cl e r ichesses; for oth ers notably

Celtic S l avic a nd Armeni a n
, ,
wh ere th e myth i c systems
—

h a ve v a n ished leavi ng s ca rcely a trace O f a rtistry — whether

bec au se th ey neve r d evelo p e d i t i n h igh measu re or b ecau se ,

th ei r p aga n a rt wa s l ater destroyed th e a rtistic rema ins a re

lamentab ly meagre .

I n th e p la n a n a rra ngement O f eac h volu me a n d s ection

%
fu ll latitu de h a s been given to its au thor I t i s O bviou sly im .

p os sib le to b u ild a S i ngle Proc ru stea n b ed i nto wh ich a ny a n d

“
every mythology mu st b e forced to fit ; su ch consistency
wou ld be mere p ed a ntry a nd by its false implications wou ld
, , ,

defeat its own end s .

I t will pe r h a p s be wel l to stres s t h e fact th at there will b e

not h ing i n ou r series th at c a n b e i n Roma n Catholic p h ra se , ,
“ ”
O ff ens ive to p iou s ea rs I n thi s res p ect th e editor i s h a p py
.
,

to s ay his d utie s O f censor h ave b een p ra cti cally a s inecu re

,
.

I n conclus ion a b rief ou tli ne O f ou r series may a p p rop riately

,

b e given .

The fi rs t volu me i s on G reek and Roma n Mythology by Pro ,

fe sso r W Sh erwood Fox O f P rinceton Un ive rs ity a nd i s writte n

.
, ,

from th e p oi nt O f V iew to wh ich we h ave al ready referred .

Th e secon d volu me d evoted to Teutonic Mythology i s by

, ,

D r Axel G l r ik O f th e University O f Copenh agen a n d au thor O f

.
, ,
“
D a n m a r lcs h e ltedig tn i n g ( T h e Ep i c Poetry O f
“
K i la er n e ti l S a leses o la h isto r i e ( S ou rces for Anc ient S axon
’ ’

an d N o r disk a a n sdl i o i o ik i n g eti a 0g ti cl l ig m id ’

“
dela lder ( No rs e I ntellectu a l Life i n th e Vi kin g P eriod an d
the E a rly Mid dle Teutoni c Mythology i s almos t
wholl y th at O f the Old I cel andic S aga s a nd withou t a knowl ,
’
edge O i i t Wagner s N i b el un g en r i n g for exam p le i s qu ite u nin , ,
xvi E D IT O R S ’
P RE FA CE

t e llig ib l e .Cu riou sl y enough there i s little T eutonic m y thology

,

(exce p t for su r v iv a l s i n p o p u l a r cu stoms a n d be l iefs ) ou tsi de of

I cel a n d ; bu t i n tha t i slan d a rich literatu re was com p osed a n d ,

the m y tholog y of the a ncient Teutons i s one of the most fa sci

n ati ng tha t h a s ever been evol v e d .

T h e thi r d volu me i s divi de d between Celtic a nd S lavic .

T h e fi rs t p a rt i s from the p e n O f C a non Joh n A Ma c Cul lo c h .

,

Rector of S t S a viou r s B ri dge O f A l la n S cotland a n d au thor of

’
.
, , ,

The Ch ildho o d of Fi cti o n Re l ig i o n of the An ci e n t Celts a n d othe r

, ,

s ta nd a rd works T h e vivid i magi nation a n d wa rm h ea rte dnes s

.
-

of th e modern I ris h the qu ic k im p etuos ity O f the Welsh the

, ,
“ ”
dou r fat a l is m of the S cotsma n a l l find ex p res sion i n thei r
,

ancient mytholog y We thin k at once of Ki ng Arthu r a nd the

.

Knights O f the Rou nd Tab le when we s p ea k O f Celti c m y thol

ogy bu t we a re only too d iml y awa re O f th e di re s truggles b e
,

tween the Fomoria ns a nd th e T ua t h a dé D a n a n n a n d we a re ,

a l l too p rone to forget the vas t m y tholog y O f th e p eo p les who

occu pied G a u l wh en Caes a r conquered i t a nd who still dwell ,

i n I rel an d W a les B rittany and muc h of S cot l a nd

, , ,
.

The S lav i c section i s written by P rofes sor J a n M ach al of ,

the Bohemi a n Universit y O f P rague a nd author of Bo ha tyr shy ,

“
e p os sl o o a n shy ( He roic Ep ic O f the i esl ooi sl ooa n she
S lavic etc N O work i n E nglish exi sts on the
.

mythology O f the S lavi c p eo p les ; yet i n a wa y they a re second

only to the Hi nd u s a s re p resenting th e O ldest mythologica l con
c e p t s of ou r own I n dO E u rope a n race - S l a vi c mythology also .

i ncludes the conce p ts of the B altic n a tion s the Lith u ania ns —

a n d ancient P ru ssi a ns ( who i t may be rema rke d were B alto

, ,

S lavs not G ermans ) Of a l l th e E u ro p ea n p eo p les the B a l to

,
.
,

S l avs we re the l a s t to be Ch risti a nized a n d to the downfa l l O f ,

th ei r p aga ni s m it retai ned a rem a rk a b l y p rimitive form bes ide ,

wh ich the G ree k o r the Teutonic seems well nig h d isti nctly -

mode m .

T h e fou rth volume i s devoted to th e Fin n O Ugr ic a n d S ibe -

ria n p eo p les a nd i ts au thor i s D r Un o Holmberg O f t h e

,
.
,

1— 1
 E D I TO R S ’
P RE FA CE xv i i

Univers ity Fi nla nd Helsi ngfors w h o h a s a l rea d y wri tten

Of , ,
“
P e r m a l a iste n n sho n to ( Religion of the Tsher e m is
“
si en usho n to ( Religion of the and La pp a la isten
“
n sho n to ( Religion O f th e Th e mention of th e Fin ns
a t once b ri ngs to mind the gre a t world e p ic of th e K a leva l a -
,

bu t th e Fi n ns a re a lso d is ta ntly related to the Hu nga ri an s a n d

th e ea rly Tu rks Mu ch h a s been written o n th e K a le va l a bu t
.
,

little on a n y other p ortions of Fi nni sh m y thology Th e S ibe .

ria n p ortion O f th e volu me d ea ling with the ve ry interesting

,
“ ”
a nd p rimitive th eme O f sh ama nism will be the fi rst s c h ola rly ,

p res entation of th e subj ect i n E ng l ish .

I n th e fifth volu me Ca p tai n R Ca m p bell Thomp son t h e .

,

a ut h or of The Rep o r ts of the Ma g i c i a n s a n d Astr o l o g er s of

N i n e veh an d Ba b yl o n , The D e vi ls and E vi l S p i r i ts f
o Ba bylo n i a ,
Ba b yl o n i a n Le tte r s, S e m i ti c Ma g ic,
a nd other works O f h igh ra n k ,

d iscu sses S emiti c Mythology B y th i s we sh a ll u nderstan d

.

the myt h ology of t h e a ncient As syri ans a n d B abyloni ans a nd

th e sca nty tra ces O f p rimitive Arab ia n religion b efore th e com
i ng of Mu h ammad Wh ile m any excellent treati ses o n th is sub
.

j e c t exi st we m
,
ay point ou t a new featu re the rendering for ,

the fi rst time O f pra ctica lly a ll th e Assy ro —B abyloni a n m y th s

,

i n t o English verse Moreover b y h i s re p eated vi sits to th e

.
,

E a st Capta i n Cam p bell T h om p son h a s su cceeded i n i nter

,

r e t in g a nu mber of mythologica l i dea s b y mode rn beliefs a nd

p
p henomen a We h ave afte r d ue cons ideration decided to omit
.
, ,

a n accou nt of Mu h a m mad ani sm s ince it h a s no mythology i n ,

t h e strict sense of the term .

Th e s ixth volu me i s composite d eali ng with the closel y ,

ki nd red rac es of I nd i a a nd P ersi a Th e I nd ia n Mytholog y i s .

written by P rofessor A B e r ried a le Keith of E dinbu rgh Un i

.
,

vers ity th e au thor of th e stand a rd Vedic I n dex of N a m es a n d

,

S ubj ects a n d editor a nd tran slator of th e Sci nhhci ya n a a nd Ai

ta r e ya Ar a nya lea s a nd O f the Ta i ttir i ya S a rnh i td Here we h ave .

the e arliest religiou s records of the I ndo E u ro p ea n race P ro - .

fe sso r Keith tra ces th e develo p ment of the I ndia n mytholog y

1— 2
xviii E D IT O R S ’
P RE FA CE

from th e Rigved a (abou t 1 500 E C ) to th e p resent da y If i n . .

th e Rigve da i tse l f we fi nd few m y th s they a p p ea r i n rich ,

abu n da nce i n th e l ater p eriods a n d th ey p osse s s a luxu ri ance ,

of fa ncy th at i s p ecu lia rl y Orienta l T h e secon d p ortion of .

thi s vo l ume by P rofessor A J Carnoy of th e Unive rsit y of

,
. .
,

Louvai n a n d a uthor of Le La ti n d Esp a g n e d a p r es les i n scr ip

’ ’
,

t io n s La S tyl isti q ue g r e cq ue a nd The Re l ig i o n of the Avesta

, , ,
“ ”
dea ls with th e mythology of th e so called fi re worshi p pers
- -
,

the followers of Zoroaster N O treatis e a t once sc hola r l y and

.

po p ul ar h a s yet a p p eared i n Engli sh on this t h eme wh ich ,

d raws it s sou rces not only from the a ncient Avesta b u t a lso ,

from one O f the great ep ic s O f t h e world the Boo le of K i n gs of ,

th e P ersian p oet Fi rd au si ,
.

The fi rst th i rd of the sevent h volu me by Profes sor Ma r diro s ,

An a n ik ia n O f the Kennedy S chool of Mi ssions Ha rtford

, , ,

treats of Armenia n myt h ology of w h ich p ra ctically nothi ng i s ,

known exce p t for a few works i n the Armenia n l angu age a nd

, ,

a cou p le of sho r t s p eci al monogra p h s i n Frenc h a nd German ,

alt h ou gh its myt h s a re O f p ecu li a r i nterest es peci ally i n rela ,

tion to I ra nia n myt hology .

T h e remai nder of the volu me i s from t h e pen of P rofessor

G eorge Fouc a rt h ead O f the Frenc h I ns titu te of Orienta l
,

Arc h aeology at Cai ro and aut h or O f La Métho de co m p a r a tive

,

da n s l hist o i r e des r el ig i o n s w h o will d iscu s s t h e extremely

’
,

p ri mitive mythology of the p agan Afric ans Here agai n no .

, ,

E ngl ish work exi sts wh ich considers th is subj ect a s a whole .

Th e eighth volu me i s d ivided equ ally b etween Ch ines e a nd

J a p a nes e mytholog y The fi rst p a rt written by Profes sor U
.
, .

Ha ttori of the I m p eri al Univers ity of Tokyo cons iders e s

, ,

e c i a lly th e mytholog y of Taoism for t h e B udd h is m of Ch in a

p ,

i s rea l l y I ndian wh ile Confuci ani s m i s a system of ethic s and

,

h as n o m y tholog y T h e second p ortion from t h e pen O f Pro

.
,

f e sso r Ma sa h a r u Anes a ki of the s ame u nivers ity a nd au thor

, ,

of Buddhist Ar t i n i ts Rel a tio n to Buddhist I de a ls treats p a rtie ,

ul a r ly of t h e cu riou sly p rimitive mythology of S hi ntoism .

 E D I TO R S ’
P RE FA C E xix
I n th e ni nth volu me P rofes sor Rola n d B u rrage D ixon O f ,

Harva rd Un ivers ity a n d au thor O f Ma idu Texts d i scu s ses

, , ,

for the fi rst ti me i n con nected form i n Englis h th e m y tholog y ,

of the Malayo P olynesia n a nd Au str a lia n peo p les Th e Au s

-
.

t r a lia n s a re O f p a rticu l a r i nterest a s bei ng a mong th e most

p ri mitive of a ll livi ng races a nd thei r myth s a re equ a lly ele

,

menta ry On th e other h a nd P olynes ia n mythology competes

.
,

i n rich nes s a n d p oetic ch arm with th e mytholog y of a ncient

G reec e itself a s i n the lege nd O f Ta nga loa one of the great
, ,

cos mi c god s or of P ele th e d read divi nity of the Hawaiia n

, ,

volc anoes ; whi le a mong the Ma l ays we find a cu riou s b lend ing
of aborigin al b eliefs a n d O f Hi ndu a nd Mu h a mmad an influ ences
a nd elements .

Two volu mes th e tenth and elevent h a re d evoted by P ro

, ,

f e sso r H artley B Alexa nder of th e Univers ity of Neb ras ka and

.
, ,

a uthor of P o etry a n d the I n di vidua l and O f nu merou s a rticles on

th e Americ a n I nd i an s i n the En cycl op a edi a of Re lig i o n a n d
Ethi cs to the mytholog y of th e America n I ndi a ns
,
Th e fi rst .

volu me treats of t h e I ndi a ns north of Mexico a nd deal s with ,

th e very va ried myt h ologica l systems of th e E s kimo the Algon ,

q u i a,
n s the P l ai ns I ndi a ns the P a cifi c Coast tribes a nd the I n
, ,

d ia n s O f th e S ou the rn S tates the P u eb loa ns e t c I n the s econd

, ,
.

p ortion on Lati n Americ a the h igh ly d eveloped religions

O f the a ncient Aztec s Centra l Ameri ca ns a nd P e ruvi ans will
, ,

b e fou nd to sta nd i n stri ki ng contra st to t h e extremel y p ri m

I t i v e myth s of the S outh America n I ndian s generally T he .

collection of the S out h Americ a n mythologies will be we shoul d ,

note th e fi rs t t h at h a s yet been written wit h a ny a p p roac h to

,

com p leteness .

The twelfth volu me agai n i s d ivided i nto two p a rts Th e .

first of t h es e deals with th e mythology of a ncient Egy p t and ,

h as bee n written by P rofessor W Max Mii ll e r O f th e Un i .

,

versity of P enns y lva nia a nd author O f Asi en un d Eur op a a nd

,

Egyp to lo gi ca l Resea r ches Th i s will p resent th e f a it h of th e

.

N ile La nd from th e poi nt of view O f th e most modern scholar

-
xx E D I TO R S
’
P RE FA CE

sh ip a nd wi l l go fa r towa rd di ssi p ating some ver y common

,

e rrors reg a r di ng th at system Th e remai nder O f the volu me

.
,

written b y S ir G eorge S cott formerly of th e B riti sh B u rmese

,

S ervice a n d e di tor of The Upp e r Bur m a Ga z e tteer d iscus ses

, ,

th e mytholog y of B u rma S iam a nd Annam with the sa me vivi d

, ,

ch arm th at ch a ra cterizes h i s volu me on The Bur m a n his Lif e ,

an d N o tio n s .

L OUI S H . G RAY .

Ap ril I O, 19 16 .
x xii AUT H O R S ’
P RE FA CE

delineation of th e divi nities a n order wh ich a p pealed to me,

a s the log ica l one even before I learned th at it was a dvocated

by G rup p e Doubtless the reader too will sh a re thi s view
.
, ,

when h e realizes t h at the descri p tions O f the gods conta ined

i n th e second part O f th e book a re i n rea lit y com p osite p o r
traits largel y made up of i ndividu a l ch a racteris tic s casu a l l y
revealed by the gods themselves a s th ey p lay th ei r parts on
th e stage of the loca l myth s .

Although fran kl y recognizing t h e i m p ossibility of being per

fe c t ly consis tent i n the matter of s p elli ng G ree k p ro p er name s
i n English I h ave not utterly des p aired of attai ni ng a certai n
,

me a su re O f u niformit y The Atti c orthogra p hy of th e great

.

d ra mati sts ha s been ado p ted a s the sta n dard a nd na mes h ave ,

been tra ns literated i nto E ngli sh according to the mech a nica l

method u su ally followed th e one exce p tion being th at ch a nd
,

not hh i s u se d as the equ ivalent of x Th e established En g .

lis h spelling however h as been retained i n p ersonal na mes

, ,

wh ich i n th e cou rse of centu ries h ave become so mu c h a p a rt

of th e E ngli sh l angu age th at a lteration O f thei r form wou ld
seem at th e s ame ti me to disgu ise th e p ersonalities for wh ic h
they st a nd (e g Ach illes A p ollo a nd not Ac hille us Apollon ) ;
. .
, , ,

a n d li kewise i n na mes of districts cities isla nds a nd bo dies , , ,

O f w a ter to wh ich frequ ent allu sion is sti l l made i n E nglis h

j ou rnalis m a nd literatu re (e g Th race Athens Cy p ru s a nd . .

, , ,

Aegean a nd not T h r a k e Athenai K yp ro s a nd Aig a ia n )

, , , , .

Those who a re a cqu ainted with the rema ins O f G reek a nd

Roma n art will recognize ma ny fa milia r su bj ects a mong th e
i l lustrations bu t at th e s a me ti me they will find a nu mber
,

wh ich h a ve seldom if eve r b e fo r e b e e n em p loyed i n a treatis e

'

, ,

on mytholog y Of th i s latter c la ss may be mentioned i n

.

p a rticula r th e re p roductions O f th e vase p a intings fou nd with i n -

recent ye a rs a t G ela a n d of the b ronzes a nd other O bj ects i n

,

Boston a nd New York a nd also th e p hotogravu re O f th e

,

A p h ro dite i n Toronto S u ffi cient new material of a high o rde r

.

is not yet a t h a n d to p ermit o ne enti rely to dis p ense with th e

 A UT H O R S ’
P RE FA CE xx i i i
O lder works of a rt wh ich h ave served to i llu mine the writings
O f th ree generations O f mythologists .

It wou l d be u ngraciou s of me to let p ass th is O p p o rtu nit y

O f p ublicly ac know l edging my i n deb ted nes s too great to com ,

pute to a la rge nu mber of schola rs whose writings I h ave

,

freel y consu lted and drawn u pon a s occa sion requ i red T O .

those who know th e re a l worth of L R F a rn e ll s Cults of the . .

’

Gr ee k S ta tes a nd Otto G r up p e s Gr i echische Mytho lo g ie un d

’

Rel ig i o n sg eschi chte a s p eci a l mention of th ese works as h aving

been of incalcu lab le hel p to me will not seem i nvidiou s I .

regret to sa y th at owi ng to th e b a ffl ing delays of wa r time th e

,
-
,
’
fi rst volu me of A B Cook s Z eus did not come i nto my h ands
. .

suffi ciently early for me to p rofit by it to a n extent of which

it i s tru ly worthy .

I n conclu sion I desi re to record my dee p sense O f gratitu de

,

to all those with whom I h ave been as soci ated in th is u n der

ta king ; to my colle a gues P rofessors E dwa rd Ca p p s and A C . .

Joh nson for timely suggestion s regardi ng th e p rob lems O f o r

g a n iz a t io n ; to a nother colleague P rofessor G W ,
E l derkin . .
,

for h is ex p ert advice rela tive to th e v a se p ai ntings ; to th e p ub -

l ish e rs for their qu ic k s y m p ath y with my ai ms a nd th ei r ,

g enerosity i n ma king it p ossible to p rovi d e th e myth s with

a dequ ate a nd a rti stic illu strations ; an d p rinci p a ll y to th e , ,

e ditor ln ch ief O f th i s se ries O f volu mes D r Lou is H G ray

- -
,
. .
,

whose wide learning clea r j u dgement a nd c andi d criticis m

, ,

h ave enrich ed th is book a n d whose u nfailing cou rtesy h as

,

g raced ou r mutu al relations with a h a pp y a nd i ns p iring i n

formality .

W SHERWOO D FOX . .

P RIN CE TON U I R S ITY

N VE ,

Ap i l 2 1 19 16
r , .
 PA G E
C O N S U LT I N G ED I T O R S P R E F A C E vii
’

ED I T O R S P R E F A C E
’

A U TH O R S P R E FA C E
’

I N T R O D U CT I O N T o T H E G R E E K MY TH S
S o u r c e s f o r t h e G re e k Myt hs

S o u r c e s fo r t he Ro m a n Myt hs
PA R T I .MY T H S O F TH E B E G I N N I N G
T H E HE R OE S
, ,
AN D
A FT E R W O RL D
C HA P T E R I MY T H S O F TH E B E G I N N I N G
. .

T h e C r e ati o n o f t he W o r l d
T h e Ré g i m e O f Ou r a n o s
T h e Ré g i m e o f K r o n o s
Y Est a b lish m e n t O f t h e Ré i m e O f Z eus
g ; t he T i t a ns
> ! T y p h o n (o r T y p h o e us ) ; the G i a n t s
T h e C r e ati o n O f Man
P r o m e t h e us .

P a n do r a
Or i g i n s o f C e rt ai n An i m al s a n d P l a n t s
Be g i n n i n g s o f C ivili z ati o n
T h e Ag e s O f t he W o r l d
T h e G r e at Fl o o d

C HA P T E R I I MY TH S O F T H E P E L O P O N N E S O S
.

I Ar k a di a :
P e l a sg o s
Ly k a o n
K alli st o
Ar k a s , Al c o s , Au g e
T h e P l a g ue at T eu th i s
x xv i CO N TE N T S
PA G E
II La k o n i a Me s se n e
an d

Le l ex a n d his D e sc e n da n t s
Hy a k in t h o s
T he Fa m ily o f P e r i e re s
T y n da re o s He l e n K a st o r
, , an d Po ly de u k e s
I da s a n d Ma rp e ss a
III Arg o s
I n a c h o s, IO
T he Fa m il i e s Of D a
s an d Aig y p t o s
na o

P r o it o s a n d h is D a u g h t e rs
Ak r isio s D a n a é an d Pe rseus
'

, ,

IV C o r i n th
T h e D ivi ne P a t ro ns O f C o r i n t h
S isy p h o s
G l au ko s
Be ll e ro p h o n
C HA P T E R I I I MY TH S O F TH E
. N O R TH E R N MA I N L A N D .

I Bo io t ia a n d Eub o ia
T h e Fi r st Inh ab ita n t s of Bo io t ia
A m p h i o n a n d Z e t ho s
K a dm o s
T h e D a u g h t e r s o f K a dm o s
Sem el e .

In o
Au t o n o e
Ag av e
T h e S o rro w s Of t he Ho u se o f La b da k o s; Oidip o us
T h e S o n s o f Oidip o us, a n d t he Sev e n a g ai n st T h e b e s
T h e Ep ig o n o i
Al k m a io n
I I Ai t o l i a
T he F o un di n g Of Ai t o l i a
Me le a g ro s a n d Atal a n t e
C HA P T E R IV MYTH S O F C R E T E AN D AT T I K E
.

I C re t e
E uro p e
Myt h s o f Mi n o s a n d h is So n s; Mi n o s
 CO N TE N T S

An dro g e o s
G l au ko s
Ka t r e us
D e u k al i o n
T h e C h a r a cte r an d Ach i e v e m ents Of Mi n o s
D a ida lo s
I I At t i k e :
K e k ro p s
Er ic h t ho n io s
Bo u t e s an d E r echtheus
T h e S o n s o f P a n di o n ; T h e W a r w i t h Mi no s
T h e D a u g h t e rs of Ke k ro p s
T h e D a ug h t e rs of P a n di o n
T h e D a u g h t e rs Of E r echtheus
K re o usa
P r o k r is
Ore it h y ia

C HA P T E R V . HE R A K L E S
T h e Bi r t h of He r a k l e s
C h il dh o o d an d Yo u t h of He r a k l e s
E a r ly Ma nho o d o f He r a k l e s
T h e Ma dn e ss o f He r a k l e s
T h e T w e lv e L ab o u r s o f He r a k l e s
Fi r s t Lab o u r
S e c o n d L ab o u r
T h i r d Lab o u r
F o u r t h Lab o u r
Fi f t h Lab o ur
S ixt h Lab o u r
S e v e n t h Lab o u r .

E i g h t h L ab o u
N i n t h Lab o u r
T e n t h L ab o u r
E l e v e n t h Lab o u r
T w e l ft h L ab o u r
T h e Lat e r Adv e n tu r es o f He r a k l e s
In Eub o ia
xxv i i i CO N TE N T S

I n Ly di a
At T ro y
In t he Pe l o p o n n e so s
I n Ai t o l i a an d t he Mo un tai n s .

T h e D e sc e n da n t s of He r a k l e s
C HA P T E R VI T H E S E U S
.

Bi r t h an d C h il dh o o d
T h e Lab o u r s o f T h e se us
Fi rst Lab o u r
S e c o n d Lab o u r
T h i rd Lab o u r
F o u r t h Lab o u r
Fi f t h Lab o u r
S ixt h Lab o u r
T h e se u s i n At h e n s
T h e se u s i n C r e t e
T h e se u s a n d t h e Bull O f Ma r a th o n
T h e se u s a s K i n g a n d S ta t e sm a n
T h e Lat e r Adv e n t ure s o f T h e s e us
T h e Am a z o n s .

T h e s e us a n d Hi p p o lyt o s
F r i e n dsh i p wi t h P e irit ho o s
D e at h o f T h e se u s

C HA P T E R VI I . T H E VO Y A G E OF T HE ARGO
T h e D e sc e n da n t s Of Aio lo s:
S a l m o n e us, P e l i a s
Adm e t o s a n d Al k e st is
At h a m a s P h r ixo s a n d He ll e
, ,

T h e Re t u rn of I a so n
T h e Vo ya g e o f t he Arg o
T h e D e at h o f Pel i a s
I a so n a n d Me de i a i n Co r i n t h
Me de i a in At h e ns
C HA PT E R VI I I . T HE TA L E or T R OY
T h e Ho u se o f D a rda n o s
T h e Ho use of T a n t a lo s
xxx CO N TE N T S

He r a Wi fe O f Z e us
as t he .

T h e F u n c ti o n s o f He r a
He r a i n Ar t
C HA P T E R I I T H E G R E AT E R G O D S
.
-
A TH E N E
T h e Or i g i n a n d t he N a m e O f Athen e .

At hen e in Ho m e r
T h e Bi r t h o f At h e ne
T h e F unc ti o ns o f At h e ne .

At h e ne in Art
C HA P T E R I I I T H E G R E A T E R G o D s LE T O A P O LL O
.
—
, ,

T E MI S,
HE KA T E
Le t o
T h e Bi r t h o f Ap o ll o a n d Ar t e m i s
Le t o a n d Tit yo s; Le t o a n d N i o b e
Ap o ll o :
T h e Or i g i n a n d the N a m e O f Ap o ll o
Ap o ll o in Ho m e r
Ap o ll o in D e lp h o i
T h e F unc ti o ns o f Ap o ll o
Ap o ll o i n Art
A r t e m i s:
T h e Or i g i n a n d t h e N a m e o f Ar t e m i s
Ar t e m i s in Ho m e r
T h e F u n c ti o n s O f Ar te m i s
Ar t e m i s i n Ar t
II e k a t e

C HA PT E R IV . G R E AT E R G O D s A R E S
T HE —

T h e Or i g i n a n d t he N a m e o f Ar e s
A re s i n Ho m e r
Ar e s o u t s i de o f Ho m e r
Are s in Art
C HA PT E R V . G R E AT E R GO D S
THE -
HE RM E S
T h e Or i g i n a n d t h e N a m e o f He r m e s
He r m e s in Ho m e r
Myt h s o f t he Bi r t h a n d Bo y h o o d o f He r m es
He rm e s Arg eip h o n te s
'
 CO N TE N T S x xx i
T he F unc ti o ns O f He r m es
He r m es in Ar t
C HA P T E R VI T H E G R E AT E R G O D S
.
-
A P H R O D I T E AN D
"

ER O S
Ap h ro di t e
T h e Or i g i n a n d t he N a m e o f Ap h ro di t e
Ap h ro di te I n Ho m e r
Bi r t h a n d Fa m ily Re l ati o n shi p .

Ap h ro di t e a s t he G o dde ss o f Lo v e
I n the P l a nt W o r l d
Am o n g Me n
Ap h r o di te i n Art
E ro s .

C HA P T E R VI I T H E G R E AT E R G O D s — HE P HA I ST O S A N D
.

HE ST I A
He p h ai st o s
T h e Or i g i n a n d the N a m e o f He p h ai sto s
Hep h ai st o s in Ho m e r
T h e C h a r a c t e r a n d F unc ti o ns O f He p h ai sto s
He p h ai st o s i n Ar t
He sti a
T h e Or i g i n a n d t h e N a m e o f He st i a
T h e G e n e al o g y a n d F unc ti o ns O f He s ti a

C HA P T E R VI I I T H E G R E AT E R G o D s PO S E I D O N AN D
.
—

AM P H I T R I T E
Po s e i do n
T h e Or i g i n a n d t h e N a m e o f P o se i do n
P o s e i do n i n Ho m e r
T h e F a m ily Re l ati o n shi p s o f P o se i do n
T h e F unc ti o ns o f P o se i do n
P o se i do n in Art
Am p h it r it e
C HA P T E R I X T H E G R E AT E R G O D S
.
-
D I ON Y S O S
T h e Or i g i n a n d t h e N a m e O f D i o n y so s
D i o n y so s i n Ho m e r
T h e Bi r t h Of D i o n y so s
 xii
xx CO N TE N T S

T he F unct i o ns a n d the C u l t O f D i o n ys o s
D i o n y so s i n Art .

Myths o f Al ex a n de r t h e G re at
C HA P T E R X T H E G R E AT E R G O D S
. D E ME T E R K O R E
-
, ,

HA D E S .

D e m e t e r a n d Ko re (P e rse p h o n e )
T h e O r i g i n a n d t he N a m e o f D e m e t e r
D e m e t e r in Ho m e r
D e m e t e r a s t h e G o dde ss o f t h e S o il
D e m e t e r a n d Ko r e (P e r se p h o n e )
D e m e t e r a n d T r i p to l e m o s
T h e N at u re o f P e r se p h o ne
T h e My s t e r i es O f E l e u si s
D e m e t e r a n d Ko r e i n Art
Ii a do s:
Ha des in Art
C HA P T E R X I T H E L E S S E R G O D s OP T H E C I R C L E O F
.
—

Z E U S O F L I G HT A ND O F HE AT
, ,

Of t he C i rc l e o f Z e us
E u ry n o m e
“
C h a r i t e s ( G r a ces
T he m i s
Ho r a i ( Ho u r s
Mn e m o s yn e ; T he Mu se s
G a n y m e de s
He b e
Of t he G re at e r Lu m i n a r i e s
He l i o s ( S un
“

P h aet h o n
Se l e n e
Of P h a se s O f Li g h t
EO S
He l e n and t h e D io sk o uro i
O f S i n g l e S ta rs and C o n st e ll at i o n s
Ast r a io s P ho sp ho ro s Eo sp h o ro s
, ,

If e sp e ro s
P l e i a de s a n d Hya de s
 CO N TE N T S

Or i o n
Ur sa Maj o r o r G r e a t Be a r ; Bo o te s
,

Of Mi dsu m m e r He a t :
Ar ist a io s S i r i us Ak tai o n
, ,
.

Li n o s
Li ty e rse s

C HA P T E R X II T H E L E S S E R G o D s OF W AT E R W I N D
.
—
, ,

AND W I L D
Of t he Wat e r
Ok e a n o s a n d the Ok e an ide s
Riv e r s
S p r i n g s (N y m p hs )
T he Se a
T ri t o n
N e reus
P r o t e us
G l au ko s
In o (Le u k o t he a )
S e ir e n e s (S i re n s)
S k yll a an d C h a ryb di s
Of Wi n ds a n d S t o rm s :
Bo re a s E u ro s N o t o s
, , ,
an d Z e p h y ro s
AiO lO S
Ha rp i e s
T yp ho n an d t he Ky k l o p e s
Of t h e Wil d
P a n , S ile n o i, an d S a t y r o i (S aty rs)
Ma e n a ds a n d Ba cch a n t e s
D r ya ds a n d Ha m a drya ds
K e n t a uro i (C e n ta u r s)

C HA P T E R X I I I T H E LE SS E R G O D s
. OF TH E —
EA R TH
I G ai a (G e )
I I Rh e a K yb e l e (G r e at Mo t h e r)
-

III Le sse r D ivi n i ti e s o f t h e Un de rwo r l d

E r i nye s
E u m e n i de s S e m n a i T h e a i Ma n i a i
, ,

Mi sc e ll a n e o us
'

1 3
x xx i v CO N T E N T S
PA G E
C HA P T E R X IV T H E LE S S E R G o D s — A S K L E P I O S
.
,
AB
S T RA C T D I V I N I T I E S
I Ask l e p i o s
T h e Or i g i n a n d t h e N a m e O f Ask l e p i o s .

Myt h s o f As k l e p i o s
Ask l e p i o s i n Ar t
I I Ab st r a ct D ivi n iti e s
III T h e E l e m e n t O f C h a n c e
T y c he
Mo i r a Mo i r ai An a n k e Adr a st e ia
, , ,

N e m e si s
PA R T I I I . T HEMY T H O L O G Y O F A N C I E N T ITA L Y
In t ro duc ti o n
I E t r u sc a n Myt h o l o g y
II N ativ e I tal i c G o ds:
(a ) N a tu r e G o ds : Of t h e S k y At m o s p her e
-
, , an d
Time
I up p it e r
Mat e r Mat u t a
(b ) N at u re G o ds : Of Hu m a n
-
Li fe, E a rth , Ag r i
cu l t u re a n d He r di ng
,

G e n i u s; I un o
C e r es
T e ll u s Mat e r
Li b e r
S at u rnu s
C o n su s a n d Op s
Ma rs .

F a unus
S flv a n us
D ia n a
Ve nu s
Fl o r a
F o rtu n a
(c) N at u re G o ds : Of t h e Wat e r
N e p t un us .
 CO N TE N T S x xxv
PA G E
()
d N at u r e -G o ds : Of Fi re ,
Of t he Un de rwo rl d
,

o f D i se a se
Vu l c a nu s
Ve di o vi s
Fe b ri s
(e ) G o ds o f Hu m a n So c i e ty
I a nus
Ve sta
D i P e n at e s; La re s
Mi n e r v a
(f) Ab st r a c t G o ds
(g) Mo m e n ta ry a n d D e p a r t m en tal G o ds
G o ds o f F o r e i g n O r i g i n
Ap o ll o
Ae scu l a p i us
Me r c u r i us
C a st o r a n d P o ll ux
He r cu l e s
D is P at e r
Ma g n a Mat e r
Myt hs o f t h e E a r ly D ay s Of Ro m e
T h e Ae n e i d o f V e rg il
E v en t s su b se q u e n t t o t h o se o f t h e Ae n eid
A PP E N D I X
N OT E S

B I B L I O G RA P H Y
x x xv i i i I LLUS T RA T I O N S

He r a k l e s a n d t h e Hy dr a
He r a k l e s a n d N e r e u s
.

2 He r a k l e s a n d t h e C re ta n Bu l l
.

3 He r a k l e s a n d Ap o ll o
.

Am a z o n s in Battl e
T h e se u s a n d Am p h i t r it e Co l o u red
La p i t h s an d C e n ta u r s Co l o u red
T h e Arg o n a u t s Co l o u re d
Me de i a at C o r i n t h
1 . Pri a m b e fo re Ach ill es
2 .P e l e us a n d T h e ti s
T h e S a c r i fi c e o f I p h ig e n e ia 12 0

He k t o r T a k i n g Le av e o f An dro m a che 124

Ach ill e s an d T he r si t e s 12 8

T h e D e at h O f Aig ist h o s C o l o u re d 1 32

Ody sse u s S l ayi n g t he S u it o rs C o l o ure d 1 36

C h a ro n 14 2

I xi o n o n t h e W h e e l 146

Ze u s . 1 52

Z e u s a n d the Ko ure t e s 1 58

He r a 1 64

At h e n e 1 70

T h e Ap o ll o Be lv e de r e 176

Ar t e m i s 18 2

An Atti c He k a t a io n 18 8

He r m e s a n d t h e Infa n t D i o n y s o s 1 94

E ro s 2 00

T h e Re t u r n O f He p h ai s t o s to Oly m p o s C o l o u re d 2 06

P o s e i do n 2 12

T h e E n t h ro n e d D i o n y so s 2 18

I D io n y so s In t he Shi p 2 24

2 . K a st o r an d P o ly de u k e s at Ho m e
3 My s ti c Ri t e a t E l e us i s
.

My sti c Ri te a t E l e u si s
1 He l i o s
. .

2 T h e Ho r ai
.

G a n y m e de s a n d t h e E a g l e
 I LLUS T RA T I O N S x xx i x
A
F CI N G
T h e D e a th Ak tai o n
of C o l o u re d
Li n o s S la i n by He r a k l e s Co l o u re d
Ody sse u s ant he S i re n s
d
Or e it h y ia a n d Bo r e a s C o l o u re d
A Ma e n a d C o l o u red
Hy p n o s
Ni ke Co l o u r e d
G e n i us a n d La r es
1 . Are t ho u sa
2 . I a nus Bi fro n s
Ma g n a Mat e r
Ro m u l us a n d Re m u s

I LLUS T RAT I O N S IN T HE TE X T
F I G UR E PA G E
1 Po se i do n
2 C re ati o n of P a n do r a

3A T h e E r y m a n t h i a n Bo a r a t My k en ai
3B T h e Fli g ht O f E u ry s t heu s
4 T he se u s a n d t he Mi n o ta u r

5 T h e D e at h o f P e nthe sil e a
6 T h e D e at h o f Ai a s (Aj ax )
7 Ap o ll o an d T it y o s
8 T r i p to l e m o s

9 Mn e m o sy ne a n d K all i o p e
10 S aty r s a t P l ay
11 Ma rr i a g e o f I un o a n d He r cu l es
I N T RO D UC T I O N TO T H E G REEK MY T H S

0p roceed i mmedi ately to th e n arration a nd dis cus sion O f

th e myt h s of G reece wou l d b e mu c h l i ke a n attem p t to
constru ct a h igh road withou t a su rvey We mu st first of all .

ma ke certai n t h at we know wh at a myt h is a nd s u c h a n e n ,

de a v o ur to give s h a r p definition to ou r th eme will na tu rally

l ea d to a n i nvestigation of th e sp eci al conditions wh ich li ke ,

soil a n d weath er to a p l ant favou r the germin atio n a nd growth

,

of myt h Then gra nting th at myth h as some connexion with

.
,

religion we mu st i nform ou rs elves a s to t h e p ecu l iar n atu re of

,

th e religio n a nd th e gods of G reece B y su c h a cou rs e we m ay

.

p erh a p s b e so fortu nate a s to rea ch a p oint O f vantage from

wh i ch we c a n gai n a clea r an d comp reh ens ive view O f th e
u ni qu e ch aracter of th e Gree k myth s Once th i s h as b een
.

gained a s eries O f p ertinent q u estions wil l p res ent th ems elves

, ,

a n d th es e we s h all enu merate an d d is cu ss i n t h ei r p roper p la ce

a n d o rder .

.I Wha t i s Myth W e wis h it were pos s ible to define myt h

—

s atisfacto rily by a n e p igra m ; to sa y wit h Marett for i nstance , ,

“ ”
th at it is Ani matis m grown p ictu res qu e B ut u nh a p p ily
.
, ,

e p igra m is a definitio n only for t h os e w h o know an d t h is ,

c i rcu msta nce li mits u s to th e use of col d a n alys is .

Fo r th e p u r p os e of ascertai ni ng th e elements O f myt h let us

regard it from th e p oints O f view O f (a ) form (b ) time (c) , ,

s ubj ect m atter a n d (d ) rel ation to fact

-
,
.

(a ) I t is commonly stated th at a myt h i n order to b e a ,

myt h mu s t b e c ast i n n arrative form A little reflection h ow

,
.
,

ever will s how th at to m a ke th is a h a rd an d fast rule i s ta nta

,

mou nt to rej ecti ng not only th e e p ithets ap p lied to th e gods by

t h ei r worsh ip p ers b u t also t h e attrib utes ac corded t h em by
,
x li i I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MY T H S
poet p riest a n d a rtist T h is we cannot cons istently do (a nd
, ,
.
,

moreover no writer o n mythology ever does it i n sp ite of h is

, ,

i ns istence o n litera l n arrative form ) ; for a n epith et a s a state ,

ment com p ress ed i nto one word a n d a n attribute a s a symbol

, ,

O f a statement are after all sub stanti ally n a rratives Th e

, , , .

d i ff erence u n der d eb ate i s really one of length an d not one O f ,

ess enti al qu ality W h ere c a n we draw th e line ? Th e thu n der

.

weapon p ut i nto t h e h an ds of Zeu s by a n a rtist is i n kind th en , ,

a s mu c h a myt h as th e whol e elaborate tale of Promet h eu s .

(b ) T h e statements of myt h h ave a d irect reference to t h e

p ast or to th e u n ivers al p resent ; only so fa r a s t h e u n ivers a l
p resent im p lies the p rob able conti nu ity of a condition h ave
th ey a ny reference to t h e futu re Th at Hep h aistos limp ed a nd
.

th at Hermes fl ew were to th e Greek fa cts tru e for a ll ti me

, , .

Why the s imple p res ent w a s exclu ded from t h e tempora l refer
enc e of th e myth s will b e C lear a fter we h ave exami ned th e
n atu re O f th eir s ubj ect matter - .

(c ) N O reader of myt h c a n h ave failed to notice t h at its

t h emes a re i nva ri ably d rawn from t h e realm O f t h e un v e rifi a b le ,

or at l east from t h at w h ic h w a s i ncap ab le O f demonstration

at th e ti me of t h e creatio n of th e myth Th e wa r of Troy wa s
.

fou ght at so remote a period th at none cou l d deb ate or d eny

th e allegations of myt h th at a qu arrel over a woma n w a s th e
c au s e O f it ; a nd th e i m p os s ib ility of refutation i n th is a n d ot h er
l i ke i nstances w a s eagerly accepted a s a p roof O f fa ct More .

over w h y s p oil a good story by b eing too i nqu is itive a nd by

,

a p p lyi ng to it th e tests of workad ay l ife ? Ty p h o n rebelled

agai nst Zeu s a nd Zeu s pu nis h ed h im by h eaping u pon h im th e
,

great m ass O f Aetna S ince nobody cou l d explai n th e origi n O f

.

t h e volcano from t h e known ex p erience of ma n kind why wa s ,

i t absu rd to attrib ute it to t h e acts of b eings greater t h a n

man ? A p ollo w a s i nvis ibl e to th e eye of fl es h accord ing to t h e,

myth s yet h e cou ld both c au s e and heal t h e bod ily i lls O f

,

me n a nd cou l d ins p i re h is p riestes s es to utter p ro p h ecies w h ic h

th e ears O f men coul d h ea r Th e s ic knes s a nd th e h ealing a nd
.
 PLA T E II

Z E US AN D T Y P H ON

Z e us is a p p ro a c hi n g sw i ftly f ro m t h e l e ft a n d w ith
rai s e d ri gh t h a n d is ab o ut t o h ur l a t h un de rb o lt at a

m o n s t e r w ith a b e a rde d h um a n h e a d a n d a w i n g e d
t r un k t e rm i n ati n g i n t w o l o n g s e rp e n t li k e c o il s -
.

T h e c re at ure p ro bably T y p h o n l o o k s at t h e K i n g O f
, ,

t h e G o ds i n g re at ala r m a n d m a dly la s h e s ab o ut wit h

h is sc aly b o dy in a vai n e n de av o ur t o e s c a p e fro m t h e

do o m awaiti n g h im F ro m a C ha lk idia n hyd ia o f
. r

ab o ut 6 50 B c in Mun i c h (Furt w an g le r Re ic h h o ld
. .
,
-
,

G i hisch V s n m a l r i N O
r ec e a e S e e p p x ii 8 9
e e
,
. .
,
—
.

MED O US A B E H EA D E D

T he un i q ue fe at ure o f t h i s va se - p ai n ti n g is t h at it
re re s e n t s t h e t h re e G o rg o n s a ft e r t h e fl i ht o f Pe rse us
p g
wit h Me do usa s h e a d T he t w o i m m o rtal s i st e rs a re
’
.

a p p a re n tly j us t s e tti ng o ut i n p ursuit o f t h e s laye r as ,

t h e i r s p re a d wi n gs b e n t k n e e s a n d s w i n g i n g ha n ds
, ,

vivi dly i n di c at e T he b o dy o f Me do usa is ab o ut t o

.

fal l i n e rtly t o t h e g ro un d F ro m a bla c k fig ure d hy

.
- s

h s O f t h e l at e s ixt h c e n t ury B c n At h e n s C a ta l
p o i ( g.u .
,
o e

a
’
es va s
se
p i ts d
e n m usé tai l d At b ie naS upp l
on ae m t
’
’
rz es, en

p a r G eo
r
g es N i ol P lat
c e X I
)
e, S ee
p 34 . . .
 THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LI B RARY

O
AS T R L E N OX
F O U N D A TI O N S
.

T I LD E N
'
 I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G RE E K MY T H S xl i i i
th e p roph esying were fa cts a n d none cou ld p rove th at a n y
,

other th a n A p ollo wa s res p ons ible for th em To believe th a t .

h e a ctu ally wa s respons ib le fed th e fancy a n d without fa ncy ,

there w a s no zes t i n life Th e sou ls of the de p a r ted were s a i d

.

to b e gat h ered togeth er i n a d ark realm b eneath t h e ea rth .

For to wh at oth er p lace cou ld t h ey h ave dis app ea red a fter

b u ria l or cremation ? N O god or h ero wa s re p res ented by a
myt h m a ker a s i niti ating a ny movement s imu ltan eou s with
-

t h e n a rration of th e myth T h e reason for th is is now O bviou s ;

.

s u c h a statement wou l d b e so O p en to th e s crutiny of contem

o r a r ie s th at c riticis m a n d t h e fea r of c riticis m wou ld destroy
p
th e illu s ion a n d t h e c h arm w h ic h t h e story might O th erwis e
pos s es s .

(d ) T h e most generally recognized c h ara cteristic of myt h i s

t h e fa ct t h at it is a p rodu ct O f t h e imagin ation a n d so p o p u , ,

l a r ly thoug h erroneou sly th e myth i cal is regarded a s th e exa ct

,

equ ivalent O f th e imagin a ry Nevertheless S ince t h e special .

,

fu n ction of th e i magi n ation i s to c reate it is not to b e expected ,

th at a ll its creations mu st confo rm to th e attested ex p erience

of m an kin d or to wh at we m ay estimate a s p rob ab l e It i s for .

th is reason th at most O f t h e deta ils O f th e myth s rel ate to th e

imp rob ab le b u t t h e p rob ab le a n d im p rob ab le a li ke were h eld
,

to b e tru e by t h e p eopl e among w h om th e legen ds h a d c ur

r e n cy .

We may now sum u p t h e resu lts of ou r a n alys is wit h a work

ing definition :
A m yth is a sta tem en t, o r a vir tua l sta tem en t as i m p li e d i n
a sym b o l , an a ttr ib ute , or an e p i the t, a cce p t ed a s tr ue b y i ts
o r ig i n a l m a k er an d his hea r er s, an d f i
r e er r n g to the e ter n a l n a

r e a ter tha n m a n , a n d f re q ue n tly

t ur e a n d p ast a cts o f b e i n s
g g to

ci r cum sta n ces w hi ch a r e to us i m p r o b a b le o r i m p o ssib le .

2 . The Or ig i n o M
It is no more pos s ib le to detai l
f yth .

one an d all t h e impu ls es s ingly or i n cl as ses w h ic h h ave given

, ,

ris e to myth th an it i s to dis cover an d give th e fu l l tal e O f all

th e fou ntai n h ea ds of a great river Y et we fi n d th at we c a n
- .
xliv I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MY T H S
a ccou nt for th e origi n of a river i n a way w h ic h s erves al l p ra e
tical pu r p os es I s it not withi n ou r power to ex p l ai n t h e b e
.

ginnings of myth to t h e s ame extent even t h ough th e a d ,

miss ion mu st b e ma de t h at t h e tas k is infinitely more di ffi cu lt ,

i nvolving as it does all t h e s u btleties o f h u ma n n atu re a n d

, ,

a n almost i nextricabl e tangle of t h e ori e s?

Th e statement th at th e ma insp ring of all myt h i s person i
fi c at io n an d meta p hor h as too mu c h O f th e wea knes s of e p i
gram ; it explains only after on e h a s learned why personific ation
a n d myth h ave a ny power at a ll To sa y th at every myth.

i s a n answe r to a qu estion O f p rimitive ma n regarding some

ph enomenon O f th e u nivers e gives a more s atis factory reason
i n th at it im p l ies a c ertai n i ntellectu al attitu d e i n man B ut .

even th is does not go to th e bottom O f t h e matter for i t fails ,

to S how w h y th e a nswers a re c as t a s th ey a re It remai ned .

fo r th e modern evolutiona ry b iologist to s u p p ly a b roa d and

fu nd amental explan ation Ju s t as each h u ma n bei ng b etween
.

conce p tion a n d matu rity p ass es s u ccess ively th rough all t h e

stages of the b iologica l develo p ment O f th e ra ce so all h u ma n ,

mi nds at t h e s ame stage O f raci al p rogres s act i n vi rtu ally t he

s a me way t h e S light va ri ations wh ic h occu r being du e i n l arge
,

p art to diff erences i n extern a l env i ronment I t mu st b e fra n kly

.

confess ed th at th i s statement li ke th at of th e theory O f u n i

,

vers al evolution i s not su sce p tible O f p roof i n ever y i nsta nce ;

,

n everth eles s it sta nds a s th e b es t worki ng hy p oth es is w h i ch

,

t h e modern stu dent of th e fol k ways h as been ab le to s ecu re

-
.

N O o ne ventu res to as se rt th at it i s final .

Ho w then does pri mitive ma n tend to th in k of t h e worl d ?

, ,

I nvestigators tell us th at h e c annot distingu is h b etween l ife

a nd no l ife Knowing his own p ower to b ring th ings to p ass by
.

mea ns O f c alcu lation a nd will h e attributes th es e s ame f a c ul

,

ties i n va r y ing degrees to everyth ing i n n atu re outs ide O f h im

s elf I n other wo rds h e endows everyth ing wit h p ersonalit y
.
,
.

T O h i m t h e b ea s t i s th e peer O f ma n i n a stutenes s and pu rpos e

fulnes s a nd tree mou ntain a nd se a a re sentient b eings
, , ,
.
 I NT RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S xlv

Here metap h or p a rt Fo r examp le t h e S imple poeti c

p lays it s .
,
“ ”
statement Th e sun d rives h i s c a r ac ros s t h e h eavens c a n
, ,

u nder s tres s of emotion b e stri p ped O f its s imil itu d e a n d b e

“
cast i n th e c atego ri ca l form Th e sun i s a d river a nd h e rid es
,
”
i n a c a r ac ros s th e h eavens ; a n d b elief i n it a s a trut h c an b e
engendered a n d fostered by a llus ions to t h at eff ect i n a rt a n d
ritu a l From th is illu stratio n it m ay b e gathered t h at th e
.

p rimitive mind dema nds O bj ectivity i n t h e ex p ress ion of its

thoug h t Th is i s i n deed tru e a n d will expl ai n th e la c k O f a b
.
,

st r a c t io n s i n myt h except w h en t h ey are p resented a s concrete

p ersonalities .

Anot h er c h a ra cteristic of m a n i n t h is imm atu re stage i s

t h at h e i s u nab le to se e t h e i n h erent conn exio n O f th ings He .

is t h erefore li kely to b e u n du ly s ens itive to th e sta rtli ng

, ,

p h enomen a O f natu re a n d to t h e u nu s u al i ncidents O f h i s soci a l

l ife ; wh ile h is fa ncy exaggerating th es e b eyon d a ll wa rrant
, ,

contrives i mposs ib le expl an ations O f th ei r o rigi n along th e s am e

li nes a s h i s theories O f th e b egin nings of th e commonplaces O f
h is existen ce Here lies th e reason for t h e myth i c p rominen ce
.

O f t h e lig h tning t h e ea rth qu a ke beasts of p rey monsters of

, , ,

th e se a wa rs tyra nts t h e ris e a nd fa l l O f dyn asties a n d t h e

, , , ,

l i ke.

I n som e qu a rters t h e b elie f now p revails t h at most myt h s

h ave a risen from t h e misu n derstanding O f ritu a ls O f wo rsh ip ,

a n d m agi c a li ke w h os e fi rst mea nings h ave b een forgotten ;

,

a n d it is ass erted t h at a sin cere attemp t to cloth e th em with a

defi nite impo rt fo r t h e wors h i p per h a s b een th e i m m edi ate
cau s e O f myt h Th is i s u ndoubtedly tru e i n many i nsta nces
. .

Th e stories of t h e Ko ur e t e s defence of th e i nfant Zeu s a n d O f

’

’
S k iro n s mu rder of travellers seem to b elong to th is cl as s of
l egen ds Aki n to th em a re thos e wh i c h h ave O bviou sly grown
.

out of th e mis i nter p retation of t h e cu lt titles of divi nities -

.

T O avoi d confus ion we h ave th u s fa r ass u med th at a ll myt h s

a re th e spo ntaneou s is su e of th e p rimitive mi nd Unfo rtu n ately .

t h is is a th eory wh ic h we cannot ve rify althou g h we a re p rob

,
x lvi I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S
ab ly s afe i n s aying th at at leas t t h e germ of every tru e myt h
is of th is order On th e other h and we a re u n ab l e t h u s to
.
,

a ccou nt for a ll th e d etails with wh ich t h e germs h ave gra du ally

b ecome encru sted I t is imposs ib le to d isbel ieve th at ma ny a
.

myth h as b een deliberately res h a p e d at some time o r oth er

to s atisfy a n exacting aesth etic or moral sens e or to secu re th e ,

s emb l ance of a religiou s s anction for a definite caus e or fo r a

cou rs e of a ction It h a s b een su ggested th at for i nstanc e t h e
.
, ,

story of th e d rea dfu l en d of the inqu is itive s isters of P and rosos

was a p riestly fab ric ation to frighten wors h i p pers i nto sub
mis s ion to a ru l e of ritu a l ; an d one can s ca rcely doubt th at t h e
cycle of t h e Th eseu s myth s contains many cons ciou s a dd itions ,

if not i nventions I n th is clas s we do not i nclu de th e m an ip u

.

l a t io n s of myth s i n t h e h an ds of th e poets for i n th e popu la r ,

v iew t h e work of t h es e d ivinely i nsp ired men enh an ced rat h er

th a n i nva l i dated th e trut h of th e stories .

I f o ne wou l d gai n a n i ns igh t i nto th e s u d den b i rt h o f myt h

from a mere noth ing at times of h igh S p iritu al tens ion i n a
commu nity let h im tu rn to th e p ages of Tha is w h ere An atole
,

F ran ce d es c rib es th e weaving of th e tissu e of tales abou t t h e

erson of P a h n uc e a fter h e h as b ecome a holy ma n a n d ta ken
p p
’
h is p l ace u p o n th e p ill a r or to th e lines i n Noyes s ep ic D r a k e
, , ,

i n wh ic h th e great a dmi ral on lea rning of t h e s a iling of t h e

,

Arma da u nconcernedly p ic ks u p a p i e ce of wood a nd w h ittles

,

away at it wit h h is knife :

S O g r e a t a n d c al m a m a ster o f t h e wo r l d
S e e m e d D r a k e t h at a s h e w h ittl e d a n d t he ch i p s
Fl u tt e re d i n t o t h e b l a c k n e ss o e r t h e q u ay,
’

Me n sai d t h at in t h i s h o u r o f E n g l a n d s n eed
’

E a c h ti n y fl a k e tu rn e d t o a b at tl e sh i p
”
-
.

3 S a n c ti o n
. and f Myth
P e r siste n ce Were we able to
o .
—

ex p l a i n j u st w h y a fas h ion a c atchwo rd or a p h ra s e of Slang

, ,

becomes p o p ul a r we S hou ld likewis e be able to a ccou nt for th e

,

i n iti al acce p tance of a myth Al l th at we ca n sa y concerning

.

s u ch th ings is th at th ey s upply a need o r a nswer a c raving or

, ,
 P LAT E III
D I O N Y SOS AN D A MA E N A D
D i o ny s o s is S h o w n re c l i n i n g o n a v e ry e lab o rat e
c o uch . I n h is r i ght h a n d h e ho l ds a ha n t b a r os in a
v e ry fa sti di o us m an n e r a n d i n h is l e ft a t hyr sos T he
, ,
.

l o ng fl o wi n g ri n gl e t s o f h is hai r t he c urv e s o f his

,

a r m s a n d b o dy a n d t he s o ft t e xt ure o f h is dra p e ry
,

c o m bi n e t o g iv e t h e g o d a de c i de dly e ffe m i n at e a p p e a r
a nc e A Ma e n a d is e xt e n di n g a t ray o f via n ds t o wa r d
.

h im f ro m t he r i ght a n d a n E ro s fl i e s do w n f ro m t h e
,

l e ft t o c ro w n h im with a w re at h o f l e av e s At t h e .

e xt re m e l e ft a tym a n on a n d a t hyr sos i n t h e h a n ds o f

p ,

a se c o n d Ma e n a d a re ba re ly vi s ibl e F ro m a re d
,
.

fi g ure d Pr a t er o f t he late fi ft h c e nt ury B C i n At h e n s . .

,

C i i l d At b en es,
’
a t a lo ue des da m usée
( g v a se s
po n ts n a t on a

Supp le m e n t p a r G eorg es N icole , Plat e XX ) . Se e p p .

2 1 5 ff .
 THE NEW YORK
PUBLI C LI B RARY

A S TO R L EN OX
A TI ON S
.

TI L D E N F O UN D
 I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G RE E K MYT H S xl v n

a rou s e th e interes t of th e m aj ority of a socia l grou p B ut t h is .

reall y ex p l a ins noth ing An esta blished myth h a s a ll O f thes e

.

q u a l ifi c a t io n s a nd someth ing mo re . T h at somet h ing is its

religiou s a p peal a nd its strength l ies i n th e f a ct th at any
,

religion emb races for th e p eo p le who p rofes s it th e sum total

of their h igh es t i nterests I t i s not h a rd th en to conceive
.
, ,

th at c ertai n C i rcu mst a nces s hou l d a ris e i n wh ich a story O f

powerfu l etern al b eings s u ddenly engages th e attentio n of a
commu nity a n d is rec eived a s thou gh it were a confi rmed truth .

Once th e a ccepta nce of it h as been gra nted th e p ath to th e ,

ex p l anation of its p ers is tenc e is c lea r a nd open .

I n th e fi rst p lace th e mere fact th at it h a s b een accepted

,

b ecomes to the soci al m i nd a re aso n why it s hou ld conti nu e

“ ”
to b e acce p ted . Eve rybody b eli eves i t i s as va l id a reason
“ ”
for t h e conformist i n religion a s Eve r ybody wea rs it is fo r
th e d evotee of a fash ion Th e socia l p sychologist s a y s th e
.

s ame th ing i n oth er words : the m o r es h ave th e authority of

fa cts I n t h e ne xt p l ace s h eer h ab it a nd th e di ff i cu lty O f in
.
1
,

venting new myt h s will O ften cau s e th e retention of a legend

’
long after i t h as lost its tou c h with th e commu nity s mode of
l ife an d thought a p henomenon wh ich i s by no me a ns con
fi ned to th e ignora nt s tratu m of a p opu l ation Aga in cons ciou s
.
,

res p ect for th e convi ctions a nd O p i nions of former generation s

plays a n impo rta nt p art I n it s i deal form th is deference b e
.

comes a b elief in a G olden Age i n the p as t a period not merely

,

of ea s e a nd bl iss b u t o ne i n wh ich th e wo nders of legend were

,

normal occu rrences Th en m a n w a s clos e to th e h ea rts a nd

.

minds of th e d ivi nities a n d h ad th ereby a speci al knowledge

of th ei r will a nd powe r To deny th e traditions wh ic h thes e
.

enlightened sou ls h ave h a nded down is to b ran d them a s lia rs .

“
Th e s p i rit of th e trite excus e of th e o r tho dox My gra n d
,

f a ther s religion w a s good enou gh fo r h im a nd is therefore

’
,
”
g do d enou gh for,
me h a s s erved as a val i d reason for the p e r

s evera nc e o f ma ny ever s i nce tradition al faith s b ega n to b e .

Fi nally th e ip se dixi t of a p riest the p ronou ncement of an

, ,
x lvi i i IN T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MY T H S
o racl e th e words o f a h ym n o r even of a s ecu la r poem th e a l
, ,

l usio n of a ceremonia l formu la or the s uggestion of a s acred,

symbol may give s u ch a n a p parent confi rm ation of a myt h

s p a rt or whole a s to strengt h en fa ith i n its es senti al verity
i! 4 The N a ture o the Greek Reli io n The Gree k religion .

f —
‘

.
g .
,

so fa r a s we c a n truthfu lly predicate anyth ing at a ll of religiou s

o rigins h a d it s roots i n t h e p re animistic stratu m of thought

,
-
.

Th e p rimitive Greek li ke the ea rly Roman as we S h all se e

, , ,

wors h i p p ed natu ra l obj ects an d p henomen a for t h ei r o w n s a ke ,

a lthough h i s attitu de toward them s h ifted a ccord ing a s th ey

fu rthered or h indered h is welfa re Proceed ing a l ittle fu rther .
,

h e s eems to h ave become convi nced O f the existence with i n

them yet i ns ep a rab le from them of a sort of potency or life
, ,

power (a n i m a ) He was now i n the a nimistic stage Fi nally

. .
,

h e observed t h at wh ile i n th e mai n thei r powers ma nifested

thems elves i n a u niform manner yet t h ey s h owed a rema rk ,

able tendency to va ry th e only s atisfacto ry expl an ation b eing

,

th at they mu st b e d ue to agents as free i n i niti ative a s a re

h u man beings Accepting this th eory h e endowed th e powe rs
.
,

i n h is h ab its of t h ought wit h will a nd little b y l ittle wit h , , ,

th e oth er attributes of personality Th ey h ad at last become .

gods Th e ass ignment of n ames to t h em an d t h e localization

2
.

of t h ei r cu lts strengt h ened th e popu la r convictio n i n t h ei r

personal natu re The h isto ry of one god i n epitome may s erve
.

a s a n illustration Zeu s was firs t t h e sk y ; next t h e power with i n

.

the sk y ; a nd lastly t h e d ivine person wit h w h om the sk y

, ,

power was ide n t ifi e d 3

We c a n now perceive t h e O the rwis e
.

“
O bs cu re truth of the statement t h at Th e god h imself [ i c . .

a ny G reek god ] wh en conceived was not the real ity but o nly
, ,
” 4
a symbol to h elp towa rd conceiving t h e real ity .

'

It is not to b e i nferred h owever t h a t t h e several steps from

, ,

potency to deity were a s C lea rl y ma rked a s th e neces s ity of

gai ning a compact V iew h as forced u s to rep resent t h em ;
nor mu st we t h in k th at wh en a god rose from one stage to
t h e next h e left b eh ind h im al l traces of h is lower estate As .
 I NT RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G RE E K MYT H S xlix

a matter of fact to p ractic ally every god at t h e ve ry h ig h est

,

point O f h i s sp i ritu al c areer clu ng some d isfigu ring stains of

th e ea rth of t h e p it out of wh ic h he h a d b een digge d T his wa s
.

d u e to t h e i ntense s pi rit O f freedom O f each commu nity its ,

d esi re to wo rs h ip th e god a s it sa w fit a nd a ccord ing to its own

loc al I f th e commu n ity w a s m a rked by a h igh degree
’
of c iv iliz at io fi: it s gods were of th e nob ler type ; if o n a low s tage
of develo p ment its gods were of a coa rser grade ; a nd fu rth er
, ,

i f th e commu nity was open to i nflu ence from th e outs ide th e ,

traits of it s gods were of a mixed ch a ra cter Th is together

.
,

with a certa i n though s luggis h ten dency toward a ch ange of

th e conceptions O f th e god wit h i n t h e independent c o m m u
n it y will accou nt i n l arge p art for th e b ewilderi ng mu ltiplicity
,

of th e G ree k d ivin ities a n d th ei r a t t r ib ut e s h e greatest

difli c ult y th at confro nts th e modern s tu dent is to determine
wh ich forms a nd w h ic h attributes of t h e d evelope d god were
t h e o rigina l ones ; an d it is al most h u miliating to h ave to con
fes s th at th e i nst a nces in wh ic h we c a n b e even reasonab ly
ce r tai n a re ve ry few .

Th e i nti mate rel ation of th e gods to th e life—i nterests of men

gave th e G ree k religio n it s dis ti nctive stamp ; it b rought th e
gods down to ea rth i n th e l i keness an d wit h th e p ass ion s of
men so th at i n ti me of n eed th e wors hippe r h a d b u t to reach
,

out h is h a n d to tou c h h is d ivi ne helper T h is cons ta nt s ens e

.

of n ea rnes s lifted fro m h is h eart th e leaden awe impos ed by th e

worsh ip of d istant deities a n d filled it with a w h olesome j oy of
life a n d a b uoya nt sp i rit of confidence Yet th e G reek cu lts
.

were not i ndividu alistic nor m arked by mis siona ry zeal ; t h e

s elfis h i nterests of th e C lan t h e trib e an d th e state were alto
, ,

gether too im periou s .

5 The Un i q ue Cha r a cter of Gr ee k Myth I t is p rob able

.
—

t h at to th e m aj ority of rea ders th e most stri king featu re of th e

Greek myt h s i s th e variety obs ervab le i n a ll p h ases O f th ei r
compos ition T h e n umb er of th ei r th emes fal ls little Short O f
.

t h e sum total of the a ctivities of G ree k life p rivate an d social

, ,

1— 4
I I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S
i ntellectu a l a n d p hys ic al religiou s a nd secu la r Th e detail s
,
.

with wh i ch th ey a re emb ellish ed s eem to re p res ent all p os sib l e

comb i nations of th e C i rcumstances of a ctu a l ex p erience with
th e i nvention s O f f a n cy T h e tech niqu e of their p resentation
.
,

l i ke th a t of the greatest a rtists i s most s ens itively ad a p ted to

,

th e Sh ifti ng s ubj ect matter I n brief th ey h ave i n thes e r e

-
.
,

sp e c t s th e ma rks of th e h ighest a rt a n d th is is th e b u rden

,
“
of G r up p e s p regn ant statement G ree k deity
’
,
is wh at
” 5
n atu re l ac ks to b ecome a rt i nter p reted i n th e lig h t of th e
,

es s ential connexion between tru e myth a n d religion .

Anoth er strong featu re O f th e G ree k myth s is t h ei r sin

c e r it y .Th ey h ave th e ri ng of genu i ne c h ronicles of fa ct a nd ,

we feel no astonish ment th at for ages th ey shou l d h a ve been

cons i dered to b e veritabl e h istory although it i s s u r p ris i ng
,

th at ch a rged as th ey were with s uc h a n authority th ey never

, ,

b eca me dogmati c statements of i nalterabl e trut h B elief i n .

th em did not constitute a meas ure of orthodoxy a nd th ey ,

cou l d thu s b e freely employed for a variety of p u rpos es as

veh icles of religiou s a n d mor a l i nstru ction a s h istory as t h emes , ,

for ph iloso p h ical a rgu ment a s l iteratu re or a s a mean s of

, ,

entertainment Th e fact th at th ey cou l d be u sed to serve t h e

.

pu r p os e l ast mentione d without c au s ing religiou s offence i s

rem arkable testi mony to th e good comrades h i p existing b e
tween th e Greek b eliever a nd h i s god .

.6 K i n ds of Myth Th e c lass ific ation of myth s mu st of

.
—

necess ity b e arbitra ry an d mu st va ry with th e mood a n d o b

j e c t O f th e i nvestigator I f for. i nstance,
h e s eeks to d isc r i,
m i
n ate b etwee n thos e wh ich a re th e p rodu cts of a s ane a nd sobe r
i magination a nd thos e whos e elements a re i n th e mai n ab su rd ,

grotesqu e a n d monstrous h e wou ld class ify th em a s rationa l

, ,

a n d i rrational If h e we re endeavou ring to S ingle out thos e

.

wh ic h seem to h ave been i nvented a s ex p l anations h e would ,

d ivi de th em i nto th e two c ategories of a etiological an d non

aetio l ogical T h e p oss ibilities of cl assification a re u nlimited
.
,

a nd i n eve r y c a se th e c a p tions wou ld cons ist of a p os itive a nd a

 P LA T E IV

1 . PLO UT O N
Plo ut o n (Ha
wit h a l o fty h l t b os o n h is he a d is s e at e d o n a
des ,
) a a
,

t h ro n e g ra s p i n g a s c e p t re in h is l e ft ha n d a n d l e tti n g his ri g ht re st
, ,

o n o n e o f t h e h e a ds o f K e r b e ro s O n e it he r si de o f h im a re K a s t o r .

a n d Po ly de uk e s e a c h S ta n di n g b e s i de h is ho rs e
, F ro m a c o n v e x sa r .

do nyx (A Fur t w iin g le r A t ihe G em m n 1 Plat e X L I V Fi g

.
,
n Se e e
, .

PP ~ 14 2— 4 3, 2
33 lf

A P O LL O A N D MA RS Y AS 2 .

Ap o ll o w ith a ple ht r on i n o n e ha n d a n d a l yre in t h e o t h e r is s ta n d

in g at h is e a s e t o t h e ri gh t S e at e d b e s i de him o n t h e s k i n o f a li o n
.

o r a p a n t h e r an d b o un d wit h h is ba c k t o a ba re t re e is Ma rs a s b e a r
, y , ,

in g all t he m a rk s o f h is se m i b e s ti al n at ure A flut e c a s e h a n gs f ro m - .

-

a b ra n c h o n t h e t re e K n e e l i n g at t he fe e t o f Ap o ll o t h e b o y O l ym p o s
.

o do e s n o t fi g ure i n t h e m yt h a s n a rr at e d i n t h e t e xt s ee m s to b e
( w h )
p l e a di n
g wit h t h e
g o d t o S p a re t h e S aty r s li fe F ro m a c ut c a rn e l ia n
’
.

in N a p l e s (A Furt w ii n g le r An t ib e G em m en i Plat e X L I I Fi g
.
,
/
,
.

Se e p . 18 1 .

3 A L E X AN DE R . HE A D OF

A dia de m k no tt e d b e h i n d t he h e a d c a n b e s e e n bi n di n g t h e t hi c k
, ,

wavy hai r J ust o v e r t he e a r is t he h o r n o f Am m o n F ro m a c o i n

. .

o f L sim a c ho s
y 33 5 2 80 B C
(P G a,
rdi n e r T
—h e T
y es f G r eeh Coi n s
p o . . .
, ,

Plat e X I I N O Se e p p 2 2 3 2 4
,
. .
—
.

4 . PE R S E P H O N E
T he he ad f t he go dde ss s e e m s t o b e b o un d b y a t h i n ba n d O f
o

wh e at-st ra w T h e do l p h i n s i n di c at e n o t o n ly t hat Sy r a c us e is s it uat e d

.

o n t h e se a , b ut al s o t hat she is t h e m i st re ss o f it F ro m a c o i n o f .

S y ra c us e 8
, 3 5
—
2 8 0 B C
(P G a rdi n e r, The
Dp f es o
. G r e e h Coi ns Plat e
.
,
.

X I, N o . Se e p p 2 2 7 ff . .

E US A N D D I O N E 5 . Z

Z e us is he re de p i c t e d wit h t he e a rt h go dde ss D i o n e h is wi fe at ,

D o do n a i n Ep e iro s t he s it e O f h is o ra c ula r o a k
,
F ro m a c o i n o f .

Ep e iro s 2 8 0 1 4 6 B C (P G a rdi n e r The Types of G r ee k Coi ns Plat e

,
— . . .
, ,

X I I, N O . Se e p . 1 56 .

6 . PA N

Pa n , in t h e g ui s e f a yo un g h un t e r, is se at e d o n a ro c k y l e dg e o f
o

a m o un tai n h o l di n g a Iag obo/on (h un ti n g-c l ub ) in h is ri g ht ha n d At .

h is fe e t li e s h is syr i n x , t he so - c all e d p i p e s o f Pa n F ro m a n Ark a .

dia n c o i n , 4 31— 37 1 B C (P G a rdi n e r, The Typ e s of G r e eh Coin s, Plat e

. . .

VI I I, No . See p p . 2 6 7— 6 8 .
 THE NEW YORK
PUBLI C LI BRARY

A S TOR L E N O X
TI L D E N F O U N D A TI O N S
,
 I N T RO D UCT I O N T O T HE G REE K MYT H S li
negative term . Th e a p p ended list is given merely b y way of
suggestion .

A Accord ing to extern a l elements

. .

(1) Myth s of th e va riou s p eriods of trib a l or n ation a l

develo p ment .

(2 ) M y th s of r a ci a l s toc ks .

(3) Loc a l myth s (i e of s h ri nes towns c ities states

. .
, , , ,

districts i sla nds , ,

(4) P o p u l ar a n d O ffi ci al m y th s .

(5) P oetic a l a n d p ros e myth s .

B Accor ding to co ntents

. .

(1) M y th s of th e gods .

(2 ) N atu re myths - .

(3 ) Myth s of origins (i e of th e world gods men a rts . .

, , , ,

st a rs p olitica l a n d soci al organizations

, ,

(4 ) P h iloso p h ical myth s .

(5) A l legoric al m y th s .

(6 ) M y th s of th e hereafter .

7 Wha t w e m a y Lea r n f r o m Myths

. N atu rally mos t of th e .
,

facts registered by a body of myth s concern religion Y et .

o ne mu s t not ex p ect to fi nd i n them more th an a p a rti al a c

cou nt O f th e p articu l ar re l igion to wh ich th ey b elong B eing .

concrete a nd p i ctori al i n ch a racter myth s ca n se t fo rt h onl y ,

thos e featu res wh ich a re su sce p tible of concrete a n d p ictori a l

treatment S acred symbols a n d clear cut attrib utes of th e
.
-

gods th ey ca n po rtray a lmost p hotogra p h i ca lly ; th e fi gu res of

th e gods th ey c an s ketch with fai rly bol d outlines ; th e h istories
of th e gods a n d some of thei r subtle a ttrib u tes th ey ca n sug
gest On th e oth er h an d th ey c an tell u s p ractically noth ing
.
,

abou t S p e cific ritu al s a n d th e exa ct attitu de of th e wors h i p p er

at th e moment of wors h i p ; were th ey to become forma l
registers of su c h th ings th ey wou l d ceas e to b e m y th s On e
,
.

mu st th erefore com p lement h is knowledge of religion a s

, , ,

gleaned from myth s with the ava il a b l e records of cu lt

,
.
111 I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S
“
If it is tru e an d we believe it is t h at religious exp ress ion
, ,
” 6
moves along with th e general p rogr ess of thought th en th e ,

myths ought to yiel d u s certain facts of primitive life outs ide

th e doma in O f religion pro p er Fo r exam p le the Greek myth s
.
,

confirm ou r su spicions th at th e ea rly Hellenes were a d dicted

to magic Aga in a nd aga i n we a re told of cu rs es b eing i nvo ked
.

a n d of th ei r terrib le effects upon th ei r V ictims ; we need point

merely to th e cu rse of Al k m a io n a nd th e cu rs e of La ios Th e .

u n ion of D emeter a nd I as ion in th e th rice p lough ed field r e -

fers to a magi c device to b ring fertility to th e soil a n d th e wild ,

a nd noisy d ance of th e Ko ur e t e s u ndoubtedly re p res ents a

metho d of averting evi l s p i rits by m agic Myth s tell us too .
, ,

thou gh by accident t h e th ings of dee p est i nteres t to th e

,

p eo p le a mong whom t h e l egen ds ci rcu l ated Th e frequ ent men .

tion of floc ks a nd h erds tillage forest a n d grazing l a n d wou l d

, , ,

b e p oi ntless to a nation of miners or ma nufa ctu rers Th e socia l .

orga nization of th e Olympia ns wou l d h ave no appea l were it

not a re p lic a of th e society of men Th e allu s ion to th e b ronze
.

a rmou r of D iomed es wou l d not b e u nderstood if b ronze were

a n u n known metal F ro m th e stories of th e wi nds one c a n
.

gath er i n p a rt th e meteorological cond itions of a ncient G reece .

B y m a king dedu ctions of th is ki nd m any fa cts of h istory may

b e recovered ; th ey a re deta ch ed to b e s u re bu t neverth eles s of
, ,

cons iderab le v a lu e I ncidentally some of them a re u s efu l i n

.
,

th e determi nation of d ates Ju st a s we c a n calcu l ate t h e period

.

before wh ic h Milton ca nnot h ave written P a r a dise Lost b ecau s e

of h is attrib ution of th e i nvention of ca nnon to S atan so ,

we c a n b e reason ably su re th at those myth s wh ich sp ea k of

a n i ntimacy b etwee n Ath ens a nd Troizen c annot h ave been
given th e form i n wh ich we now know them p rior to a certa in
h istorica l alliance b etween Athens a nd a group of Argol id C ities
wh ich i ncluded Troizen .

Here a s ever y wh ere th e a rgument from s ilence is to b e

, ,

u sed with th e u tmost d isc retion G ree k myth is lac king i n

.

a l l u sion to s id ereal cu lts a n d from th is f a ct th e i nference i s

,
 I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S liii

d rawn th at th e G ree ks were origi nally a north ern p eo p le

a th eory wh ich is p rob ab ly s afe S i nce it conform s to th e resu lts
,

of i nvestigations among oth er p eo p les I n a ll s u ch i nst a nces .

,

however one mu st dema n d a n abu nd ance of verified pa rallels

,

b efo re acce p ting conclus ions .

8 Myth a n d Ethi cs
. .E ver s ince th e G ree k myth s began to
b e stu died c ritic all y th e con duct of thei r personages h a s been
a s erious eth ical p rob l em P ra ctica lly every evil deed forb idden
.

b y society a n d religion w a s committed by th e gods a nd heroes ,

a n d genera l l y with sta rtli ng imp u nity Th e commo n o p inio n .

O f tod ay th at th e myth s a re u ns afe read ing for th e you ng

was s h a red by P l ato who for th is very re a son p roposed to

7
, , ,

d eb a r Homer as a text book from h is ideal s tate I n th e

-
.

Hipp o lyto s of Eu ri p i des th e amou rs of Zeu s a n d S emele a n d

8

of K e p h a lo s a nd EO S give th e nu rs e a p rece dent for the illicit

satisfaction of love wh ich sh e suggests to P h a i dra ; thu s th e

poet p racti cal ly a s serts th at th e a cts of th e gods a s n a rrated ,

i n myth h a d a di rect i nfl uence o n the b eh aviou r of th e common

,

p eo p le I n ma ny p as s ages i n h is treati se o n eth ic s Aristotl e

.

c astigates the moral standa rd s of th e legen ds i n reference to

c e rta i n acts Certainly a b a d ca s e is ma de ou t a gai nst t h e
.
,

myt h s a n d th e question is c a n a ny defence or mitigating ex

, ,

pl a nation b e offered i n thei r beh alf ?

I t m ig ht b e well to lea rn if we ca n j u st why th e myth s con
, ,

ta i n s u ch i mmoral ele ments I n th e fi rst p l ace one mu st r e

.
,

member th at they a re s u rviv a ls of a n ea rlier age when men were

governed by i nferior eth ical i deals to whic h th e gods a nd heroes
were bou nd to conform s i nce the m y th ma ker knew no h igher
,
-
.

E ven h a d he fas h ioned h igher motives for th em out of h i s o w n

m i nd every act of god a nd h ero wou ld h ave been beyond t h e
,

o rdi na r y u n dersta n ding a nd th e m y th no matter how b eauti

, ,

ful to ou r th i n ki ng wou ld li ke a n u ndiscovered flower h ave

, , ,

wasted its fragra nce on th e desert a i r To the contem p oraries .

of th e myth ma ker th e beh aviou r O f th e diviniti es however

-
,

w rong i t may a p p ear now w a s right a n d a n a p p reci ation O f

, ,
liv I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S
th is will render t h e immorality of the myth s i nnocuou s to t h e
modern reader Another f a ct
. doubtles s sta rtli ng to ma n y
mu st b e em p h asized h ere : th at is th ere is no obligatory con
,

n e x io n between every religion a n d mora lity Ch ri sti a nity i s

.

a l mos t u ni qu e i n th at it ins ists u p on the ins e p arab le u nio n of

th e two b ut we mu st not read th is requ i rement i nto oth e r
,

fa ith s a s a matter of fact If then to th e G ree k religion wa s

.
, ,

one fu nctio n of ma n a nd mor a lity a nother there was no meces ,

s ary confl ict b etween th e myth as a veh icle of religiou s t h ought

a n d th e eth ic a l C h aracter of it s det a ils Any p os itive moral.

elements d iscoverab le i n myth were l argely ac cidental Th ey .

c a me i n des p ite a ce rtai n contem p t common to most religions

, ,
’
for mere eth i cs Moreover the b a rd s tas k w a s not to p reac h ;
.
,

it w a s to p resent d ivi ne truth s i n a n attra ctive an d cogent form .

Ag a i n many p ri mitive peoples allow for two et h i c al sta nd a rds

, ,

one for themselves and th e other for outs i ders I t may be th at .

th e G ree k tolerated th e i niqu ity of h is gods b ec au s e t h ou g h ,

l i ke men th ey were es senti ally a d iffe rent fol k Lastly we

,
.
,

mu st b e on ou r gu a rd ag a i nst cou nting a s immora l or O b scene

wh at was i n origi n not of th is C h a racter For i nsta nce it seems
.
,

p rob ab le th at th e frequent attribution O f th e c reatio n of cer

tai n th ings i n th e world to th e s exu al rel ations of d ivi nities i s
d ue p rim a ri ly to th e i nab ility of t h e Hellene to ex p la i n a b so
l ute begi nni ngs in any other way .

B ut why di d the l ater a nd more morally s ens itive genera

tions of G reeks not p u rge the myt h s of th i s evil ? On e reason
i s th a t it w a s conve ntional to acce p t t h e myt h s i ntact a nd con ,

v e n t io n a lit y l i ke Ch arity covereth a mu ltitu de Of S i ns I n

, ,
.

st in c t iv e l y we tolerate tod ay th e reading of certai n pa ss ages of

th e B ible before mixed congregations becau se th e B ible l i ke ,

some s ecul ar th ing h a s come u nder the authorit y of co n v e n

,

t io n a l it y. Doubtles s th e attitu de of ma ny h igh minded G reeks -

w a s mu ch the s ame towa rd th e recital of thei r myths Anothe r .

reason lies i n th e natu re O f th e G ree k religion It w a s not a .

revivalisti c religion i n a n y sense of t h e te rm a nd es pecially ,

 P LA T E V
Z EP H Y RO S

Z e p hyro s, s ugge stiv e ly c h a ra c t e r i z e d a s a wi n ge d

o ut h o f m il d a n d k i n dl y c o un t e n a n c e a n d o f s o ft
y
b o dil y c o n t o urs is l e i s ure ly fl yi n g fro m t h e w e st b e a r
,

in g a ge n e ro us b urde n o f fl o w e rs in a fo l d o f h is g a r
m ent . F ro m a re li e f o n t he T o w e r o f An dro n i k o s
S O c all e d T o w e r o f t he W i n ds n At h e n s B
( -
) i ( run n

Br uc k m a n n D en hm ale r g r iechischer un a r bm iscb er Sculp

'
’ ’

t ur , NO . Se e p . 2 66 .
 THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LI B RARY

ASTO R LE N o x
TI L D E N F OU N D AT I O N S
,
 I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S lv
not i n th e connotation wh ic h im p l ies a consciou s cutting away
from the p as t Ch a nges th ere were i n th e myth s of cou rse bu t
.
, ,

th rough ac qu isition a nd not th rough a n y s p i ritu a l refini ng .

Th e new wi ne was p ut i nto the ol d bottles a nd i n th e e nd th e ,

bottles bu rst a n d p eris h ed .

Th e evi l of myths li ke th at of men lives after t h em b u t i s

, , ,

th at a wa rr a nt for i nterring th e goo d th at m a y b e i n the m ?

Though thei r p os itive mo ra l elements a re a l ong wit h th ei r ,

general f a b ri c i ncidental s u rvivals they requi re d u e r e c o g n i

, ,

tion We mu st not forget th e stau nc h moral ch a racter of Apollo

.
,

of th e nob ler Zeu s a nd of th e E ri n y es I n the p u nish ment

,
.

of ce rtai n s i ns they were relentles s Over a gai nst the frequ ent .

flouti ng of t h e l aw of conj ugal fi delity by th e gods a n d heroes

we mu st hold the beautifu l p ictu res of the faithfu l Penelope
a n d of P ro k r is a n d K e p h a lo s There is a tone of cens u re r un
.

n ing th rough th e m y th s th at tell of th e adulte ry of K lyt a i

mestra a n d Aig ist h o s D iomedes rej ection of h is wife on th e
.
’

d iscovery of h er i nfidelity c an mea n nothi ng els e th a n th at th e

p eople among whom th e myth was almost gos pel tru th i ns isted
a t least o n a code of mora ls for wives Al k in O OS s howe d h is .

respect for th e soci al s a n ctity O f ma rri age vows wh en h e r e

fu s ed to p art I ason a nd Medei a if the y were alrea dy ma n a n d
wife Moreover mere c h astity h a d a value se t u pon it Ka l
.
,
.

listo an d Au ge were ce rtai nly not h eld up i n m y th s a s model s

o f w h at m ai dens s houl d b e an d Hi p p ol y tos B ellero p hon a n d
, , ,

P eleu s thou gh to some extent rega rd ed a s p rigs stood never

, , ,

t h e l e ss a s wo rthy exa m p les of self restrai nt

,
Th e enormity of -
.

ta king h u m an l ife especially th at of ki n dred a n d O f friends is

, ,

emp h asized i n man y myt h s Orestes fulfilment of a religiou s

.
’

O bligation by s laying h is mother d i d not ab solve h i m from th e

sta i n of sh eddi ng family b lood Hera kles h a d to p a y d ea rly.

for the mu rder of h is ch ild ren and l ater for t h at of h is t r ust

, , ,

i ng friend I p h it o s As s au lts u p on th e honou r of women were

,
.

recognized a s distinctly immor a l For h is attac k u p on Alk ip p e

.
,

Ha lirr h o t hio s though th e so n of a god w a s h aled before Are

, ,
lv i I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MY T H S
’
o pa
g o sThe. story of Athene s wrath agai nst th e lesser Aias
attests th e i nviol a b il ity of s u p p liants a s a n a rti cle i n the p rimi
tive moral code Lastly but by no mea n s th e least im p ortant
.
, ,

i s th e fact th at s everal cycles of myth recognize a moral taint

th at clings to certai n families from generation to generation .

Th e s tatement th at cu rses rested on th e hou ses of T a n t a lo s

a nd La ios wa s the myth ic ma nne r of recording th e definite
moral bent O f thes e families a nd the inevitable consequ ences
of thei r s ins To explai n the p henomenon with ou r modern
.

b iologists a s o ne of h eredity does not stri p it of its mora l

,

s ignifica nce .

9 M
.
y th a n d A r t — T h roug h out t h e ages t h ere h as been a
.

C los e affi nity b etween religion a nd a rt a rt i n th e b roadest

s ens e Th e p oet th e s cu l p tor and the p ai nter h ave always
.
, ,

been among th e C h ief i nterp reters of the religion of t h ei r day

a n d generation Who c a n p rove th at they h ave not b een more
.

convi ncing a nd comma n ding th a n th e p riest ? Ce rtai nly th e

p rodu cts of thei r e ff orts h ave been more endu ring for when th e ,

faiths of wh i c h they were the exponents h ave long s i nce ceased

to sti r t h e h ea rts of men th ey h ave still about them ce rtai n
elements whose a p p eal i s everlas ting Olymp ia nis m is dead .
,

b ut the I l i a d a nd Odyssey of Home r still live on Wh at is th i s .

vital s p irit ? It i s s een i n th e difference between ritu al a nd a rt .

Ritu al i s religio n i n action a nd a s su c h it n eed not b e r e fle c

,

tive ; i ndeed it generally is not Art on the oth e r h and i s t h e

,
.
, ,

s i ncere en deavou r O f a h u man sou l momenta ri ly d eta ch ed fro m ,

th e activities of life a nd ritu a l and u nder t h e domin ation of a

cla rifyi ng emotion to find for its elf a nd to revea l to oth ers a
,

vision of th e highest social i deals O f th e time Ritu a l a p peals .

to th e initiate to the sect ; a rt with its beauty a nd subtlety of

,

s uggestion a p p eals to a u nive rs a l insti nct Th e mea su re of a .

wo rk of a rt is th e strength of its claim o n al l man kind B y .

thi s standa rd we ca n com p a re t h e worth of Hes iod a nd Homer ,

of a n a rch aic A p ollo a nd th e Apollo B elvede re Res p ective .

degrees of workma nsh i p a nd finish a re of va lue only so fa r

 I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G RE E K MY T H S lv l l

as th e y conform or f a i l to conform to th e exa ctions of th e

, ,

ideal towa rd wh i ch th e a rtis t s trives .

We h ave dwelt th u s long o n th e n atu re a n d fu nction of a rt

i n o rd er th e mo re C lea rly to reve a l th e relation of G ree k m y t h
to G ree k religion Th e religiou s m ateri a l of most O f the m y th s
.

wh ic h h ave come down to u s w a s s im p ly c rass s u p erstition ,

b ut ta ke n ove r by devou t a n d i ns p i red b a r ds it was p as se d a t

, ,

the wh ite h eat O f emotion th rough th e refi ning p o t of thei r

s p i rits a n d ca me ou t tra nsformed a s p oetry Later Homer a p .

p e a re d
9
With his s u p erior gifts h e fu sed th is p oetr y and a
.

n u mb er of c ru de s u p erstitions i nto the nob le e p i cs th at a re

attrib uted to h is n ame Th is gave th e needed im p u l s e to a
.

long su cces sion O f les ser poets Th e go ds a n d h eroes of Homer

.

were common p ro p erty a nd h a d a remotenes s from th e life

i nterests O f th e b a rds own loca l commu n ities wh ich g a ve
’

th em a s it were a licence for mou ld ing them a s they cou ld

, ,

not mou l d thei r loca l gods a n d h eroes Th e p ai nter an d th e .

s cul p tor followed i n thei r ste p s I m itating as th ey d id i deal

.
, ,

izi ng an d relatively re fi ned models they cou ld not thems e l ves ,

b ut re p res ent th e i de a l a nd th e refined Th is i s th e reason why .

th e gross elements of th e myth s a n d p o p u l a r s u p erstitions ra rely

th ru st th ems elves i nto th e h igh er s cu l p tu re a n d with b ut little ,

more frequency i nto va s e p a inti ng th e leas t nob le of t h e Gree k

-
,

a rts .

I O Methods of I n terp r etin g Myth

. A citation of th e most .

i m p ortant methods of i nter p reting myth s wit h b rief comment , ,

is su ffi cient for the p u r p oses of th i s volu me .

I
. The n atu ral method Followers of t h is system wou l d
.

trace p ractically every legend b ac k to a p rimitive accou nt of

some n atu ral p henomenon o r grou p of p henomena According .

to them myth s a re sol a r lun a r o r astral ; o r a re to b e referred

, ,

to light the win ds clou d s rai n veget a tion a n d so forth

, , , , ,
.

2
. Th e p h ilological method Th e lea ding ex p onent of th i s
.

school of i nter p retation was F Max Mii lle r I t s p ra cti ce i s. .

“ ”
to accou nt for m y th s a s th e seq uel a e of dis eas e of langu a ge ;
lvii i I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MY T H S
i n other words a s confu sions res u lting from a misu nderstan d
,

ing of terms th at h ave p ers isted i n S p eech after th ei r original

me a ning h a s been lost Th e wea knes s of th is method now
.
,

ab a ndoned i n it s extreme form is th at it does not squ a re with

,

ou r p resent knowledge of th e p ri mitive mind ; fu rth er th e ,

etymologies o n wh ic h it b as es it s conclu s ions a re generally

u ncerta i n a n d often false .

3. T h e rationa lizing (eu hemeristi c ) method Th e fi rst to .

a p p ly th is method s y stematica ll y w a s Euh e m e ro s a G reek of ,

th e th ird centu ry B C Th e de ifi c a t io n of th e vi ctoriou s Alex

. .

a nder forced ma ny to th e conclus ion th at th e great god s of

trad ition were h u ma n beings who h a d been exalted to th e
sk y for their b enefa ctions to hu manity Euh e m e ro s took over .

th e i dea a nd u sed it i n h is h istorica l rom a nce of Alexander .

Th is s chool therefore rega rds myth s a s noth ing more th a n

, ,

p erverted h istory .

4 Th e allegorical method With t h e inab il ity to a cce p t th e

. .

ol d legends attem p ts were ma de even long b efore ou r era to

read h igh er meanings i nto t h em a nd from th em w a s evolved ,

a s cience of a llegory Needless to sa y th e good doctri nal

.
,

m atter thu s elicited from th e myth s was only i n th e ra rest in

s ta nces i ntended by thei r authors Moreove r th is method is .
,

too mech a nical a nd leaves no room for th e p lay of fa ncy .

5. Th e poetical method A few s cholars

. follow Ovi d i n
c a nd idly p rocl aiming thei r b elief th at m yths a re p u rely th e
fi g m e n t s of poetic a l imagi nation .

I p r a t e o f a n c i e n t p o e t s m o n s t r o us li e s
’

N e e r s e e n o r n o w o r t h e n by hu m a n e y e s ,
’

s ings Ovid .
1°
His only fa ith i n the legends w a s th at wh ic h h e
h a d i n a ny oth er work of a rt .

6 T h e ritu al metho d Many m yth s (bu t as su redl y not all )

. .

c a n be C las s ified a s ex p l a nations of ri tu als whos e origin a l sig

n ifi c a n c e h a s b een lost i n th e p a st To th is cl as s belong th e .

m a j ority of th e aetiologic a l tales .

 I N T RO D UCT I O N T O T HE G REE K MYT H S lix

7 Th e a nth ropologica l or com p ar a tive method Th is m etho d

. .

i s b ased o n t h e hy p othes is th at p eo p l es a t th e s a me l evel s of

p ri mitive development i nvent th e s ame ki n d of stories It lea ds .

“
th e i nvestigato r when a n a p p a rentl y irrationa l a nd a nom a l ou s
,

c u stom i s fou n d i n a ny cou ntry to look fo r a cou ntr y wh ere

a s imila r p ractice is fou nd a n d wh ere th e p r a ctice i s no longer
,

i rrational a n d a noma lou s b u t i n h a rmon y with th e ma nners

,

a n d i deas of th e p eo p l e among whom it p re v a ils T he re

11

sult s of th is theory a re O ften i nval i dated by th e ta cit a ssiI m p

tion th at its b as i c hy p othes is is a fa ct T o b e of s ervice th e .

method mu st b e h istoric al .

I I . The Obj e ct an d the Metho d of the P r esen t Tr ea t ise .

—
T he
a uthor s p u r p ose i n writi ng th is volu me is to p res ent the myth s
’

of G reece a n d Rome a s veh icles o f religiou s t h ou g h t He for .

b ears to c all them records (thou g h after a m a n ner t h ey a re

s u ch ) lest a ny rea der b e misled i nto b el ieving th at th ey be a r
,

th e sta mp O f th e deliberation an d th e fi n ality wh ich a re ge n

e r a l ly as cribe d to records T h at they en ab l e u s to view o nly
.

a p a r t of th e faiths of th e G ree ks an d Rom ans as f rom a s ingle ,

a ngle is not merel y a dm i tte d b u t i ns iste d u pon a s fu nd amenta l

,

to thei r i nter p retation I na sm u ch as a rt is p s y chologi cally

.

posterior to religion j u st a s economicall y luxu ry i s to wealth

, , , ,

th e a rtisti c wo rth a n d i nfluence of th e m y th s a re h ere to b e

regarded a s of s econ da ry i nt erest .

Th e s y stem of i nter p retation to b e followed is at b as e th e

comp a rative method Th e entire stres s however will not b e
.
, ,

l ai d u p on th e Si m il a r ities of p arallel i ns tan ces ; mu ch em p h as i s

will b e p la ce d u p on di ff erences Moreover th e metho d will
.
,

not b e ap p li ed exce p t to verify trace s i n th e myth s of thei r

o rigi n a n d mea ni ng or wh en a ll efforts to d iscover su ch s igns
,

h ave fai le d I n h a n dling th e legends s ingly th e following fea

.

tu res will be noted : th e p ecu li a r cast of th e conce p tion th e ,

n ames a n d e p ithets of the go ds a n d h eroes a n d th e sever a l

forms of th ei r s y mbols the v a ria nt vers ions O f the myth a n d
, ,

t h e tra dition a l i nterpretation of a nti qu ity ; b u t th e utmost

lx I NT RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G REE K MYT H S
caution will b e ta ken to avoid b as ing a conclu s ion o n a ny o n e
of these featu res i n isolation from the oth ers Fin ally it wil l .
,

const a ntly b e borne i n mi nd t h at a myth is after all a p roces s

, ,

a n d not a finished p ro du ct .

12 . The S o ur c es of Myth I t i s to be regretted th at t h ere

.

is no S ing l e wo rk containing withou t comment a detailed com

p il a t io n of th e l itera ry sou rces from wh ich we d raw ou r knowl

edge o f G ree k a nd Roma n myth s Th e va lu e of su ch a work

.

to a s tu dent of religion a nd of literatu re a nd th e a dva ntage of

b eing able to refer to it o n th e p resent occ as ion a re O bviou s .

S o wi dely s cattered both among authors a n d i n i ndivi du a l

,

works a r e th e allu sions to myth s th at we ca n here do no more

,

th a n n ame th e few ou tstan ding clas s ic writers to whom we

a re most i ndebted and the general dep artments of literatu re
from w h i c h myt h s a re most li kely to b e recovered .

SOURC ES FOR T HE G REEK MYT HS

P oetr y : Homer a nd t h e
,
called Ho m er i c Hym n s to t h e
S O-

gods ; the fragments a nd s u mmaries of t h e h eroi c ep ics th e

Kyp r i a th e Ai thi o p is t h e Li ttle I l i a d t h e N osto i th e Te le
, , , ,

g o n i a ; H es iod ; the lyric poets especi

,
ally Pinda r ; th e exta nt
p l ays a nd fragments of th e great d ra matists of Athens ; th e
b u colic poets T h eo k r it o s B ion an d Mo sc ho s; th e fragments of
, ,

th e Aiti a of K a l lim a c ho s; Apollonios of Rh odes ;

Q ui ntos O f S m y rn a ; N o n n o s a nd Mo usa io s .

Mu c h information concerni ng G ree k myt h s i s give n u s b y

ce rtai n Roma n p oets not a bl y th e elegists Catu llu s Propertiu s
, , ,

a nd T ibu llu s ; Vergil ; Ovid ; Horace ; Va leriu s Fl a c c us; S eneca ;

S tatiu s ; Au soniu s ; a nd Clau dia n .

P r o se : He ro do t o s; fragments of th e l ogograp h ers a nd his

t o r ia n s ; P l a to ; Ap o llo do ro s a nd th e oth er mythographers ;

P au sa nias ; Lu cia n ; th e Ch ri sti a n a p ologists ; th e s c h oli a (i n

t e rp r e t a t iv e ma rgi nal notes ) of Homer a nd th e d ra matists ; th e

lexi cogra p h ers The Lati n works attributed p robably wrongly

.
, ,
 P LA T E VI

S I LEN O I AN D MA E N A D S
T wo d b e a rde d S ile n o i wit h ho rs e s tail s a r e
n u e an d
’

e a c h c a r ryi n g a Ma e n a d o n t he i r sh o ul de rs O n e .

Ma e n a d h o l ds in he r la p t he faw n w h i c h is t o b e t o rn
a s un de r in t he r it ual w h il e t he o t he r is b e ati n g a p ai r
,

o f rattl e s T h e h e a ds o f b o t h w o m e n a re b o un d wit h
.

g a r la n ds o f ivy l e av e s
- w h i c
,
h t o ge t h e r wit h t h e l o n g
,

s i n uo us s t e m divi di n g t h e t w o g ro up s o f fi g ure s a re ,

a m o n g t he e m bl e m s o f D i o nys o s F ro m a bla c k .

fi g ure d a mp ho o f ab o ut 4 7 5 B c fo un d at G e la
ra . .
,

( M on um t i Aen t i chi
n xvii
,
P l at
, e XX X V II
) 8
. 66 p
p .

2 6 7—
7 0 .
 b”
PUBLI C LI Q U AA

L E N OX
T HJHH‘ F O UN D AT K MHS
 I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G RE E K MYT H S lxi

to Hyginu s may be i nclu ded h ere a s well

, ,
th e mythologica l
as

t reatis es of F ulg e n t ius a n d O f t h e Vati ca n Mythograp h er .

S OURC ES FOR T HE ROMA N MYT HS

T he existing sou rces the Roma n myth s a re of t h e s a me
Of

meagre p ro p ortions a s t h e b u l k of th e legends th emselves .

Th e most im p ortant a re Vergil ; Livy ; D ionys ios of Ha lik a r

n assos i n h is Hi sto r y of E a r ly Ro m e ; Ovid ; Va rro ; t h e a ntiqu a

ri a n Ve rr ius F l a c c us; an d S ai nt Augu stine .

I n th e fiel d of art outsi de of literatu re we c a n sometimes fin d

n ew vers ions of myth i c ta les a n d c a n ve ry often se e th e ol d
forms fro m fresh p oints of V iew It i s th e vas e p a inti ngs a n d
.
-

s cu lptu re wh ic h yiel d th e most s ubsta nti al res u lts The a rti .

s a ns who executed th e former b elonged to t h e ra n ks of th e

commo n peop le ; consequently we m ay infe r th at t h os e m yt h o
logica l t h emes wh ich th ey pi ctu red re p res ent vers ions cu r
rent in their own stratu m of society an d perh aps d et a ch ed
fro m literary tra ditions Fo r about two centu ries b egi nn ing
.
,

a p p roxim ately 7 00 B c .it w a s the common p ractice to use s u c h

.
,

th emes an d to i dentify th e personages p ortraye d by means of

symbols or ins crib ed n ames Th rou gh the comb ined effect of a
.

nu mbe r of h ampering conditions th e limited s pace avai l

—

a b le for th e p ictu re o n th e vases t h e a rtis t s u n developed s kill

’
, ,

a n d t h e religiou s con ceptions of h is times an d of his soci al

c las s —
it was impos sib le for th e p ai nter to i m p a rt to h is
fi gu res t h e fi ner lineaments of i nd ividu ality a n d ch a racter .

S culptures i n relief especially those b elongi ng to templ e

,

friezes are more u sefu l to u s a s sou rces of t h e details of myth

,

th a n a s i nte rp retations for a ten dency to allegorize thei r

,

themes ob s cu res thei r p rimary a n d even th ei r contem p ora r y

, ,

significa nce .I t is to s cu lptu re i n t h e rou n d t h at we mu st tu rn

for th e nob lest a n d s trongest interpretations of the god of
myt h a nd wors h i p T h e temple statu e tel ls no s to ry ; th at is
.

n o t its fu nction . On th e contra ry i t stands a s a su mmary , ,

lxii I N T RO D UCT I O N TO T HE G RE E K MYT H S
sub li mated to a n i deal by th e alch emy of the a rtist s geniu s o f ’
,

a ll th e h ighest attributes a ccorded th e god i n the thought of th e

maj orit y of h is wors hi p p ers Th e trai ne d a nd discerning e y e
.

c a n re a d th e i n divi du al attributes i n th e su mmary As com .

p ared with th e tem p le image th e d ecorative statu e does te l l

,

a sto ry Th e very p u rpos e for wh ich it is des igned gives th e

.

a rtist a n O p p o rtu nity of choosi ng a S itu ation to use a term of ,

d ra mati c c riticis m i n wh ic h to se t h is god ; and s itu ation im

,

p l ies n a rrative . Moreover th e s cu l p tor h as mu ch more free

,

dom i n ma king h is s election of attributes Th e other forms of .

a rt to wh ich th e stu dent of myth may refer a re th e wall p a int -

i ngs O f P ompeii coi ns metal work a nd cut gems Th e wall

, ,
-
,
.

p ai ntings generally d eal with m y th s wh ic h a re a lready known

th rough literatu re ; th ey a re u sefu l m a inly a s i llu strations a nd
verifications Coi n ty p es not i nfrequ ently p o rtray th e lea din g
.

cu lt statu es of th e state i ssu ing the coin ; li ke thei r models ,

then they tell no story Th e mythological scenes re p resented

,
.

i n relief o r by mean s of incis ed lines on mi rrors bowls a n d , ,

other O bj ects of domesti c use ra n k a s sou rces i n sub stanti ally

th e s ame cl as s a s th e e arlier vase p aintings From c ut gem s
- .

we learn rel atively little .

 G R E E K AN D R O MA N
MY T H O L O G Y

PA RT I

MY T H S OF T HE B E G I N N I N G T H E H E RO E S
, ,

A N D T H E A F T E RW O RL D
I T m a y b e t h o u h a s t fo llo w d
’

T h ro u g h t h e i sl a n ds s o m e divi n e b a rd
,

By age ta ugh t m a n y th i n g s ,

Ag e a n d t h e Mu se s ;
An d h e a r d h im de li g h ti n g
T h e c h i e fs a n d p e o p l e
I n t h e b a n q u e t a n d l e a r n d h is so n g s
’
, ,

Of G o ds a n d He ro e s ,

Of w a r a n d a r t s ,

An d p eo p l e d c i ti es ,

I n l a n d o r b u i lt
,

By t h e g r e y se a . If so t h e n h a il !
,

I h o n o u r a n d we l c o m e t h e e .

MATTH E W A R N O L D The S tr ayed Reveller

, .
 P L AT E VII

HE R A

T he re gal de c o rati o n o f t he dia de m , t he fine an d

no bl e fe at ure s , at ro n l y b e a ri n g o f t h e he a d
a n d t he m ,

a re c o n vi n c i n g p ro o fs t h at t h i s is a p o r t rait o f t h e

u e e n o f O l y m p o s a n d t he divi n e p at ro n e ss o f w e d
q
l o c k T he r e do e s n o t e x i st i n s c ul p t ure o r in p ai n ti n g
.

a re ve lati o n o f h e r ch a ra c t e r s up e r i o r t o t h i s F ro m .

a n o ri g i n al m a rbl e
p r o bably O f t h e late fi ft h c e n t ury
,

B c
. .
,
in t he Uff i z i Fl o re n c e (Brun n Bruc k m a n n
,
-
,

D e n hm a le r g r iechischer d i b er
r om sc S culp t ur , NO
'' '

an .

See p p . 16
3 ff .
 THE NEW YORK
PUB LI C LI B RARY

AST O R L E N o x AN D
TI LD EN F O UN D A TI O N S
,
G R E E K AN D R O M AN
MY T HO L O G Y

C H A P T ER I

MY T H S O F T H E BE G I N N I N G

HE early G ree k loo ked ou t upo n the world of me n a n d

th ings a n d as ked h i mself th e fa r fro m S imp le qu estion ,

Ho w a nd by whom w a s th is great comp lex created ? I n a n

sw e r in g t h e qu estion h e was bou nd of cou rs e to rema i n
, ,

with i n th e l i mits of h is own p erson al experience to ex p lai n

th e u n known i n terms of th e known o r of w h at s eemed to b e
known Lac king the C lass ified d ata of ou r modern s ciences of
.

geology astronomy a n d b iology h e wa s a s incap ab le of form

, , ,

i ng eve n a vagu e ide a of th e stru ctu re of the u nivers e a s h e

wa s of meas u ri ng th e d is ta nce betwee n th e sun an d th e moon .

Yet h e p oss es sed ce rtai n fu nd a me ntal facts a n d thes e c o m

,

pose d his meagre body o f science Moreover O b se rvation h a d

.
,

t a ught h i m th at th e worl d was th e theatre of th e ceas eles s

O p e ration of u nseen p owe rs th at were ce rtai nly su p erior to

ma n Followi ng his i nsti ncts h e p e rsonifie d t h es e powers

.
, ,

c alled the m gods an d di d th em wo rs h i p ; th is constituted h is

,

religion S ince a mong most p rimitive p eo p les s cien ce a nd r e

.

l ig io n ten d to be i nextricab ly i nterwoven with each other ,

it w a s i nevitab le th at th e G ree k s hou l d d raw o n these two

sou rces of h is fu nded experien ce i n a nswering h is question a s
to th e b e g i n n l n g of th i ngs .

B roadly s p ea ki ng th e fu nda menta l f a cts known to t h e G ree k

,

are a s follows I n al l de p a rtments of h er activity N atu re

.

steadily p roceeds from d isorder towa rd order Th e great move.

ments generally ta ke p l ace i n regu lar cycles s u ch a s d ays , ,

I _
‘

S
4 G REE K AND RO MA N MYT H O LOG Y
mont h s s easons a nd yea rs ; wh ile the u nforeseen and calami
, ,

tou s p henomena li ke volc ani c eruptions wh i rlwi nd and flood

, , , ,

a re really les s frequ ent a nd les s p otent th a n the normal oper

a t io n s . Li ke tends to beget li ke ; life a rises only from life .

T h e great tree comes from a smal l seed the b i rd from a fragile

,

egg a n d ma n grows to m atu ri ty from a helples s i nfa nt Wh a t

, .

cou l d b e more n atu ra l for the G reek th an to conclu de a s h e ,

did th at th e world a nd the races of men an d of gods c ame into

,

being i n the s ame way ? Once h e cou ld accou nt for th ei r c rea

tion he cou l d eas ily expl ai n thei r s ub sequ ent growth a nd de
,

v e lo p me n t th rough th e ordi nary vis ib le p roces ses of n atu re .

For th e su p remacy of gods a nd men wit h t h ei r idea s of orde r

an d j u stice h e cou ld find a n obviou s reason i n th e s uperiority
of th e great regu l a r forces over th e i rregu la r I n t h is method of
.

thoug h t h e wa s u nwittingly p aying a great tribute to h imself .

Th e lower s avage a ccredits some an imal with th e c reation of

th e world ; th e more advanced s avage might go a s h ig h i n t h e
s cale a s ma n h imself i n h i s s earch for th e first ma ker ; b ut t o
b e ab le to p oi nt with conviction to personal c reative forces
i mmeas u rab ly beyond ma n demand s a n extraordi na ry d egre e
of intellectu a l a dva ncement .

The C ea ti o n of the Wo r ld
r —
Among t h e Gree ks t h ere wa s
.

no s ingl e general ly a ccepted a ccou nt of t h e Creation for t h e ,

peopl e were d ivi ded a s to w h i ch of t h e s everal records wa s th e

most ancient a n d th erefore li kely to b e t h e most au thoritative .

T h e view th at p reva iled i n At h ens du ring t h e fift h an d fou rt h

centu ries B C wa s th at the oldest wa s contai ned i n a poem
. .

wh ich p assed a s th e compos ition of t h e i ns p i red Orpheu s Th e .

many other so called Orp h ic p oems cu rrent at t h e time were

-

fra n kly cou nted a s forgeries but n eve rth eless were believed
, , ,

to contai n the s a me trad ition of th e B egi nning as t h at fou nd i n

t h e I l ia d .

Acco rd ing to th e Or p h ic story u nc reated Nyx

,
Nig h t
exi sted fi rst an d wa s rega rd ed a s a great bl ac k winged bi rd
,
-

“
h overing over a vast d a rknes s withou t form a n d void .
 MY T H S OF T HE B EG I NN I N G 5

Though u nmated s he l ai d a n egg whence golden winged Eros

,
-

flew fo rth wh ile from the two p a rts of th e s hell Ou ra

,
“ “
n o s an d Gai a ( Heaven
” ”
an d E a rth ) were c reated Th ey .

b ecame th e fi rs t p ai r of p a rents a nd b rough t into the worl d

”
Ok e a n o s ( Ocea n ) a nd Tethys T h es e i n their tu rn
beca me a p a rental p a i r begetting Kronos Rh ea Pho r k ys an d
, , , ,

th e oth er Tita ns ; a nd s imilarly Kronos a nd Rhea were u nited

, ,

a n d b egat Zeu s and Hera Now Kronos wa s wa rned th at h i s

.

reign wou l d ceas e when Hera s h oul d bear a so n to Zeu s To .

fores tall su c h a n evil h e sought to kill h er b u t S h e w a s s aved ,

b y h er mot h er who s ec retly b rought h er to th e realm of

,

Ok e a n o s a nd Tethys wh ere u n known to h er father sh e w a s

, , ,

wed ded to Zeu s T h e Moi ra i

. led t h e b ri de to h er
h u sb a nd a nd E ros d rew th e b ri d al c a r w h il e i n honou r of th e
, ,

nu p ti als G ai a gave Ok e a n o s permiss ion to fashion th e beau

tifu l gardens of t h e Hesperi des Th e Orp hi c poet h el d t h i s .

u nion of Zeu s a n d Hera before t h e G ree ks a s t h e model of co n

j u gal rel ations.

T h e Hes iodi c story i s diff erent i n many points and is mu c h

les s s atisfactory a s a p h ilosop h ical expla n ation of beginnings .

F i rs t t h ere w a s Ch aos ,

t he va st i m m e a su r abl e aby ss ,

Outr a g e o us a s a se a da r k wa st e fu l il d ” 1
, , ,
w .

T h en c ame Ga ia gloomy Ta rtaros (t h e d ark U n de rworl d

,

a nd Eros a s t h e moving force with in and about all t h ings .

“ ”
Ch aos b roug h t into b eing E rebos ( Lower D a rkness ) a nd
Nyx a n d th es e i n t h eir tu rn begat Ait h e r ( Heavenly Light )
,
“ ”

“
a nd Hemera ( E arth ly Light i e ”
Mother E a rth
,
.

bore Ou ra nos (sta r sown Heaven to b e a h elp meet to h ers elf

-

a nd at t h e s ame time a s ecu re dwelling p l ace for t h e b lessed -

gods Now app ea red t h e rugged mou ntains an d t h e wi ld

.

stretches of th e se a I n th ei r relation of hu sb and a nd wife

.

Ou ranos a nd Gai a b ecame th e fou nders of wh at one migh t c all

th e fi rs t royal h ous e of the gods .
6 G REE K AND ROlVIAN MYT H O LOG Y
The Rég i m e f oT h e Ch
Our a n os
ildren of Ou ra nos a nd Ga
. i a
were m any Firs t there were born th e T itans s uc h a s Ok e a n o s
.
,
2
, ,

K rios Hyperion I a p e t o s Themis

, ,
Mnemosyne ,

a nd las t of all Kronos B es ides th es e th ere

, ,

“
were the Kyklopes the powers of t h e a ir ,
— B rontes ( T h u n
d er S teropes Arges
— ea ch of w h om h a d one huge eye i n th e mi ddle of h i s
fore h ead I n a dditio n to thes e monsters were t h e gi ants
.

Kottos Bria re o s a nd Gyes eac h with fifty h eads an d a hu n

, , ,

d red h ands s p ringing from h is s hou lders So terrible were they .

th at Ouranos thei r father w a s afrai d of them a nd t h ru st th em

, ,

b ac k into th e bosom wh en ce th ey h a d come At this Ga i a .

w a s sorely o ff ended a n d calli ng h er ch ild ren together sh e l ai d

,

before t h em a p la n of p u tting a n e n d to th e violence of th ei r

s i re Only Kronos was fea rles s enough to c arry it ou t Wit h
. .

a s i ckle given h i m by G ai a h e atta cked h is father a nd te r ribly

m utilated h im b ut G ai a c aught the b lood from th e wou nd
, ,

a n d from it i n t h e p roces s of time were born th e E ri nyes

the a rmed Gi a nts a n d the Melia n Nymphs wh il e , ,

t h e contact of the severed fl es h with t h e se a p roduced Ap h ro

;

d ite t h e goddes s of love W it h t h is attac k t h e ru le of Ou ra nos

,
.

c a me to a n end .

The Rég i m e of Kr o n os By vi rtu e of h i s strengt h a nd .

—

bold ness Kronos ass u med the kings h i p over t h e god s whos e ,

nu mber was now l arge for du ring th e rule of Ou ranos Nyx , , ,

Pontos (b a rren a nd th e elder Titans h a d b egotte n

m a ny c h ild ren a mong thes e b ei ng Th a natos
,
his
“ ”
b rother Hypnos th e w h ole tribe of d reams ,

Nemes is F riends h i p Old Age a nd S trife who h ers elf h a d

, , , ,
“ ”
b rought fo rth wa rs a nd ru mou rs of wa r Following t h e ex .

a mple of G a ia i n we dding Ou ra nos Rh ea became th e s iste r ,

s p ou s e of Kronos a nd th e fru its of th ei r wed loc k were Hera

, ,
“
Ai des Posei don a nd Zeu s the s i re of gods a nd , ,
”
men . Kronos rememberi ng how h e h a d d is placed h is fathe r
, ,

b ec ame fea rful th at one of h is C h ild re n migh t ove rth row h i m ,

8 G REE K AND RO MA N MYT H O LOG Y
to th e u nj u st ru le O f h is father h e wedded Hera a nd h ims elf
took th e th rone Afterwa rd h e de p os ited th e stone i n D e lp h o i
. .

Centu ries later a ce rtai n meteor wors h i p p ed i n Roma n Afric a

w a s identified by mythologists a s th is s ame stone 3
.

R
'

Esta bl ishm en t of t h e e g i m e of Z ; e Tita n s

e us t h — Many .

ch ild ren were born to Zeus a nd Hera a nd th ey were the firs t ,

to b e p roperly ca lled gods Th ey estab lis h ed themselves o n

.

Mou nt Olympos wh ich stood d i rectly oppos ite Mou nt Ot h ry s

, ,

th e s eat of th e Tita ns who b eing th e ol der race (with th e

, ,

exce p tion of Mnemosyne T h emis a n d P rometh eu s ) qu ite

, , ,

n atu rally rega rded Zeu s and his f a mily a s u pstarts a nd u s u rp

’

e rs. B itter rivalry a nd strife a ros e between th e two s ettle

ments an d for ten yea rs th ey fough t with no decis ive resu lts
,
.

A p eace p a rley h eld at the end of th is p eriod s eemed only to

-

a dd h eat to th e confl ict so th at at length Zeu s freed th e th ree

,

hu nd red h a nded G i ants w h om Kronos h a d left bou nd deep

-

down with in th e ea r th a n d enlisted them i n h is ra n ks deciding

, ,

now to reveal h is fu ll s trength a nd to b ring th e ted iou s strife

to a su dden end With th ei r m any h a nds th e G ia nts h u rled
.

hu ge roc ks at t h e foe u ntil the sk y w a s da rkened w h ile Zeu s ,

c ast t h u nderbolt after t h u nderbolt wit h th ei r long tongues of

fl ame
di re w a s t h e n o i se
Of c o n fl i c t ; o v e r h e a d t h e di s m al h i ss
Of fi e ry da rts i n fl a m i n g v o ll e y s fle w ,

An d flyi n g v a u l te d e i the r ho st wi t h fi re
, ,
” 4
.

B y t h i s deadly ass ault t h e Tita ns were overw h elmed a nd d riven

i nto th e dept h s of t h e earth Down down th ey went a .
, ,

j ou rney of n ine d ays and n i ne nig h ts u ntil t h ey were a s fa r ,

from t h e pl ai ns of ea rth a s t h e pl ai ns of ea rth a re beneat h

th e h eaven There a b razen wall wit h b razen gates wa s bu ilt
.

about th em a nd the th ree G ia nts were p laced on gu a rd to

,

p revent them from escaping .

— T h e sway of Zeu s wa s
Typ hon (o r T yp h oe us); the G i a n ts .

not yet s ecu re for Ga i a h ad borne to Ta rta ros a monstrous so n

,
 P LA T E VI I I

G O D S AN D G I A N TS
1 . i s e s f ro m t h e e a rth a s if t o i m p l o re Po s e i do n
Ge r

t o s ta hi s h a n d a s h e t h r us t s h is t r i de n t i n t o t h e b re a s t
y
o f h e r so n Po l yb o t e s
,
.

2 . In t h e c e n t re o f t h e p i c t ure Ap o ll o g ra s p i n g his ,

un s t rung b o w in his l e ft h a n d w it h h is r i gh t h a n d
,

dr iv e s his s w o rd at E p h ialt e s w ho de fe n ds h i m se l f
,

wit h a S p e a r At t he l e ft t h e a rm e d Ar e s is p re ss i n g
.
,

a sp e a r h e a d i n t o t h e b re a st o f t he fal li n g Mi m o n
-
,

w h il e at t he r i g ht He r a e n de av o ur s t o t r an sfix Pho it o s ,

w ho ,
t ho ugh t o tt e r i n g ba c k w a rd b o l dly c o n ti n ue s
,

fi g hfi n g .

3 . In t g
the o u e rro u
p at t h e r i gh t At h e n e is de

p ic t e d t ryi n g t o t urn En k e la do s t o s t o n e by ho l di n g b e
fo r e him t h e g org on eion o f h e r a e g i s w h i l e at t he s a m e
,

ti m e sh e ai m s a la nce at his b re a s t In t he o p p o sit e .

g ro up Art e m i s a p p e a r s i n t h e a c t o f b urn i n g G al o n
,

wit h bla z i n g t o rc he s a n d in t he c e n t re Z e us m a r k e d
, , ,

by his Sc e pt re a n d Po r p hyri o n a re e n gage d i n m ut ual

,

c o m bat t h e o n e h urli n g a t h un de rb o lt a n d t h e o t h e r
,

a st o n e F ro m a r e d fig ure d l ylix o f t h e e a rl y fi fth

.
-

c e n t ury B e in t h e Mus e um O f Fi n e Art s Bo s t o n

. .
, ,

r t w a n l e r-Re ic hh o ld G r iechische Va sen m a le r ei N O

(Fu g , ,
.

S e e p p 8— 9 . .
 MY T H S OF T HE B EG I N N I N G 9

n amed Typhon t h e d aemon of th e wh irlwi nd Upon h is shou l

,
.

ders h e c arried a h u nd red serpent h eads ; h is voice w a s l i ke -

those of al l fo rmi dab le beas ts i n one ; from h is eyes th ere fl a shed

ou t fi re I n his might h e ass ailed Zeu s a nd wou l d h ave wrested
.
,

th e sovereignty from h im h a d not th e lord of the go ds lea p ed

down from o n h igh and felled th e monster with a th u nderbolt .

Upon Ty p hon Mou nt Aetna wa s se t a n d from its pea k th e ,

s moke a nd fire of h is labou red b reath ing ris e to th is very d ay .

Even yet th e lords hi p of Zeu s w a s ch allenged th is time by ,

t h e G ia nts who h a d been born of Ga i a by th e b lood of Ou ranos ,

a n d w h om some b elieved to b e t h e forefathers O f th e h u ma n

race Among thes e mighty b eings were En k e l a do s Hyp e r b io s
.
, ,

Ep h ialtes a nd Polybotes They were a h aughty and wa rli ke

,
.

fol k a n d u nder thei r king Eu rymedon th ey lived some s aid

, , , , ,

i n th e is la nd of Kerkyra (Corfu ) o r a s ot h ers p referred i n, ,

S p ain or even i n Ch al kid i ke For t h ei r i nsolence a nd h ostility

.

t h e gods led by Zeu s a nd Athene overth rew them ; i n p u nis h

, ,

ment volc anoes were p iled o n th ei r p rostrate bod ies and th ei r ,

groans a nd convulsions of p ai n c a n b e perceived even today .

Th is myt h i s a restatement o r a poetic imitation O f t h e b attle

of t h e Tita ns bu t it conta ins s everal featu res j ust as ol d a s th e
,

body of t h e ot h er s to ry It was a ve ry popu la r t h eme i n p oet ry

.

a nd a rt t h roug h out t h e Helleni c world We fi nd it em p loyed .

i n a vase p ai nting wh ic h dates at least as early as th e s ixth

-

centu ry B c i n t h e eastern metopes of t h e P a r th enon and i n

. .
, ,

t h e frieze of th e great alta r of Zeu s at Perg amon .

Alt h oug h t h e elements o f th es e stories of t h e begi nnings of

t h ings a re va ried a nd confu s ed t h ei r central meaning i s C lea r
,
.

T h ey reveal th e b elief of t h e early G ree ks th at their establis h ed

soci al order never cou l d h ave existed h a d not th e cos mi c forces
p reviou sly been reduced to order by some power or powers .

Moreover t h ey m ay b e regarded as a gauge of th e growing

,

Hellenic faculty wh ic h app reh ended these p otencies at fi rs t

as few a nd mutu ally overlapp ing i n fu nction and l ater a s ,

many a nd d isti nct from one another I n th e as cenda ncy o f .

IO G RE E K AND RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
K ronos over Ou ra nos a nd of Zeu s over Kronos we se e a n in
c reas i ng app reci ation O f th e wo rth of intellect over mere b ru te
s trength a nd cu n ning I n s ho rt th e whole fab ri c of th e stories
.
,

sets forth in p attern the conviction th at t h e worl d moves

steadily towa rd better th ings .

The Cr ea ti o n of Ma m T h e G ree ks u nl i ke t h e He b rews

—
,

a nd thei r religiou s su ccessors h a d no one orthodox a ccou nt of

,

t h e c reation of ma n On the contra ry there were al most a s

.
,

many traditions a s th ere were city—states a nd th e mu lti p licity ,

of both w a s du e to t h e s a me c au s e th e isol ating ch a racter of

,

t h e Gree k h igh lands Wh at more n atu ral for th e Gree k local

.

p atriot th a n to b el ieve th at th e first man wa s created i n h i s

own commu nity ? Wh en one u nderstands the s p i rit of t h e
d ivis ions i n G reece h e ca nnot won der t h at t h e attem p ts of
,

Hes iod a nd th e earlier logographers to cons tru ct a h a rmony

of th e conflicting local myth s never p roved to b e emi nently
su ccessfu l I n th e legends th at we are about to examine each
.

a c t of th e c reation of ma n follows one of th ree p roces ses : th e

man S imply originates out of th e elemental p owers or obj ects

of th e ea rth ; o r h e is begotten by one of th e Olymp i ans ; or h e
is mou lded ou t of l ifeless m atter by t h e h and of some d ivine
or s emi d ivine a rtis an
-
.

The fi rst p roces s i s not a s s tra nge a s it app ears to b e at fi rs t

gla nce for it i s very easy to i nfer th at th at p ower wh ic h c a n
,

p roduce th e crops of the fiel d and the mysteriou s s econ d growth -

of timber o n th e b u rnt l a nds a nd c a n m a ke su dden revel ations

,

of life i n the wilderness ca n also p rodu ce m an Th e At h eni ans

,
.

b elieved th at t h e fi rs t m a n wa s K e k ro p s who s p ra ng to l ife ,

from th e soil of Athens Those Bo io t ia n s who lived nea r La ke

.

KO p a is held th at the fi rst man Al a l k o m e n e us w a s born of th e

'

, ,

waters of the la ke a fter the m a nne r of fi sh To the people of .

Arkad ia th e fi rst ma n w a s th ei r own earth sp rung P e la sg o s - .

I n Th eb a n story men ge rmi nated from th e d ragon s teet h ’

sown b roa dcast o n the ea rth Aia k o s the king of Aigina h a d

.
, ,

a cou nt ry without a p eo p le u ntil at the command of Zeus, ,

12 G REE K AN D RO MAN MYT H O LO G Y
modern a s wel l a s of t h e ancient I n t h e myt h s of P romet h eu s
.

a nd of Pa n dora we s h all se e it most attractively b rought out .

“
P r o m ethe us P rometh eu s is
. t h e type of th e h igh est
perfection of mora l a nd i ntellectu a l natu re impelled by t h e ,
”
p u rest a nd t h e tru est motives to the best, a nd noblest ends .

Th es e words of t h e poet Sh elley give u s a clea r V iew of

5

P rometh eus in h is relation to t h e t h ought a nd religion of t h e

Greeks He w a s a p aradoxical c h a ra cter I n his one perso n h e
. .

“
was bot h les s t h an god an d more th an god b ei ng wi se and ,

kind .
”6
His figu re was clea r where it rep resented t h e moral
asp irations of t h e Hellenes ob s cu re wh ere it tou c h ed t h ei r
,

formal religion ; it h ad j u st t h os e lines w h ic h thei r imagination

cou ld not res ist a n d w h ic h ma de it a n i nex h austible l itera ry
t h eme .

Promet h eu s Foret h in ker was generally h eld to b e t h e

so n of th e Titan I a p e t o s a nd Gai a ( or Themis ) a nd wa s ,

t h e b rot h er of Atlas a n d Ep imet h eu s Th e

legends a re by no means i n agreement a s to t h e n ame of h is
wife w h o i s variou s ly c alled K e l a in o Pa ndora P yrr h a As ia
, , , , ,

a nd Hes ione al l of w h ic h it i s wort h noting a re ep it h ets of

, , ,

t h e E art h Goddess His ma rriage w a s fruitful a nd among h is

.
,

c h ild ren were sometimes cou nted Deu kalion Ch im a ire us Ait , ,

n a io s Io a nd Thebe
, ,
I n m any of the myth s P rometh eu s a nd
.

Heph aistos a re cu rious ly allied i n t h eir relations to h u ma n

cu ltu re .

Alt h oug h a Titan Promet h eu s h ad espou sed t h e c aus e of

,

Zeu s t h u s manifesting h is n ative symp at h y for law a n d order ;

,

b ut a s h e was ess enti ally a nob ler type t h a n Zeu s h ims elf ,

h e cou ld not long mai ntai n th e allegiance W h en t h e c h ief .

Olympia n fou nd ma n kin d h opeles s ly fau lty a nd pla nned to

c reate a new race i n its pl ace P rometheu s b roke wit h h im a nd
,

d efiantly became s p onsor of t h e h u ma n c aus e T h is generou s .

devotion is t h e sou rce of h i s powe r i n myt h .

I n Hes iod s The og o n y th e story ru ns t h at a conference of

’

gods a nd me n was h eld at S i kyon to d etermine th e h omage

 MYT H S OF T HE B EG I N N I N G I 3

o wed by men to th e gods Acti ng a s p riest P rometh eu s s ac ri

.
,

fi ce d a n ox a nd d ivi ded it i nto two p a rts one of which con ,

s isted of fles h a n d other edible p ortions envelope d i n th e

ski n of t h e a nim a l wh ile t h e second was compose d of bones
,

a nd entrails allu ri ngly g a rnis hed with stri p s of rich fat I t .

wa s the hope of P rometh eu s th at Zeu s woul d be misled b y a p

p e a r a n c e s a nd C hoose the poorer p a rt but to the Olymp i a n ,

th e deceit was too p lai n a nd i n or der th at he might h ave a n

, ,

excuse for p u nishi ng men he deliber a tely took th e bones an d

,

e ntrails a nd with held th e gift of fi re from men Moved wit h

,
.

p ity P rometh eus s tole some embers a nd brought them to

,

7
m an kind hid den i n a hollow stal k I n some myth s it is s ai d .

t h at h e took t h e fi re from th e very h ea rth of Zeus ; i n oth ers ,

from the works hop of He p h aistos a nd Ath ene on Lemnos ; i n

s till others from t h e fiery ch ariot of the sun Th rough th is
,
.

s ublime theft men were en ab led to lift th e b a n of Zeu s to begi n ,

l ife a new and littl e by littl e to evolve th e a rts an d c rafts

,
.

B ut P rometh eu s p ai d th e p en alty for h is trespas s on th e

d ivi ne rights of Zeu s to the exclus ive control of fire Zeu s h ad .

h im ch ained to a c rag (or p ill a r ) i n t h e range of Cau casu s an d

a ppoi nted a n eagle to gnaw at h is V itals consuming ea ch day ,

wh at h ad been restored d u ri ng t h e night j u st p ast D es p ite .

h is many su fferi ngs th e s p i rit of P rometheu s was u nqu enched ,

for h e was comfo rted with the fore knowledge th at some d ay

h e wou ld be releas ed an d th at Zeu s woul d be ove rt h rown even
a s Ou ranos an d Kronos h a d fallen I n due time h is sh ac kles .

were b roken by Hera kles an d h e was b rou gh t b ac k to Olympos

to s e rve h is fello w gods with h is gift of p roph ecy I n on e odd
-
.

version of th e story t h e rocks s an k with Promet h eu s i nto th e

gloomy de p ths of Ta rtaros .

Th e notion th at m an w a s sh a p ed from cl ay wa s relatively

l ate B y th e fifth centu ry B C t h e b elief in th is p rocess wa s
. . .

general an d by the fou r th it w a s th e ru le to identify P rometh eu s

,

as the a rtist From clay h e fas h ioned both men and be a sts
.

and into t h em p assed ema n ations O f th e divi ne fi re wh ic h

14 G RE E K AND RO MAN MYT H O LOGY
became th ei r sou ls Th e h uman li ke bou lders at Pa nopeu s i n
.
-

P h o k is were poi nted ou t a s material left over by h im i n th e

p roces s of ma king men .

Th e myth of P romet h eu s teac h es t h at t h e Greeks regarde d

a ll n atu ral fire a s originally divi ne t h at it w a s at once t h e ,

strongest a nd th e subtles t of t h e forces of natu re and t h e most

potent factor i n t h e a dva nce of h uma nity I n th e legend c a n .

b e detected a p lea for th e dignity of pers everance a n d toil a nd

FI G . 2 . CR E ATI ON OF P A N D O RA

In t
t h e c e n re o f t he u td P d pp er b d th
t d t ifli y l ik an e n ew ly -cre a e an o ra s an s s e a

fi gu fw
re o l y T h
oo d or c a i o er r igh t pp
d Ath (w h h l d w t h t w d a e ar n or er en e o o sa re a o ar

H m
.

h ) P
er id Z u
o se d I i w h il t h
o n, e l ft
s, a nh w th m d A r s, e o er e a re s o n e ar e re s, er es,

d H f S ty
,

an Th l w
e ra . b d p e to mi d
er an F m re d fig u d
re se n s a co c a n ce o a rs . ro a re -
re

k t f u d t Alt m i
ra er o n d aw i t h B it i h Mu um [ HS xi P l t X I)
e ra an no n e r s se , a e .

t h e p romise t h at t h ey will b ri ng th ei r own rewa rd i n t h e form

of i ncreased e fli c ie n cy T h e pictu re of t h e noble su ff ering of
.

Prometh eu s i s testimony t h at ve ry ea rly t h e G ree ks h a d a clear

i dea of self sa c r ifi ce - .

P a n do r a By a ccepting t h e stolen fi re men were lega lly

.

p a rty to t h e o ff ence an d to pu nish t h em Zeu s condemned ,

t h em to earn thei r d a ily b read by t h e sweat O f thei r b row ,

bes ides doing t h em i rre p a rable h a rm by b ringing evil i nto t h ei r

lives At h is bidding Hep h aistos sh aped a n image of clay a nd
.

endowed it wit h hu ma n facul ties I n a ppea rance the figu re was .

l i ke one of th e Olympi an goddesses a beau tifu l maiden to

whom all the Olympia ns contrib uted of thei r s everal qu alities .
 P LA T E IX
AT H ENE PA R T H E N OS

T hi s stat ue o f At he n e , t he ai de n p ro t e c t re s s o f
m
At he ns is o n e o f a n um b e r o f c o p i e s o f t h e fa m o us
,

c hry s e l e p h a n ti n e i m ag e m ade by Phe idia s fo r t he

Pa rt h e n o n a n d m a ny o f it s p e c ulia r fe at ure s b e t ray
,

it s m e talli c o ri g i n al .In he r r i g ht h a n d t he g o dde ss

h o l ds e re c t a l o n g la n c e a n d all o w s he r l e ft h a n d t o
r e s t o n a s h i e l d s ta n di n g o n e dg e at h e r S i de O n he r
.

h e a d is a h e l m e t o n t h e t o p o f w h i c h sit s a S p h i n x ,

a n d o v e r h e r s ho ul de r s a n d b re a s t h a n gs t he a e g i s .

He r fa c e is s t ro n g dign ifi e d j ust a n d un e m o ti o n al
, , ,

i n S ho rt s ugge st s all t ho s e i de al t rait s o f C ha rac t e r

,

w hi c h t he n o bl e s t m yt hs h av e att r ib ut e d t o he r .

F ro m a m a rbl e o f t he ag e o f Ha dria n in t he Pra do , ,

Ma dri d (Br un n Br uc k m a n n D n hm a ler g r i his h r

-
,
e
'

ec c e

a n d r om sci b er Sculp t ur , N o . See p p . 16

9 ff .
16 G REE K AND RO MAN MYT H O LOG Y
S isters were ch anged i nto sh rill voiced gu inea fowl ; i n the Atti c
- -

grou p of myths Tereu s b ecame t h e h oopoe P h ilomele t h e nig h t ,

ingale a nd P rokne t h e swallow w h ile Nisos of Mega ra w a s

, ,

transformed i nto the se a eagle - .

S ome i nstances a re recorded i n w h ic h h u man beings too k

th e forms of q u ad ru p eds Th e impiou s Ly k ao n became a
.

p rowling wolf Kallisto a b ea r an d Ps a mat h e a wife of Ai a k o s

, , , ,

a seal .

The origins of certai n trees were sometimes traced b ack to

a hu man or a d ivine p ersonage For i nstance when P h ilyra .
,

fi rst saw h er monstrou s so n the Centau r Chei ron sh e was so

, ,

filled wit h horror th at Sh e begged to b e given a new form an d ,

Zeus bestowed u p on h er th at of t h e linden tree I n pity for th e -

.

i nnocently i ncestuou s S myrn a Aph rod ite allowed her to b e ,

come the myrrh tree wit h its sweet aroma Th e grieving S isters
- .

o f P h a ethon were tu rned i nto tremu lou s popla rs a n d D ap h ne

'

, ,

a s we s h all se e l ater b ec ame t h e l au rel

,
.

Beg i n n i n gs of Ci viliz a ti o n By mea ns of myt h t h e Greeks

.

endeavou red to exp l ai n th e origins of th e va riou s featu res of

civilization a s t h ey d id ot h er begi nnings equ ally ob s cu re T h e .

Argives alleged t h at thei r P h oroneus w a s th e fi rst to teac h men

to ab andon a solita ry m anner of life a nd to gat h er toget h er into
commu nities I t w a s h e a nd not Prometh eus according to
.
, ,

their p atrioti c C laim w h o wa s the d is cove rer of fi re Among

,
.

t h e Ar k a dia n s P e l a sg o s was believed to h ave been t h e first to

contrive h uts to fas h ion garments from the s kins of b ea sts
, ,

a nd to i nstru ct men to cease eating leaves and grass li ke t h e

b rutes of th e fiel d a nd to adopt a more d istinctively h u ma n
d iet F rom Arkas th e Ar k a dia n s eponymou s a ncestor men
.
,
’
,

lea rned h ow to ma ke b read s p in th read a nd weave ga rments

, ,
.

To th e p eo p le of Eleu sis Tri p tolemos was th e p ionee r i n t h e

cultivation of t h e sta p le grains wh ile the rea ding of t h e will of
,

th e gods i n the fl ight O f bi rd s w a s fi rst p ra ctised by Pa rnassos ,

a nd Deu kalion was c redited with h aving been t h e fou nder of

religion .
 MYT H S OF T HE B EG I N N I N G 7

The Ages of the Wo r ld Th e G reeks a nd Roma ns li ke most

.
,

other peoples believe d th at th e wo rld h a d passed th rough a

,

s eries of ages although th e severa l theori es a s to the natu re

,

of these aeons a re i n many resp ects d iscre p a nt The c y clic .

theo ry the theories of both ea rlier and l ater mystics and t h e

, ,

theories of the S toics and Cyn ics wh ile owing mu c h of thei r ,

fab ri c to mythology belong more p ro p erly to p h iloso p hy a n d

, ,

h ence even though a great p a rt of thei r teach ing i s p resented i n

,

t h e form of myth they c a n j u stly b e ignored i n th is accou nt

, .

Hesiod relates th at i n th e b eginni ng the Olym p i ans u nder

K ronos created t h e ra ce O f t h e Men of G old I n t h os e days men .

lived li ke gods i n u n alloyed h app ines s T h ey di d not toil wit h .

t h ei r h ands for ea r t h b rou g h t fort h h er fru its wit h ou t th ei r

,

a id They di d not know t h e sorrows of ol d age an d deat h wa s

.
,

to t h em li ke p assing away i n a calm sleep After t h ey h ad gone .

h ence t h ei r sp irits were appointed to dwell above t h e ea rt h

, ,

gu arding a nd h el p ing t h e living .

The gods next c reated t h e Men of S ilver bu t t h ey cou l d not ,

b e comp ared i n vi rtu e a nd h app ines s wit h t h e men of t h e

”
elder age O f golden peace For many years t h ey remained mere
.

c h ild ren and a s soon a s t h ey came to t h e full strengt h an d

,

statu re of man h ood th ey refus ed to do h omage to th e gods a n d

fell to s l aying one a noth er After deat h t h ey b ecame t h e good

.

S pi rits who live with in th e ea rt h .

Th e Men of B ronze followed sp ringing from a sh trees an d

,
-

h aving h ea rts wh ic h were h ard and j ealou s so th at with them

lu st a nd strife b ega n to gn aw th e world All th e works of .

t h ei r h a nds were wrou gh t i n b ronze T h roug h t h eir own in .

v e n t io n s t h ey fell from t h eir h igh estate an d from th e light th ey

p assed away to t h e d ark realm of King Hades u n h onou red an d

u nremembered .

Zeu s then p l aced u p on ea rt h t h e race of t h e Heroes who

fought at Th ebes a nd Troy a nd wh en they came to th e end of
,

life the Olym p i an s ent t h em to h a p p y abodes at th e very limits

of th e eart h .
18 G REE K AND RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
After the Heroes c ame t h e Men of I ron th e race of t h es e
”
wild l atter d ays Ou r lot i s l abou r an d vexation of spirit b y
.

d ay a n d by night nor will th is cea se u ntil the race ends w h i c h

, ,

will be wh en th e o rder of n atu re h a s b ee n reversed a nd h u m an

a ffection tu rned to h atred .

It i s only too p la in t h at t h is vers ion is ma rked by a n in co n

s is tent develo p ment and th e i nsertion of the Age of Heroes
,

between the Age of B ronze a nd th e Age of I ron is exceedingly

C lumsy : Ovi d shows mu c h more s kill i n th e j oi ne r y O f his
m aterial I n h is n arrative t h e fou r ages of the metals p as s with
.

ou t i nterruption an d for t h eir wi c ked ness the men of th e I ro n

,

Age a re destroyed t h e only su rvivors D eu kalion a nd Pyrr h a,

, ,

becomi ng t h e p arents of a new race t h e ra ce to w h ic h w e

belong .

Th e b as i c i dea of t h ese two forms O f t h e myt h i s t h at m a n

wa s c reated p u re and fau ltles s a n d fell by d egrees to h is p re s
ent u nworthy con dition t h is b ei ng borne ou t by t h e des cent
,

of th e metals T h e legend poi nts per h ap s a ccidentally to a n

.
, ,

a dva nce i n h u ma n res p onsib ility th rough t h e series of ages ,

a lt h ough its tra ns ition from age to age i s fa r from clea r From .

t h e point of view of modern eth ics t h e story contradicts its elf ,

b u t t h is mu st not b e em p h a sized too strongly s ince t h e origina l

,

m o tif w a s a p p arently not et h ical Th e cou ntles s desc ription s

.

of th e Golden Age i n t h e literatu res of G reece a nd Rome h a d

a powerful i nfl uen ce over t h e early C h risti a n delinea t ions of
Heaven .

The Gr e a t Fl oo d T h e Greeks s h a red wit h a lmost al l ot h er

.

peoples t h e belief in a great flood b ut th e event ,

if i t a ctu ally
occu rred w a s so ens h rou ded i n t h e h aze of a remote p ast t h a t
—

a ll t h e a ccou nts of it w h ic h h ave come down to u s a re p la inly

th e p rodu cts of th e fertile i magination of t h e G ree ks T h ey even .

attempte d to fix dates for it Th e flood of Deu kalion a nd P yrrh a

.

w a s s y nch ronized by some with th e reigns of K ra n a o s of Ath ens

a nd of N y k t im o s of Arka dia Th is p a rticula r d eluge is t h e one

.

of wh ic h th e bes t myths treat a n d i n d es c ribing it we S h all

,
 C H A P T ER II

MY T H S O F T HE P E L O P ON N E S O S

I ARKAD I A
.

ELASGOS T h e first ma n i n Arkadi a was Pe l a sg o s after

.
,

whom t h e l and wa s n amed P e l a sg ia a nd a fragment of ,

“
Asios s ays th at t h e bl ac k eart h bore godli ke P e l a sg o s on t h e
wooded hills t h at there might b e a race of men E lsew h ere h e .

i s c alled t h e so n of Zeu s and t h e Argive N iobe a nd if Niob e ,

w a s really a n ea rt h goddess as we h ave reason to s u spect t h es e

, ,

two genealogies a re i n fact but one B es ides being t h e fou nde r .

of hu ma n civilization h e was t h e fi rst Ar k a dia n king a nd

,

tem p le b u ilder He w a s wedded to th e se a nymp h Me lib o ia

.
-

( or Kyllene or Deianei ,
ra ) by whom he begat a so n
,
L y k a o n .

Lyk a o n Ly k a o n too was a fou nder w h o b u ilt th e C ity of

.
, ,

Ly k o so ur a establis hed t h e worsh ip of Zeu s on Mou nt Ly k a io s

, ,

a nd erected th e temple of Hermes of Kyllene He married .

m any wives who bore h im fifty sons bu t t h ey a nd their fat h er

, ,

manifested su ch impiety a nd a rroga nce before bot h gods and

men that they bec ame a n o ff ence i n t h e eyes of Zeu s In order .

to ma ke tri al of t h em Zeu s c ame to Ly k ao n s p al ace i n t h e dis ’

gu ising ga rb of a p oor d ay l abou rer The king received h i m -

.

kindly but on the a dvice of one of his sons mingled t h e V ital s

,

of a boy with th e meat of t h e s acrifices a nd se t t h em on t h e

tab le before t h e god With d ivine i ntu ition Zeu s detected the
.

tric k Rising i n anger h e overtu rned th e tab le destroyed t h e

.
,

h ouse of Ly k ao n with a t h u nderbolt ch anged t h e king i nto a ,

wolf a nd p roceeded to sl a y h is sons W h en one only N y k t im o s,

, .
,

was left G e (i e G ai a ) sta y ed th e h and of Zeu s Th is so n suc

,
. . .
 P L AT E X
I

HE L E N AN D PA R I S

Ap hro dit e s t s he r r i gh t h an d a n d a rm a c ro ss t he
re

sho ul de r s o f He l e n a o un g w o m a n o f att r a c tiv e b ut

y ,

i rre so l ut e m a n n e r a n d l o o k s e a r ne s tly i n to he r fa c e a s
,

i f she w e r e e n t re ati n g a n a n s w e r t o a q ue sti o n .

O p p o s it e t o t he m s ta n ds E ro s w ho se e m s t o b e ,

e n de av o ur i n g t o p e r s ua de Al e xa n dro s P a ri s
( ) to co m e

t o a de c i si o n i n a m att e r w h i c h g re atly p e r p l e x e s him .

F ro m a m a rbl e re li e f i n N a p l e s (Brun n Bruc k m a n n -

,

D e n hm a ler g r ie chischer i b er Sculp t ur , NO

’ '

un a r om sc .

Se e p . 125 .

A S K L E P I OS
S i nc e t he yt h s fail e d t o e n do w As k l e p i o s w it h
m
di s ti n c tiv e p hys i c al t rait s a rti s ts i m p re ss e d by t he
, ,

n o bility of his c h a ra c t e r a n d a c tiviti e s h abit uall y ,

l i k e n e d h im t o t he s ubli m e fi gure O f Z e us a n d c e r ,

t a i n ly t h i s r e p r e s e ntati o n o f him c a n n o t b ut re m i n d

o n e o f t h e stat ue tt e o f Z e us re p ro duc e d o n Plat e

XXX V II His fa c e a n d o ut s t re tc he d l e ft ha n d
.

ro m i s e a gr a c i o us w e l c o m e t o t h o s e w h o s e e k his
p
a id . F ro m a m a rbl e re li e f p e rh a p s C o p i e d fr o m t h e
,

t e m p l e s tat ue b y T hra sym e de s (fo urt h c e n t ury

-

di sc o v e re d at Ep idauro s a n d n o w i n At h e n s (Brun n
Br uc k m a nn D en hm l r g r b is b r a d r om iscb er S ulp
‘ '

a e z ec c e n c
,

t ur , No . Se e p p . 2 79 ff .
 THE A
PUB LI C Ll BRARY

AS T O R LENOX
F O U N D AT I O N S
,

T I L-
DEN
 MYT H S OF T HE P E L O P O N N E S O S 2 1

c e e de d fath er on th e th rone a nd du ring h is reign c ame th e

h is
gre a t flood w h ich Zeu s s ent to destro y man ki nd .

I n th is story Ly k ao n may re p resent a n ol d Pel asgic god or

king whom i mmigrating G reeks fou n d est a blis hed i n th e land .

“
The resembl ance between th e G reek word Ari/c o s wolf , ,

a nd th e i niti a l syll a ble of th e n ame Ly k a o n ma y p er h a p s i n

p a rt h ave given rise to th e myth of Ly k a o n s c h ange i nto a
’

wolf while i n th e imp iou s off ering to Zeu s one c an se e a record

,

of huma n sa c r ifi c e i n a n a ncient Zeu s ritu al

1 -
.

K a ll isto I n a ddition to h is fifty wic ked sons Lyk a o n h ad

.

“
another ch ild a d aughter n amed Kalli sto ( F
,
who was
sometimes spoken of s imp ly a s a nym p h a c ircu msta nce w h ic h ,

p rob ab ly points to h er origi nal i nde p endence of Ly k ao n Sh e .

“
w a s a comp anion of Art emis the hu ntress goddess ch aste an d
,
-

”
fai r who exacted O f h er followers a pu rity equ al to her own
, .

B ut Zeu s deceived Kallisto a nd took a dvantage O f her W h en .

S he was about to b ea r a ch ild to h im Hera d is covered her co n ,

d ition and tu rning h er i nto a bea r persu aded Artemis to kil l

, , ,

h er with a n a rrow a s S he wou ld any other b east O f th e wood

l a nd At t h e behes t of Zeu s Hermes too k her u nborn c h ild to
.
,

h is mot h er Mai a on Mou nt Kyllene where h e w a s reared u nder ,

t h e n ame of Arkas b u t t h e s lai n Kallisto Zeu s p l aced among

,

the constellations a s t h e B ea r w h ich never s etting ceaseles sly

, , ,

revolves about th e pole sta r for Tethys obeying t h e command

-
, ,

of Hera wi ll not allow t h e evi l thing to b athe in t h e p u re waters

,

of Ok e an o s .

This myt h too c an b e traced to a religiou s origin I n Ar

, ,
.

kadia t h e b ea r wa s a n animal s ac red to Artemis one of whos e ,

cu lt titles was K a llist e a name wh ich cou ld readily b e worke d

-
,

over into Kallisto Kallisto then bot h maiden and bea r was
.
, , ,

n one ot h er t h a n Artemis h erself Moreover t h e s imilarity in .

,

sou nd between Arkas and A /cr o s a id t o

”
p was a great
t h e development of t h e story wit h ou t b eing it s cause .

Ar k as Aleos Auge — Arkas t h oug h generally cons idered

, , .
,

t o be t h e so n of Kallisto and Zeu s w a s sometimes design ated ,

22 G REE K AND RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
a s the twi n b rother Of P a n t h e n ative god of Arkadi a One
, .

tale even ma kes h i m the ch ild w h ose fl es h Ly k a o n se r ved to

Zeus b ut i n th is i nsta nce Zeu s p ut t h e severed members to
,

gether a nd b reat h ed i nto them once more the b reat h of life .

The child w a s then rea red to m a nhood i n Aitoli a a nd l ater

followed hi s u nc le N y k t im o s a s ki ng the cou ntry bei ng named
,

Arkadi a after h im Arkas wedded the nymp h Erato by w h om

.
,

h e beca me the fat h er of th ree sons who h ad many des cend ants ,

a n d even i n ou r era h is grave w a s pointed out to travellers nea r

Manti nei a .

T h e th ree sons of Arkas divided t h e rule among t h emselves ,

and one of h is grandsons Alcos fou nded t h e C ity of Tegea

, , ,

wh ere h e establish ed th e cu lt of Athene Alea His d aug h ter .

Auge h ad a n intrigu e wit h Hera kl es w h en h e

visited h er city and afte rwa rd s ec retly bore a so n w h om she
,

concealed i n th e s ac red p reci ncts of At h ene About t h is ti me a .

d readfu l pl agu e c ame upon the la nd a nd on consu lting t he ,

oracle a s to t h e ca us e of it Aleo s was wa rned th at t h e h ous e

,

of th e god des s was h arbou ri ng a n imp u re t h ing Afte r a s ea rc h .

h e fou nd th e c h ild an d lea rned of h i s daughter s s in E nclos ing ’

.

mot h er an d so n toget h er i n a c hest h e c ast them a d rift u pon

,

t h e se a a nd by th e waves th ey were borne at lengt h to t h e s h o res

,

of Mys i a w h ence th ey were led to the cou rt of Ki ng Teuth ra s

,

who made Au ge h is qu een a nd accepted h er so n now called ,

T e le p ho s as h is own I n a va ri ation of t h e tale we rea d th at

,
.

Ale o s ex p osed T e le p ho s on the mou ntain s ide w h ere h e wa s -

s u c kled by a doe a nd afte rwa rd fou nd by h u nters o r by h erds

men Auge w a s given to N a up lio s to be killed b ut h er life
.
,

wa s sp a red a nd sh e and her so n u ltimately fou nd th ei r way

,

to Mysi a We s h all meet with T e le p ho s l ater o n i n t h e story

.

of the Troj a n war .

The P l a g ue a t Te uthis Th e p eo p l e o f t h e Ar k a dia n v il

.
—

l age of Teuthis told a n i nte resti ng myth w h ic h p u r p orted to

accou nt for a visitation of steri l ity on thei r soil The villagers .

h ad sent a certa i n Teuth is (o r Or n yt o s) to command a con

24 G REE K AND RO MAN MYT H O LOG Y
th e letters AI w h ich s ignified to th e Greeks l amentation
, .

Long did A p ollo grieve for h is friend u nh a p p ily s l ai n by h is

h and Th e body w a s b u ried at Am y k l a i wh ere i n t h e temple
.

of Apollo h is grave was for long yea rs vis ible to p ass ers b y -
,

a nd from th e mou rning of Apollo w a s develo p ed th e great

La k o n ia n festival th e Hy a k in t h ia th e fi rst d ays of wh ich
, ,

were devoted to a demonstration of grief wh ile th e l ast d ay ,

w a s one long outbu rst of j oy Thes e two kinds of celeb ration .

m a rked res pectively the a lternating dying a n d revival of v e g e

t a t io n a s ty p ified ma inly by th e hyaci nt h T h e festiva l wa s .

p rob abl y p re Doria n i n origi n

- .

The Fa m ily of P e r i er es According to one of t h e genealogies

.
,

Am y k l a s h a d a grandson P e rieres (or P ieres ) who h eld th e

th rone of Messene B y h is qu een Go rgo p hone th e d aughter
.
,

of P erseu s he b egat fou r sons Tynd a reos A p h a reu s I k a r io s

, , , , ,

a nd Le uk ip p o s all of whom ho l d p rominent p la ces i n myth

,

th rou gh th e fame of th ei r c hil dren I k a r io s became th e father .

of Penelo p e the fa ithfu l wife of Odysseu s ; Aph a reu s of Id a s

, ,

a n d Ly n k e us; Tyn da reos of Helen Klyt a im e st ra (old s p elli ng

, ,

K lyt e m n e st r a ) Kastor P olydeu kes a n d ot h ers ; a n d Le uk ip

, , ,

pos of Hila e ir a a nd P hoeb e

,
.

Tyn da r e os Hel en K a sto r a n d P o lyde uk es

, ,
Tynda reos wa s .
—

ex p el l ed from S p a rta by h is b roth ers a nd u ntil restored to , ,

h is kingdom by Hera kles h e took refuge with T h e st io s king , ,

of th e Ait o lia n s whose d augh ter Led a h e ma rried

, , ,
.

The story of the b irth of his d aughter Helen is variou sly , ,

told Th e vers ion most widely known is th at w h ich d e p i cts

.

Led a a s a h uma n being a p p ro a ched by Zeu s i n th e gu ise of a

Swan Helen th e O ffs p ring of th is u nion being therefore Led a s
, , ,
’

own ch ild A late vers ion on the other h a nd rep resents h er

.
, ,

a s the d aughter of Nemes is It seems th a t Nemes is after .

,

ta king variou s other forms i n order to elude the amorou s p ur

s u it O f Zeus finall y assumed th at of a swan b ut by a p p ea ring
, ,

i n th e s ame Sh a p e Zeus deceived h e r After t h e manner of .

b i rds S h e l aid a n egg wh ich was fou nd by a p eas ant (or by

 P LA T E XI
T HE CO N T ES T FO R MA RP E SSA
O n t he ight t he tall at h l e ti c m an drawi n g his b o w
r ,

is I da s a n d b e fo re him s ta n ds Ma rp e ss a a fi g ure re
, ,

l t e wit h fe m i n i ne g ra c e s w h o c as t s a l o o k O f ui t
p e , q e

s ub m i ss i o n up o n he r l o v e r Bala nc i n g I da s in t he
.

c o m p o s iti o n i s Ap o l l o a lithe a n d re lativ e ly i m m at ure

,

y o un g m an m a k i ng r e a dy t o p la ce a n a rro w o n t he
,

St ri n g ; a n d b es i de h im is h is h unt re ss s i s t e r Art e m i s—
, ,

c a rryi ng a q uiv e r an d w e a ri ng a fa w n s k i n o n he r -

s h o ul de rs T he m a n s t ri di n g b etw e e n t h e t w o g ro up s
.

as i f t o a t t h e m m us t b e E v e n o s Ma r ess a s fat he r
’

p r , p , ,

a n d n o t Z e us F ro m a r e d fi gure d va s e a p p a re n tly
.
-
,

o f t h e s c h o o l o f D o ur i s ab o ut 5 0 0 o un d at
( f
G i rg e n ti a n d n o w i n Mun i c h (Furt w éin g l e r Re i ch
,
-

h o l d G r iechis he Va se m ler ei N o
,
c n a Se e p p 2 7
, . .

28 .
 MYT H S OF T HE P E LO P O N N E S O S 25

Tyn da reos ) and ta ken to Led a I n d ue time He l en emerged .

from th e egg an d w a s C heris hed by Led a as of her own fles h

a nd blood When sh e was ne a ring womanhood her pa rents sent
.

h er to D e l p h o i to inqu i re of th e oracle concerning he r ma r

r ia g e
. One d ay wh ile the response w a s being aw a ited s he h ap
, ,

p ened to be d a ncing in th e tem p le of A rtemis at S p a rt a when ,

Theseu s of Athens a nd h is friend P e ir it h o o s s ud denly a p p ea red

a n d seized her Th e two d rew lots for her p oss ess ion an d she
.
,

w a s given to Thes eus who ca rrie d h er off to At t ik e and left

,

h er i n ch a rge of h is mother Ait h r a i n th e mou nta in village of

Ap hidn a i Helen s b roth ers Kastor an d P olydeu kes thin king
.
’
, ,

t h at sh e was at Ath ens went th ith er a nd dem a n ded her re

,

l eas e only to meet with refus al Not long afte r w ard however
,
.
, ,

w h en Theseu s de p a rted for a distant cou ntry th e b rothers ,

l ea rned of th e p l a ce of Hel en s concealment a nd by a su dden

’

a ttac k su cceede d i n c a rry n her home along with h er c usto

d ian Ait h ra Th e C itizens of Athens a la rme d at th e milita ry
.
,

demonstration of Kastor a nd P olydeu kes admitted th em into ,

t hei r city an d th ereafter accorded t h em divin e honou rs Th is .

m yt h we ca n p rob ably put down a s a fiction to accou nt bot h

f o r an early cl as h between Athens an d S p a rta an d for th e in
t ro duc t io n of th e wors hi p of Kastor a nd Polydeu kes into t h e

C it y fi rst n a med .

On retu rning to h er home after t h is th e earliest of h er many ,

a dventu res with men Helen a nd h er p a rents ( a rticu larly th e

, p
l atter as we may rea dily su rm ise ) were much p erplexed by th e
,

i m p o r tu nity of a mu ltitu de of su itors for h er h a nd I t was .

d ecided th at th e matter b e settled by lot bu t b efore the lots ,

w ere cast Tyndareos fearing trouble from thos e of th e s u itors

,

w h o woul d b e doomed to dis a ppointment s h rewdly persu a ded ,

t h em to cons ent to swea r th at they wou l d one a n d a ll defend

H elen an d th e s uccessfu l s u itor in th e event of h er b eing

wronged i n th e futu re They took th ei r oath s over th e s evered
.

“ ”
p ieces of a horse and th e oa th s were bou nd
, a s magi c terms ,

i t by the bu rial of the p ieces B y the lots Helen became th e

, .
26 G REE K AND RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
wife of Me n e l a o s of Argos He r l ater adventu res belong to
.

t h e sto ry of th e great Troj a n Wa r .

Helen s twi n b roth ers Kastor a nd Polydeu kes were known

’
, ,
“ ”
j ointly a s th e D io sk o uro i sons of Zeus
,
althoug h it wa s ,

p opularly b elieved th at only P olydeu kes wa s in fac t the so n

of th e god Tynd areos being th e father of th e ot h er Th es e
, .

b roth ers were consp icuou s figu res i n S p arta n cu lt a nd myt h ,

an d were rega rded by th e a ncient G reeks i n general a s t h e

outstanding exponents of heroi c virtu e a nd valou r So faithful .

a nd deep wa s thei r a ff ection for one a nother th at thei r two per

so n a lit ie s were blended a s into one and thu s they s tood as t h e
,

d ivine gu a rdi ans of friendsh ip Th ey excelled i n athleti c S p orts

.

a n d feats of arms Kastor being the type of expe rt h orsema n

,

an d P olydeu kes th at of the s kilfu l boxer while to th e a c co m ,

e n t of Athene s flute they a re s a id to h ave i nvented t h e

’
p a n im
S p a rta n mil itary d ance Thei r altar stood at t h e e ntrance to
.

th e h i p podrome at Olympi a a nd they appea red frequently on

,

th e heroi c stage T h ey p a rticip ated i n t h e voyage of th e Ar

.

o n a ut s a n d i n t h e great h u nt at K a ly do n a nd at S p a rta they

g ,

fought against En a r sp ho ro s th e so n O f Hip p o k o On but thei r

, ,

c h ief mi lita ry ex p loit w a s t h ei r s angu i na ry encou nte r wit h

t h ei r cou s ins I da s an d Ly n k e us th e sons of Ap h a re us
,
.

T h is story is told i n two distinct forms I n one the two p ai rs

.
,

of b rothers were ma king raids on the cattle of Arkad i a I d as .

a nd Lyn k e us were d rivi ng a ca p tu red h erd i nto Mes seni a when

t h ey almost fell i nto a n ambu sca de l aid for them by K astor
a nd P olydeu kes T h es e l atter h ad h idden thems elves i n a
.

hollow oa k b ut they could not elu de the keen eyes of Lyn

,

ke n s w h o wa s able to see t h roug h the h ea rts of trees a nd

,

beneath the su rface of th e ea rth Ly n k e us attac ked Kasto r

.

a nd killed h im bu t Pol y deu kes swiftly pu rsued h is b rother s

,
’

s l ayer a nd stru c k him down a s h e was about to rol l u p on h i m

the image of Hades whic h stood on Aph a reu s s tomb S ud ’
.

de n ly Ze u s i nte rvened an d smote I das with a th u nderbolt

wh ic h consumed the bod ies of the sl ai n b rothers toget h er ,
28 G REE K AND RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
An d h e S h all g iv e a s si o n at e c h il dr e n n o t
me p ,

S o m e r a di a n t g o d t h at will de sp i s e m e q u i t e ,

But c l a m b e r i n g li m b s a n d li ttl e he a rts t h a t e rr .

’

W h e n sh e h a d sp o k e n I da s wit h o n e c ry
,

He l d h e r a n d t h e r e w a s sil e n c e ; w h il e t he g o d
,

I n a n g e r di sa p p e a r e d T h e n sl o wly t h e y
.
,

He l o o k i n g do w n wa r d a n d S h e g a z i n g up
, ,

Into t he e v e n i ng g re e n wa n de r e d a w ay 4
.
”

III . A RG OS

The la nd of Argolis w a s so s itu ated i n rel ation to t h e main

h ighways of n avigation i n the Mediterra nea n a s to i nvite a
gre a t va riety of foreign connexions I n th is one may find a n .

ex p lanation of th e motley fab ric of Argive myth a nd a c a refu l ,

stu dy of its com p os ition ma kes it poss ible to state with some
degree of assu rance th e sou rces of it s s u n dry elements Natu r .

a l l y it is outs ide the s co p e of th is work to tag each constituent

,

tale of the n arrative with it s nation a l origin S ufli c e it to sa y .

th at we fi nd a nu cleu s of n ative Argive myth overlai d in a n

i rregu l a r fash ion with legends of Cretan Eub o ia n Bo io t ia n , , ,

Mi l es i an Cori nth i an Mega rian a n d Ait o lia n p rovena nce

, , ,
5
,

which rega r dless of th e question of thei r o rigin a re nea rly all

, ,

fraught with i nterest for the stu dent of com p a rative religion
a nd custom .

I n a chos I o ,
Th e fi rst figu re i n th e pu rely Argive p a rt of
.
—

the com p lex of myths is th at of I n a c ho s th e p rinci p al river and ,

river god of th e Argoli d I n th e develo p ed genealogy h e is th e

- .

o ffs p ri ng of Ok e a n o s a nd Tethys a nd by a marri age with a n ,

O k e a n id h e begat two sons P horoneu s a nd Aig ia le us th e fi rst

, ,

of whom also s ai d to be a n autochthon we h ave al ready seen

, ,

a s one of the p ioneers of hu ma n cu ltu re Aig ia le us es p eci ally .

,

p romi nent among th e p eo p le of S i kyon w a s th e p ersonification ,

O f the south ern S hores of the Gu lf of Corinth Phoroneu s h a d .

two ch il dren A p is after whom the P elo p on nesos w a s c alled

—
,
 P LA T E XI I
Io A N D A R G OS
Io , w ho can be i de n ti fi e d by t he m e re p o i n t o f a
h o r n p ro t rudi n g fro m h e r h ai r is se at e d o n a s t o n e
,

a n d l o o k s a p p e ali n g l at h e r g ua rdia n A r o s s ta n ds
y .
g
wit h o n e fo o t o n a S t o n e a n d re st s his r i gh t h a n d o n a
c ra g in t h e ba c k g ro un d a s h e g a z e s s t r ai g ht in f ro n t
,

o f him wit h w i de S ta r i n g e e s I t i s e a s ily s e e n t h at

y .

t h e p ai n t e r ha s e n ti re l y fo rgo tt e n o r i gn o re d t h e o ri g

i n al re li g i o us m e a n i n g o f t he m yt h F ro m a Po m p e ia n
.

wall p ai n ti n g (He rm a n n Bruc k m a n n D hm le d r

- -
,
en a r e

Ma l r ei d s Alt er t ums N O
e e ,
. S e e pp 2 8 30
.
—
.
 MYT H S OF T HE P E LO P O N N E S O S 29

Api a ; an d Niobe by whom Zeu s bec ame th e father of P e la sg o s

,

a nd Argos One of the descen dants of Argos of the thi r d or

.

“
fou rth generation was Argos P a no p tes ( All a monster
whos e body w a s covered with eyes He S lew th e bu ll wh ich .

w a s ravagi ng Arka di a fl aye d it a nd u s ed it s s kin a s a garment

, , ,

a n d h e is also s ai d to h ave killed S a t yro s as h e was r a iding th e

h erds O f th e Ar k a dia n s a n d to h ave trapped Ech id na th e

, ,

h ideous iss u e of Ta rta ros an d Ga ia .

l o th e ch ief p ersonage i n th is grou p o f myt h s was cou nted

, ,

eithe r a s the d aughter of In a c h o s (or O f Fei re m pe r h ap s a doub le ,

of I n a c h o s) or a s a comp a ratively l ate des cend ant An exact

,
.

genealogy is not es senti a l to h er sto ry Sh e was t h e pries tes s .

of the temple of Hera th e divine p atro nes s of Argos and h er

, ,

ch arms d rew u p on h er the attentions of Zeu s who corrupted ,

h er bu t w h o denied t h e deed when C h a rged with it by h is

,

wife Li ke a coward h e c h anged into a white heifer th e maiden

.

whom h e h a d wronged a nd su rrendered h er to Hera who p ut her ,

i n ca re of th e vigilant Argos Pa no p tes B y h im She w a s teth .

ered to a n O l ive tree i n th e grove of Mykenai b u t at th e com

-
,

m an d of Zeu s Herm es s lew Argos thereby ea rning for h imself

, ,
“ ”
t h e title of Argeip hontes ( Argos S layer a n d se t IO free
'

-
,

w h ereupon a nim ated by a merciles s sp ite He ra sent a gad fly

, ,
-

to pu rsu e h er from l an d to la nd S he w a s d riven fi rst of a ll .

to the gu lf w h ose n ame Ioni an even tod ay commemorates , ,

h er vis it an d t h ence acros s Illyr ik o n an d Th race w h ence sh e

, ,

ma de her way to As i a over t h e s tra its w h ich from th at d ay

“
we re called th e Bo sp o ro s ( Ox Th rough Cau casu s ,

S k yt h ia an d Kimmeri a (Crimea ) even a cross th e E uxine sh e

, , ,

was goaded by th e fly u ntil at length sh e reach ed Eg y p t wh ere ,

sh e w a s given res t a nd restored by Zeu s to her hum an form .

On t h e b an ks of t h e Nile sh e bore a so n Ep a p h o s
to t h e god but t h e p resence of th e b ab e w a s offens ive to th e
,

j ealou s s p irit of Hera an d t h rough h er mach i nations Ep a p h o s

,

w a s ta ken from his mother an d hi dden i n a fa r l a n d Agai n .

t h e distressed Io w a s comp elled to wander on t h e face of t h e

30 G REE K AN D RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
ea rt h u ntil after a long sea rc h she fou nd h e r so n i n S yri a
, , ,

a nd b rough t h i m b a c k to Egypt w h ere h e became t h e fore ,

father O f severa l great p eo p les .

T h e suggestions put fo rth to a ccou nt for t h e myt h of IO a re

ma ny a nd va ried Mos t of them try t o identify bot h her a n d
.

Argos with celesti al p h enomena For i nstance Io is the moon

.
,

with its horned c rescent wandering ac ross t h e sk y and h er gu a r ,

d i an Argos is the s tarry h eavens S u c h su ggestions a s thes e ,

, ,
.

however fai l to s atisfy t h e p rofou nder stu dent of fol k lore

,
-
,

s i nc e t h ey do not even attempt to give a reason for t h e senti

ment almos t a ki n to reverence wit h w h ic h t h e Argives rega rded
, ,

the person of Io The He r a io n th e temple of Hera nea r Argos ,

.
,

wa s doubtles s t h e sou rce of th e earliest form of t h e myt h a n d ,

p rob ably Io w a s none other th a n H era h ers elf w h o elsewh ere i s ,

s ai d to h ave assu med th e form of a co w At all events th e c o w .

,

w a s s acred i n th e cu lt of Hera
’
Th e tale of 10 s wa nderings is
.

a pp a rently a l ate addition b rou g h t i n from outs ide when t h e

original th eme as su med new forms a mong t h e alien tribes a nd
C i t ies w h ich h a d dealings wit h Argos .

The Fa m i l ies of D a n a os a n d Aigyp tos B elos a gran dson .

,

of Ep a p ho s ru led over Egy p t a nd by a d aug h ter of t h e N ile

, ,

h ad fou r sons i n only two of w h om D anaos an d Aig yp t o s we

, , ,

a re interested at present T h e l atter w a s appointed king of

.

Arab i a by h is father bu t by conquest h e ad ded to his real m

,
“ ”
th e cou ntry of th e Mel ampodes ( B lac k Feet ) wh i ch h e
n amed Aig yp t o s 8
after h imself He h ad a family of .

fifty sons and h is b rother D anaos th e sovereign of Libya th e

, , ,

s ame number of d aughters Th e two b rothers became i nvolved

.

i n a p ol itic al qu arrel a nd D anaos with h is d aughters fled

,

by s h ip to Argos whos e k ing G elanor yielded th e c rown to

, , ,

h im thu s restoring it to t h e line of Io As it h appened th e

,
.
,

l a nd h ad been withou t sufli c ie n t water S i nce the time wh en

P oseidon h ad d ried u p th e sp rings and streams to p u nis h
I n a c ho s for his awa rd of th e divine sup remacy of Argos to
Hera bu t on e of D a n ao s s d aughters Amymone gained t h e
’
, , ,
32 G RE E K AND RO MAN MYT H O LOG Y
T he connexion of Amymone and th e sp rings of Lerne wit h t h e
myth of th e D a na i ds ca nnot b e original .

P r o ito s a n d his D a ug hte r s —

On th e deat h of D anaos h i s
.

so n —in law Ly n k e us became

-
king He h ad two grandsons .
,

Ak risio s and P ro it o s who were s aid to h ave foug h t with on e

,

another even b efore b i rt h so ea rly did a qu arrel over th e suc

,

cession a rise between t h em When they became men Ak risio s .

,

got th e u p p er h and and exiled his b roth er w h o went to Ly k ia ,

i n Asi a Mi nor w h ere h e was h ospitab ly received by Ki ng Io

,

b ates a nd wa s given th e p ri nces s An t e ia (o r S t h e n e b o ia ) in

m a rriage Wit h the ai d of a Lyk ia n a rmy h e retu rned to t h e
.

Pelo p onnesos captu red Ti ryns i n Spite of its strong fo rt ifi c a

,

tions a nd th ere establis hed h is ru le His wife bore h im th re e

,
.

d au ghters who i n you ng womanhood were stric ken wit h ma d

,

nes s either for refu si ng th e rites of D ionysos o r for treating

, ,

a n image of Hera with contempt Raving wildly th ey roame d .

,

th roughout th e l and u ntil Me l a m p o us ( B lac k Foot i c

“ ”
,
. .

Egy p ti an ) of P ylos a seer s ki lled in th e use of h ealing d rugs

, ,

p romised to cu re th em on condition th at P ro it o s su rrender t o

h im one thi rd of th e kingdom Thi s P ro it o s refus ed to do b ut .
,

meanwh ile t h e evil grew for th e other women of th e cou nt r y

,

were becoming infected wit h t h e m adness Th e seer renewe d .

h is p romise of h ealing th is time with t h e added condi t ion t h at

,

a second th i rd of th e kingdom go to his b roth er B i as At .

l a st P ro it o s yielded and h is d aughters were m ade w h ole b y

,

mea ns of B acchic ri tes B ias wedded one of t h e two you nge r

.

maidens and Me l a m p o us t h e ot h er by w h om h e became th e

, ,

fou nder of a family of seers .

The i nstru ctive featu re of t h is myt h i s its revel ation of two

strata of cu lts i n p rim itive Argos th e ea rlie r th at of He ra t h e , ,

l ater t h at of Dionysos Th e alleged impiou s a cts of the da ug h

.

te rs of P ro it o s seem to serve a s expl anation fo r certa in wa nto n

word s a nd rites i n th e wors h ip of th ese two god s i n h isto rica l
times 10
. With th is S to ry we may comp a re a Bo io t ia n legend
wh ich record s th e madnes s of th e d aughte rs of Minya s .
 P LA T E XII I

PE R SE US

Alt h o ugh n a cc o m p a n i e d by a n i n sc r i pti o n th i s

u
fi gure c an b e de fi n it e ly i de n ti fi e d a s Pe rs e us In his .

r i gh t h a n d h e h o l ds t h e b a r e o r S i c k l e s w o rd t h e g i ft
p
-
, ,

o f He r m e s ,
o n h is s ho ul de r s h a n g s t h e p o uc h w h ic h

h e r e c e iv e d fro m t h e Ny m p h s an d o n his fe e t are t he

,

wi n ge d s an dal s w h i ch b e a r him s wi ftly t hro ugh t h e

a ir
. His h e a d g e a r s ee m s t o b e n o t t h e do g S k i n c a p
- -

o f Ha de s b ut a s e c ial fo r m o f t h e et a sos o r t rav e lli n g

, p p ,

hat . F ro m a re d fig ure d a mp hor a O f ab o ut 500 B c

- . .
,

i n Mun i c h (Furt w iin g le r Re ic hh o ld Gr iechiscb e Va sen

-
,

ma ler ei, N o . Se e p p 32 ff
. .
 MYT H S OF T HE P E LO P O N N E S O S 33

Ak r isi os D a n a e
, ,
and P e r se us .
— Ak r isio s who continu ed to
,

hol d sway over Argos w a s told by a n ora cle th at h is d aughter s

,
’

so n wou ld kill h im To ci rcu mvent th e p ro p h ecy h e enclosed

.

h is d aughter D a n a é i n a b razen ch amber th in king thereby to ,

c ut her o ff from all hu ma n i ntercou rse ; bu t h e fai l ed i n h is pu r

pos e ; for a s some sa y the ma iden was corru p te d by h er u ncl e

, ,

P ro it o s or a s others cl aim by Zeu s who won h is way to h er

, , , ,

i n the form of a s h ower of gold falling th rough a n a p e rtu re i n

th e roof of h er p rison Wh en sh e h a d given b i rth to a so n whom
.

sh e called P erseu s Ak r isio s p ut t h em bot h i n a c h es t an d s ent

,

th em adrift on th e waters of the Aegean By win d an d wave .

t h e chest was ca rried to S eriphos wh ere it was d ragged ashore

,

by D ik t ys th e broth er of Po lyde k t e s the king O f t h e isl and

, , ,

who released D a n a é and her ch ild a n d gave them a home .

After a nu mb er of years Po ly de k t e s made love to D ana e but

'

wa s rej ected Fea ring to ta ke h er by force s ince P erseu s was by

.
,

t h is time qu ite c ap able of defending h is mot h er h e devised a ,

p l an to get h er so n out of t h e way To all h is friends h e s ent .

i nvitations to a wedd ing feast an d Perseus with th e e xt r a v a

-
, ,

gant ass everation of youth replied th at h e wou ld not fa il to

,

b e p resent even if h e h ad to b ring th e Gorgon s h ead Wh en ’

.

th e gu ests h ad ass embled and it wa s d is cove red th at all of th em

except P ers eu s h a d b rou gh t horses a s p resents Po lyde k t e s d is ,

mis sed h im u ntil h e S h ou ld h ave fu lfilled h is p romis e to th e

letter wa rning h im moreover t h at i n event of fa ilu re h is
, , ,

mothe r woul d be wedded by force S adly Perseus with d rew to .

a lonely Spot ; but i n th e midst of h is p erplexity Hermes and

Athene appea red a nd led h im to t h e G r a ia i t h e a ncient da ug h ,

ters of P h o r k ys an d Keto T h es e h ad been grey from b i rth

.

a nd h a d amongst t h em only one eye a n d one tooth wh ich ,

they u sed in tu rns By getting possess ion of th ese in disp e n

.

s able members a nd by th reatening to keep them P erseu s c o m ,

p e l l e d th e G ra ia i to tell h im th e way to t h e dwelling p lace of -

th e nym p h s who gu a rded the dog s kin c a p of Hades t h e winged

-
,

s an dals an d th e m agic pou ch Following t h e d irections given

, .
34 G RE E K AN D RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
h im h e made his way to t h e nymp hs a nd s ecu red t h e obj ects
,

wh ic h h e so much des ired Wit h th e s andals h e flew t h roug h

.

th e a ir to th e la nd of th e Gorgons nea r d istant Ok e a n o s where ,

h e fou nd th e th ree monstrou s s isters as lee p T h eir h eads were .

covered with the horny s cales of re p tiles their teet h were li ke ,

th e tu s ks of swine an d t h ey h ad h an ds of b ras s an d wings of

,

gold Th eir most formidab le endowment h owever was th eir

.
, ,

power to tu rn to s tone t h os e who looked u pon t h em Awa re .

of th is Pers eu s wit h averted face app roach ed Me do usa th e

, ,

only one of t h e th ree who wa s morta l a nd gu id ing h imself , ,

by t h e reflection of h er image i n h is s h ield h e stru c k o ff ,

h er h ea d wit h a s ingle b low of the s cimita r w h ic h Hermes

h a d g i ven h im d ro p p ing th e p reciou s tro p h y in h is pouc h
,
.

From Me do usa s severed nec k lea p ed fort h Pegasos t h e

’
,

winged hors e w h ic h flew aloft to th e hou s e of Zeu s to b e

,

come the bea rer of th e thu nderbolt a n d lightning ; a nd from

th e wou nd also s p rang Ch rys aor w h o wa s to b e t h e fat h er
of the th ree bodied G e ryo n e us It i s s ai d t h at Athene wa s
-
.

witnes s of th e Gorgon s d eat h an d on t h e spot i nvented t he

’

fl ute o n wh i c h sh e i mitated t h e dyi ng monster s s h riek s ’

a nd groa ns As Perseu s fl ew acros s Libya after h is su cces s

.

fu l ex p loit d rops of b lood d ri p ped from t h e pou ch u po n t h e

l and a nd beca me t h e germs of a b reed of poisonou s serpents ,

thi s bei ng th e reason why there a re S O m any of t h es e reptiles

i n th is p a rt of Africa Me do usa s S isters on wa king were um
.
’

able to pu rsu e Pe rs eu s S i nce t h e c a p of Hade s rendered h im

i nvis ib le .

O n h i s retu rn fl ig h t Pe rseu s fou nd t h e l an d of Ait h io p ia

s u ff ering from th e ravages of a great monster sent by Posei don
to p u nis h the boast of Q ueen K a ssie p e ia th at sh e w a s more
b eautifu l tha n the se a nym p h s I n a n en deavou r to a p p ease
-
.

the monste r i n a m an ner cou nselled by a n o rac le Ke p heu s , ,

th e king bou nd h is d aughter And romed a to a roc k beside th e

,

se a a nd j ust a s P erseu s came the monster was about to devou r

,

he r Moved to p it y a nd love at t h e s ig h t of her a s S h e cowered

.
36 G RE E K AN D RO MAN MYT H O LOG Y
above b ut D ionysos foile d h im by increas ing h is statu re u ntil
,

h e tou ch ed h eaven At t h e s ight of Me do usa s h ead Ariadne

.
’
,

the wife of D ionysos became a n image of stone a nd th is so

, ,
’
filled her hu sb an d s h eart with rage th at he wou ld h ave de
stroyed P ers eu s and all t h e cities O f h is realm with Hera a s ,

well h a d not Hermes checked h im by force On b ecoming

,
.

calm th e god recognized th at th e attac k h a d b een i ns p ired by

Hera and h e accordingly absolved Perseu s from all blame
, ,

whereu p on t h e Argives institu ted rites i n h onou r of bot h

D ionysos a n d Perseu s Later generations it w a s s aid wer e
.
, ,

ab le to locate t h e graves of th e Maenads who fell i n t h e

stru ggle a s well a s th e h iding p lace of Me do usa s h ead
,
-
’
.

It h as b een suggested by one sc h ool of s chol ars who h ave t h e ,

foible of tra cing almos t every deity b ac k to a Cretan or Ph ilis

ti ne origin th at P erseu s s p rang from a Cretan o ff s h oot of t h e
,

sun wors h i p of Gaza an d th at t h e s to r y was borne from Crete

-
,

to Th ronion of th e Lo k r ia n s where P erseu s was identified wit h

,

Hermes an d as s imilated many of h is attributes A mu c h more .

pl au sible t h eory holds h owever th at P erseu s was a p re Doria n

, ,
-

h ero of th e P eloponnesos w h os e cu lt was so wide sp read a s to -

m a ke it necess ary for t h e Dori an conquerors to connect them

s elves wit h h im genealogic ally i n order to mainta i n t h eir su
p re m a cy among the p eo p le Th e story of Perseu s impresses .

one a s being a n a ncient fol k tale 12 -

.

Historic a lly t h e accou nt of the bi rt h O f Hera kles s h ould b e

,

i nclu ded among the Argive m y ths bu t we sh all p refix i t to t h e ,

n a rrative O f the h ero s c a ree r to w h ich it logically belongs

’
.

IV
. C ORINT H

The D i i f
v ne P h T h e grea t p atron deity of
a tr o n s o C i or n t .
—

Cori nth was Poseidon who gave p ros p e rity to h er mariners and
tra ders Y et h e di d not h a ve th i s h igh p l ace from the begi nning
.
,

for whe n h e ma de h is cl aim Helios the sun d is p uted i t Both

, , , .

d is p utants sub mitted thei r res p ective c ases to Br ia re o s of t h e

 P LA T E XIV

EN DY M I O N

E n dy m i o n has f all e n a s l e e p o n a l e dge o f ro c k o n

t h e s t e e p fa c e o f Mo un t La tm o s Ac ro s s h is l e ft .

sh o ul de r r e s t s t h e S e a r wit h w h i ch h e de fe n ds h is
p
fl o c k s ag ai n s t t he wil d b e a st s J ust ab o v e h im h is .

do g ti e d by a l e a s h is l o o k i ng up w a rd a n d bayi n g
, , ,

p e r h a p s at t he Mo o n h is m a s t e r s l o v e r F ro m a ’

, .

m a r bl e re l ie f in t he C a p it o li n e Mus e um Ro m e Br un n
( ,

Bruc k m a n n D n hm dl g i chisch r a n d r om iscb r S ulp

'

e er r e e e c
,

t ur , No . Se e p . 24 5 .

PE R S E U S AN D A N D R O ME D A
T hi s l i e f s e e m s t o re p re s e n t a m o m e n t j ust a ft e r
re

t he de at h o f t he m o n s t e r Pe rs e us w e a r i n g t h e wi n ge d
.
,

s a n dal s e xt e n ds his r i ght h a nd t o An dro m e da t o he l p

,

h e r de sc e n d fro m t h e ro c k s t o w h i c h sh e has b e e n
b o un d w h il e he ho l ds his l e ft ha n d b e h i n d his ba c k a s
,

i f t o h i de t h e G o rg o n s h e a d o n e g la nc e at w h i c h
’

w o ul d t urn An dro m e da i n t o s t o n e T h e se a m o n st e r s .
-
’

h e a d a p p a re ntly s e v e re d fro m t h e b o dy o r p e rha p s

, , , ,

a s t he sy m b o l o f t h e e n ti re b o dy is l i n g at t h e fo o t
y ,

o f t h e ro c k s F ro m a m a rbl e re l i e f in t he C a p it o
.

li n e Muse um Ro m e (Brun n Bruc k m a n n D e hm aler

,
-
,
n
'

i hischer un d i her Sculp t ur , N O S e e pp

'

r ec r om sc
g . .

—
34 35 '
 MYT H S OF T HE P E LO P O N N E S O S 37

h u nd red a rms and he awa rded th e I sthmu s to Posei don a nd

, ,

Ak ro k o r in t h o s the citadel to Helios

, ,
.

S isyp ho s Th e eldest so n of D eu kalion a n d Pyrr h a wa s

.
—

Hellen whos e des tiny it w a s to h ave h is name perpetu ate d i n

th at of the Helleni c race One of h is sons Aio lo s the ru ler of
.
, ,

certai n districts i n Thes s aly h a d a l a rge family of sons a nd ,

d aughte rs the most important of w h om i n t h e o p i nio n of th e

, ,
“
people of Corinth was S isyp ho s re p ute d to be t h e c rafties t
, ,

” “ ”
of men i n so real a sense th at h e was even as wi se as a god .

His gift of wis dom was a t once h is p rofit an d h is b a ne He i s .

s ai d to h ave fou nded Corinth then c alled Ep hyra i n a corner , ,

”
of horse b reeding Argos a n d to h ave s eized the citadel a s a
-
,

b a se of O p erations for p i ra cy a n d b rigandage ; a lthou gh o n th e ,

oth er h and the statement is also m ade th at he w a s merely

,

the roya l su ccesso r of Korinthos o r of Medei a after h er flight ,

to Ath ens His S kill an d astutenes s a re reflected i n th e p erson

.

of Odysseu s whose fa t h er h e bec ame if we a re to b elieve one

, ,

legend th roug h h is violence to Anti klei a before h er marri age

,
’
to La é r t e s Odys seu s s tra dition al father Sisyp ho s was credited
,
.

by some wit h h aving estab lis hed the Ist h mi an games i n honou r
of Me lik e rt e s h i s nep hew whos e d rowned body h a d been
, ,

c a st by t h e waves on t h e s h ore of t h e I sthmu s .

T h e accou nt of h i s pu nish ment in th e u nde rworld i s two

fol d I n t h e les s known form it i s alleged th at it w a s i nfl icted
.

o n h im for a n u n natu ral a c t against th e daug h ter of h is b rot h er

S a lm o n e us The better known form h as more of t h e c h a racter
.

i st ic s of a genui ne fol k tale Ze u s conceiving a n i llicit p as

-
.
,

s io n for Aigina the d au g h ter of Asopos h ad s eized h er a n d

, ,

h id den h er from h er father Knowing the great wisdom of .

S isy p h o s Aso p os came to h im an d p romised th at h e would p ro

,

vide t h e lofty h ill of Ak r o k o r in t h o s with a sp ring of pu re water ,

if he woul d tell h im where Aigina was to be fou nd S isyp h o s .

promptly d isclosed h er hidi ng p lace a s the isl and of Oin o n e -

(t h ereafter known as Aigin a ) but Zeu s learning of th is dee d , ,

of Sisyp ho s i n a rage consigned h im to Hades a nd bou nd Deat h

,
38 G RE E K AND RO MA N MY TH O LO G Y
about h is nec k The wily Corinth ian however tu rned th e
.
, ,

tables o n Death a nd s h ac kled h im so e ff ectivel y th at no morta l

on earth coul d d ie I n th e meantime Mero p e the wife of S isy
.
,

p hos ,
was withhold ing from th e dead the lib ations customarily
o ff ere d to t h em an d th u s finally forced Hades to release h er
,

h u sb a nd a nd to p ermit h im to ascend to the u p per world .

I t was Hades hO p e t h at t h e h u sb and an d wife woul d confer

’

concerning th e renewa l of the l ib ations ; but h e wa s destined

to b e s adly dis appoi nted for S isyp ho s forgot to retu rn below
,

a nd remained i n Cori nt h pu rsu ing h is former rou nd of toil s

a nd p leasu res Ha des di d not gai n possess ion of h im u nti l
.

h e was c arried O ff b y s h eer old age and to prevent a recu r ,

rence of h i s trickery Hades im p osed on h im the tas k at w h ic h

“
Odysseu s saw h im toil ing Y ea a nd I be h eld S isyp ho s i n
.
,
”
strong torment s ai d Odys seu s to t h e P h a ia k ian s grasping a
, ,

monstrou s stone wit h both h is h ands He was p ress i ng t h ereat .

with h ands a nd feet a nd trying to roll th e stone u p wa rd toward

t h e b row of t h e h ill B ut oft as he w a s about to h u rl it over t h e
.

top ,
the weig h t wou ld drive h im b ac k so once a ga in to th e ,

pla i n rolled the s t one t h e S h ameless t h ing And h e once more

,
.

kept h eavi ng a nd s training a nd t h e sweat th e w h ile w a s pou r

,
” 13
ing down h is limbs a nd the dust rose u p wa rd from h is h ead
, .

Many ex p l anations of t h e derivation of t h e n ame S isyp ho s

h ave been offered b ut none h a s any cla im to reli ab ility th e
, ,

most p opu l a r being one th at m akes it a redu p lication of th e

T h e s ignifica nce of th e personality
'
b as e of a o cpo s
of S isy p h o s is j us t a s ob scu re ; h e h a s been s h own to be now
the res tles s tide now a god of ligh t now a personification of
, ,

c raftiness ; w h ile t h e stone i s allegorica lly interp reted as a

s ymbol of th e futility of hum a n endeavou r .

Gl a uk o s
. G lau kos of Po t n ia i a town of southern Bo io t ia
, ,

was s ai d to be th e so n of S isyp ho s o r of Poseidon He became .

king of Cori nth and wa s famou s fo r t h e swiftnes s of h is hors es

i n the ch ariot races I n one type of th e legend w h ic h concerns
- .

h i m it i s related th at h is steeds becoming mad a s h e wa s driv

,
4O G REE K AND RO MAN MY TH O LOG Y
h is plotting against Bellerop h on s life a nd revealing to h i m
’
, ,
’
th e contents of P ro it o s s letter as ked h im to ta ke up h is abod e
,

i n Ly k ia wh ic h h e glad ly d id Later he wedded the p rinces s

,
.

P h ilo n o é and on Iob ates death came to th e t h rone E lated

'
’
.
,

by h is su cces ses it is s aid h e ess ayed to ride Pegasos to h eaven

, , ,

b ut fell from h is mou nt at a great heig h t a n d w a s killed .

The Chim a ira seems to h ave been a storm d ivinity w ho -

a cqui red her development i n t h e p rimitive bel ief t h at wi nd

sto rm s origi nate about volcani c h eig h ts .

Of th e bi rt h of P egasos we h ave al ready spoken T h e c re du .

lou s Hes iod tells u s th at he derived h is name from h aving

b een born nea r the s p rings (m rya t ) of Ok e a n o s It wa s
16 ’
.

t h rough a mi racle th at he came into the h ands of B ellerop h on ,

for i n a d rea m Athene ap p eared to th e you ng man a nd gave

h im a b ridle which h e fou nd at h is s ide when h e awo ke I n .

gratitu de h e erected a n alta r to th e goddes s a nd t h en a p

p ro a c h e d Pegasos over,
w h om t h e b ridle s eemed to cast su c h
a spell t h at th e hors e wa s eas ily s ub dued Anot h er story de .

s cribes B ellerop h on a s fi nding Pega sos d rin king at t h e sp ring of

P e ire n e on th e Ak r o k o r in t ho s a nd a s catc h ing a nd mou nting
,

h im by main s trengt h After t h e deat h of h is rider t h e h ors e

.
, ,

be ing of d ivine des cent flew u pwa rd to th e ancient s tables of

,

Zeu s w h ere h e w a s h a rnes sed to th e t h u nder c a r Once h e re -

.

tu rned to ea rt h t h e poets say and o n Heli kon t h e Bo io t ia n

, , ,

mou ntai n of t h e Muses c reated t h e s p ring of Hip p o uk re n e

,
“ ”
( Hors e s Fou nt ) wit h a b low O f h is h oof S ince t h en h e h a s
’
.

been associ ated with the Muses an d thei r a rts .

T h e development of Pegasos a s a mythologic al figu re is one

of t h e most interesting and is com p a ratively easy to trace
, .

I n th e Homeric e p ic B ellero p hon ach ieved h i s exploits without

h im but by th e time of Hes iod t h e two were i nsepa rably
,

l in ked Pegasos h aving by t h at time a genera l and not merely

,

a loc al import in myth Not u ntil Pinda r do we find any demon

.

st ra b l e evidence of h is b eing endowed with wings A t h eory .

h as been adva nced to the e ff ect th at his mythologica l growt h

 MY T H S OF T HE P E LO P O NN E S O S 4 1

wa s du e to th e i nfl uences of th e winged h ors es of As syri a n a rt

wh ich rea c h ed th e Hellenes th rough th e med iu m of t h e P h o in i
k ia n s i n wh ic h event t h e ru le that a rt ty p es tend to ta ke thei r
,

forms from myths woul d b e reversed P erh aps Pegasos o rigi

.

n ally stood for t h e rai n bea ring clou ds w h ic h ris e to h eaven

-

a nd b ri ng the lightning a nd the thu nder .

The Co rint h ia ns h ad ot h er tales to expla in t h e genes is of

t h ei r famou s sp rings P e ire n e w a s at fi rst a woma n who wa s
.

c h anged i nto th e s p ring th rough the tea rs wh ic h she s hed fo r

h e r so n a ccidentally s lai n by the a rrows of Artemis ; an d th e
sp ring into wh ic h Glau ke t h rew h erself to quenc h t h e fl ame s

c au sed by Medei a s d r u gs w a s afte r ward known by h er n ame

’
.
 C H A P T ER I I I

MY T H S OF T H E N O RT H E RN MA I N L A N D
I . BOI OT IA AN D BUBOIA

EX T to Argolis Bo io t ia su ppl ied t h e l a rges t body of lo

cally developed myths ; a nd wh en we sa y Bo io t ia we mus t
u nderstan d th e i nclus ion of Eub o ia fo r myt h ologica lly t h e two ,

a re not s evered by t h e S tra it of Eu ripos It mu st be borne in .

mind h owever th at the legends of th e isl and never att ained

, ,

to th at degree of l iterary o rga nization wh ich h as immo rtalized

th e stories centring for instance about Th ebes Th e oldes t
, , .

cu lts a nd myth s of bot h Eub o ia an d Bo io t ia c an b e traced

b ac k to Crete p rincip ally t h roug h t h e formation of doub les of
,

th e personages of Creta n legend so th at for insta nce th e Eu , , ,

boi an Arethou s a was a copy of a Creta n model ; Eu ro p e appea rs

i n Bo io t ia a s Io a nd G lau kos of An t he do n du p licates th e so n
,

of Minos Th e extent to wh ich th ese Creta n im p ortations were

.

c h anged by P h o in ik ia n a n d other a llied Oriental i nflu ences i s

o ne of th e ma ny u ns ettled p oi nts of G reek mythology but t h e ,

decl ine of t h e O l d Bo io t ia n states a nd t h e rise of Argos were

a dmittedly res p ons ible fo r a la rge measu re of mod ification .

The Fi rst I n ha bita n ts of Bo i o ti a After th e flood of D eu .

—

k a lio n Zeu s u niting wit h Iodama

, ,
Healer of the
a form of Eu rop e became the fath er of T h eb e a s pring nym p h
, ,
-

of Bo io t ia whom h e gave i n ma rri age to Og yg o s th e a ut o c h

, ,

t h o n o us king of th e E ktenes s aid to b e th e fi rst i nh ab ita nts

,

of the l and Wh en th e entire p eople of the E ktenes p erished

.

by a p lagu e th ei r cou ntry wa s occu p ied by the Hya n t e s and

,

th e Aonia ns who c alled it Aonia Later however th e n ame

,
.
, ,

w a s ch a nged to Bo io t ia a fter Bo io t o s th e so n of P oseidon or , , ,

 P LA T E XV

D I RKE BOU N D To THE B ULL

T he a rti s t s o f t h i s g ro up (p o p ula rly k n o w n a s t he

Fa rn e s e Bull ) h av e fo ll o w e d t he t e xt o f t he m yt h i n
layi n g t he sc e n e o f t h e e p i s o de o n Mo un t K it h a iro n ,

w h i c h t h ey h av e n o t m e re ly i n di c ate d by t he de p i c ti o n
O f ro c k s a n d c r a gs , b ut al so p e rs o n ifi e d i n t h e s m all
h um a n fi g ure in t h e r i g ht fo re g ro un d . Am p h i o n
i(de n tifi e d b y his lyre ) is s t r ivi n g wit h all his s t re ngt h
t o s ub due a p o w e r f ul b ull so t h at h is b ro t he r Z e t ho s

c a n p a ss a ro p e atta c he d t o t he S t rugg li n g c re at ur e s
,
’

h o rn s a ro un d t h e b o dy o f D i rk e
,
. T he i r m o t he r ,

Anti o p e a c o m p la c e n t s p e c tat o r s ta n ds la n c e in h a n d
, ,

i n t he r i g ht ba c k gro un d F ro m a G re c o Ro m a n
.
-

m a rbl e g ro up by Ap o ll o n i o s a n d T a urisk o s (e n d o f

s e c o n d c e nt ury i n N a p l e s (Brun n Bruc k m a n n

-
,

D e n hm aler i hischer d i b er Sculp t ur , N o

'

ec an r om sc
g r .

56 6 PR 4 3— 4 4
 THL I URK
PUBLlC Ll S RARY

A S TO R L E N O X
T I L D E N F O UN D A I I O N 8
,
'
44 G RE E K AN D RO MAN MYT H O LOG Y
a nd bu ilt the walls of t h e city Amp h ion c h arming t h e stones
,

i nto th eir p laces by means of t h e Sweet stra ins of h is lyre th e ,

gift of the Muses .

According to one accou nt Ze t ho s m arried T h ebe from w h om

, ,

t h e c ity got its n ame ; bu t according to a nother his wife wa s ,

Aé do n who bore h im a so n It ylo s whom by a mere ch ance

, , , ,

sh e killed .Overcome by grief Z e t ho s p ined away a nd d ied , ,

w h ile Aé do n was given t h e form of the nightingale a nd endowed

wi th thos e p lai ntive notes with wh ic h she m ay yet b e h eard
mou rni ng for h er son s u ntimely deat h Amp h ion became t h e
’
.

h u sb a nd of Niob e th e d aughter of T a n t a lo s a nd a family of

, ,

many sons a nd d aug h ters bless ed t h eir u nion I n h er matern al .

p ride N iob e boasted th at S h e a mortal h ad b rought into the

, ,

worl d more c h ild ren t h a n Leto a nd t h is so incens ed Leto s ,

’

c h ild ren Apollo a n d Artemis t h at Apollo s lew th e sons of

, ,

N iob e a s t h ey were h u nting on K it h a iro n w h ile Artemis killed ,

t h e d aug h ters beneath their mother s roof Niob e fled fro m ’

.

T h ebes to h er fat h er i n As i a Minor a nd t h ere ,

fo r h e r so ns de at h wep t o ut l i fe a n d b r e a th
’

An d, dry w i th g r i e f, w a s turne d i nto a s t o ne ” 1

.

W h at i s s aid to b e h er form is still to b e seen on t he clifl s o f

Mou nt Sip ylo s .

K a dm os . Agenor a great grandson of I o es tab lis h ed h im

,
-
,

s elf i n Pho in ik ia w h ere h e h ad a d aug h ter n amed Eu rope w h om

, ,

Zeu s one d ay carried away to Crete by force On h er disa p .

e a r a n c e Agenor s ent h is wife an d sons t h rou g h ou t t h e neig h

p
b o ur in g l ands i n qu es t of h er a nd o rdered t h em not to retu rn
without h er but al l fa iled i n t h eir errand a nd fea rfu l of
, , ,
’
Agenor s a nger they resolved never to go bac k home Pho in ix
, ,

settling in a d istrict of Pho in ik ia Kilix i n K ilik ia a nd Th asos , , ,

K a dm o s a nd thei r moth er Telep h ass a i n Th ra ce After th e

,
.

d eath of Teleph ass a K a dm o s felt free to conti nu e h is s ea rch

,

fo r Eu rope a nd going to D e lp ho i h e inqu i red of th e o racle

,

concerning h er Th e god com m a nded h im to cease worrying

.
 MYT H S OF T HE N O RT H E RN MA I N LAN D 45

o ver h is S ister and to tu rn h is t h oughts i nto anot h er ch a nnel ,

b idd ing h im to follow a h eifer wh ich h e wou ld find ou ts ide th e

sh ri ne and to estab lis h a city on the s p ot w h ere S h e wou l d first

l ie down to rest I n obedience to the d ivi ne comm and K a dm o s

.

j ou rneyed a fte r t h e a nimal ac ros s Ph o k is u ntil a t len g t h sh e

soug h t repos e bes ide a h ill i n t h e h ea rt of Bo io t ia a nd t h ere ,

h e fou nded Thebes .

D es i ring to s a crifice t h e co w to Athene K a dm o s d isp atc h ed ,

a nu mber of h is men to d raw water for th e rites from th e sp ring

Arei a bu t most of them were killed by th e d ragon t h e is su e of
, ,

Ares w h ic h gu arded th e water w h ereu pon K a dm o s h imself

, ,

slew t h e beast a nd at t h e su ggestion of At h ene s cattered th e

t eet h b roadca st over t h e ea rth a s a fa rmer strews h i s gra in .

F rom th e teet h sp rang a host of a rmed men who were called

S p a rt o i from th e s trange manner of t h ei r b i rt h .

At th e Sight of th ese wa rriors s u ddenly gat h ering about h im ,

K a dm o s wa s stric ken wit h fear an d bega n to h u rl stones at

t h em ; a n d t h ey t h inking t h at t h e miss iles were t h rown by
,

t h ei r fellows mu rderou sly se t upon one a nother u nti l only

,

five of t h em were left alive For h is p a r t i n t h is tragedy K a d

.

m o s w a s bou n d in servitu de to Ares for eig h t yea rs bu t at th e ,

e n d of t h is period At h ene b estowed t h e kings h ip u pon h im a n d

with t h e su r viving Sp a r t o i h e began to bu il d u p t h e city of

T h eb es Zeu s gave h im i n marriage Ha rmoni a t h e d aug h ter
.
,

o f Ares a n d Ap h rod ite a n d all t h e gods came down from

,

Olympos to atten d t h e nupti al s a n d b rou g h t wit h t h em rare

a n d costly gifts K a dm o s s own p resents to his b ride b eing a
,
’

robe a nd t h e nec kla ce wroug h t origin ally by Hep h aistos whi c h

, ,

Zeu s h ad form erly given to Eu rope To K a dm o s an d Harmoni a .

were born a so n Po lydo ro s a n d fou r d aug h ters Semele Ino

, , , , ,

Agave a n d Au tono e
'

.
,

The D a ughter s of K a dm os; S em ele Having won t h e favou r .

a n d love of Ze u s S emel e s ecu red from h im a p romise th at h e

,

wou l d grant h er w h atever sh e might a sk an d p rompted by ,

Hera w h o appeared before h er i n t h e gu is e of h er nu rs e sh e ,

4 6 G REE K AN D RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
requested th at h er lover would Show h imself to her i n t h e form
i n wh ich h e h a d p aid cou rt to Hera Bou n d by h is p romise .
,

th e Olym p ia n entered h er ch amber i n a ch a riot amid th e

fl ash ing of l ightning an d th e roa ring of t h u nder but being a , ,

mo rtal S emele coul d not endu re th i s terrible wooing an d d ied

, .

From h er bod y Zeu s took thei r u nborn ch il d and s ewed it i n

h is th igh where it rem ained for th ree month s at th e en d of
, ,

w h ich time h e loosed the stitches a nd b rought it forth to th e

l ight Th e ch ild w h o wa s none ot h er t h a n th e god D ionysos
.
, ,

was entru sted to I no an d h er h u sb a nd Ath amas a so n of Aio lo s , ,

to b e reared For th eir care of h im th e vin dictive Hera vis ited

.

on th em a p l agu e of madnes s b ut Zeu s s aved D ionysos by ,

c h anging h im i nto a kid an d s ecretly conveying h im to t h e

nymph s of Mou nt Nys a i n As ia w h o in after years were re ,

wa rded wit h a p la ce a mong t h e constell ations u nder t h e n am e

of the Hya des .

Ino When t h e m adnes s ca me u pon At h ama s h e imagine d

.

t h at h is elder so n Le a r c ho s wa s a deer an d killed h im w h il e ,

I no with th eir younger so n Me lik e rt e s i n h er a rms leape d

, ,

from th e Mo lo ur ia n roc ks into th e waters of th e Gulf of Mega ra .

Th e body O f th e ch ild wa s wash ed ashore at th e I sth mu s an d ,

th e I sthmia n games were instituted i n h is honou r by Sisyp ho s .

After th eir deat h bot h mother a n d so n u sed to give a id to t h os e

end angered by storms at se a a nd s a ilors knew th e one a s ,
“ ”
Leu kothea th e Wh ite S ea S p irit an d t h e ot h er as P a l a im o n
,
-
, ,
“
t h e S torm Lord - .

Auto n o é Au tonoe wa s married to Ar ist a io s a nd bore h i m

.

“ ”
a so n Aktaion ( Gleaming One ) who u nder th e training of ,

Chei ron th e Centau r became a n a rdent hu ntsma n One d a y

, ,
.

when engage d i n th e ch a s e on K it h a iro n h e ch a nced to se e th e

“
goddes s A rtemis b ath ing i n the s p ring P a rt h e n io s ( Maiden
but a s soon a s t h e god des s d iscovered h is p resenc e
S h e ch anged h i m i nto a stag a nd i nstilling ma dness i nto h i s
fift y hou nds sent them i n hot p u rsu it of h im They c au ght h i m .

a n d rent h i m i n p ieces Th en not knowing w h at they h a d done ,

.
,
4 8 G REE K AND RO MAN MYT H O LOG Y
a s fa r i nl an d as wa s T h ebes ; moreover t h ey poi nt ou t t h at t h e,

P h o in ik ian theory w a s u n known i n Gree k literatu re before th e

fifth centu ry B C T h os e who occupy a mi ddle grou nd a re
. .

p rob ably closer to the a ctu al facts ; t h ey b elieve th at at some

very ea rly d ate Thebes h a d extens ive connexions wit h P h oi
n i k ia n s
,
bu t t h ey c annot a ccep t them as p rimitive 2
Th e .

legend of Me lik e rt e s seems to h ave grown up about t h e cu lt

of th e d rowned b ut th e i nterp retation of ot h ers of th is grou p
,

of myt h s will be more a p p rop ri ately dis cu ssed elsew h ere 3

.

The S o r r ow s of the Ho use of La bda k os; Oidip o us — W h e n .

P o ly do r o s died h e left a so n La b da k o s w h o w a s killed S h o rtly

,

after h e became king some people believi ng h im to h ave been

,

s l ai n by a god for mu ch th e s ame kind of sin a s th at of w h ic h

Pent h eu s h ad been gu ilty His so n Laios wa s b a nished from
.

th e realm by Am p h ion b ut on Amp h ion s d eat h h e retu rned to

,
’

assu me h is i nherited rights D rea dful cal amities awa ited him
.

a nd h is des cend ants for h e was u nder a cu rs e — a nd to t h e

,

a ncients cu rses were a s inevitable a s t h e decrees of Fate .

D uring h is exile h e h ad ca rried o ff Chr y sip p o s t h e so n of Pelop s , ,

a n d Pelops h ad solemnly cu rsed h im wit h ch ildles sness or , ,

S h ou ld h e h ave a ch ild with deat h a t th e ch ild s h and AS

,
’
.

ruler of T h ebes h e ma rried Io k a st e (Ep ik a st e ) t h e d aug h ter of ,

Me n o ik e us w h o b roug h t h im a so n t h u s foiling t h e fi rs t a l
, ,
’
t e r n a t iv e of P e lo p s s cu rse I n order to avert t h e s econ d t h e
.

p a rents pierced t h e b abe s an kles a n d gave h im to a h erds ma n

’

to b e expos ed i n the wilds of K it h a iro n but it h appened t h at ,

h e was fou nd by a S h ep h erd of King Po lyb o s of Corint h w h o

took h im to th e qu een P e r ib o ia ,
.

”
The ch ild who was called Oidip o us S wollen Foot ) from
,

t h e swollen condition of h is a n kles grew to man h ood i n t h e ,

cou rt of Corinth w h ere h e w a s t h e strongest a nd most at h

,

lctic of t h e youth s of h is ci rcle a nd a rou sed th e envy of many ,

w h o th u s fou nd occ asion to tau nt h i m with h is u ncertai n b i rt h .

T h e in nu endoes perplexed h im a nd being u nable to i ndu c e ,

P e r ib o ia to th row any lig h t on t h e matter of h is p a rentag e ,

 PLAT E XV I
T HE D E AT H OF PE N T H E U S

T he a rti s t b e e n t rue t o t he T he ba n m yt h in
h as
m a k i n g t he ro c k y sum m it o f K it ha iro n t he t h e at r e o f
t h i s trage dy Pe n t he us n ude a n d de fe n c e l e ss is b e i n g
.
, ,

b e at e n t o t he g ro un d by t he o n s la ught o f t hre e wi l d
v o ta ri e s o f D i o n ys o s e vi de n tly t he survivi n g da ug ht e rs
,

o f K a dm o s— Agav e I n o a n d Aut o n o é
, ,
T h e fi e rc e s t.

o f t h e t h re e w h o atta c k s Pe n t h e us w it h a t hyr sos a n d

t e a rs o ut h is hai r is p ro bably Agav e his un n at ural

, ,

m o t h e r b ut t he o t he r t w o c a n n o t b e de fi n it e l y dis
,

t in g uish e d b y n a m e In t h e Up p e r c o rn e rs o f t he
.

bac k gro un d a re t w o Ma e n a ds b ra n di sh i n g w h i p s a n d
t o rc h e s F r o m a w all p ai n ti ng i n t he Ho us e O f t he
.
-

V e t t ii Po m p e ii (He r m a n n Bruc k m a n n D en hm a ler der

,
-
,

M ler i des Alter t ums N o

a e
,
Se e p 4 7
. . .
 MY T H S OF T HE N O RTH E RN MA I N LA N D 49

h e rep ai red to D e lp ho i and made inqu i ry of t h e oracle w h ich ,

warned h im neve r to enter h is n ative cou ntry else h e would ,

kill h is fath er a nd ma rry h is mother Instead therefore of .

, ,

retu rning to Co ri nth a nd to h i s su pposed p a rents Oidip o us ,

h a rnessed h is ca r and d rove e astwa rd t h roug h Ph o k is On a .

n arrow roa d h e met Laios his real fathe r to w h om t h e roya l

, ,

h eral d b ade h i m yiel d p la ce Fo r h is refus al one O f his h orses

.

wa s c ut down a nd i n retali ation Oidip o us killed Laios a nd th e

,

h erald after w h i ch h e p roceeded o n h i s way to Thebes

,
.

W h en th e news of t h e death of Laios c ame to th e city ,

K reon t h e b rother of Io k a st e w a s a p p oi nted king D u ring h i s

, ,
.

reign a great d is aster c ame u pon Th ebes fo r Hera s ent t h e ,

S p h inx a noth er of th e horrible i ssu e of Ty p hon an d Ech idn a

, ,

to destro y th e citizens Th i s monster h a d th e face of a woma n

.
,

t h e body a nd feet a nd tail of a lion a nd t h e wings of a b i rd ;

,

a n d h er s trange weapon of destru ction was a rid dle w h ic h sh e

wou ld pu t to p assers b y devou ring those w ho failed to give

-
,
“
t h e rig h t a nswer Th e rid dle was th is : Wh at is it w h ich h av
.
,

i ng b ut one voice i s fi rs t fou r footed then t w o footed a nd i s

,
-
,
-
,

? ”
a t the l as t th ree foo ted - After ma ny h a d p eris hed i n thei r
u nfortu n ate attem p ts to solve the riddle Kreon p roclaimed t h a t ,

t h e wi fe a n d the kingdom of Laios wou ld b e given to t h e o ne

w h o s hou l d s u cceed To t h e question of t h e S ph inx Oidip o us
.

“
r eplied : The c reatu re i s m an for in i nfancy h e c rawls on all
,

fou rs i n m atu re yea rs h e wal ks u p right on two feet and i n

, ,
”
O ld age goes a s it were o n t h ree by the a i d of a c a ne W h en .

S h e h ea rd thes e words t h e S p hinx cast h erself down from t h e

,

cliffs a n d Oidip o us received th e p romised rewa rds At l ast h e

,
.

h a d fu lfilled th e two cond itions of the ora cle .

For m any yea rs th e life an d reign of Oidip o us were h a p py ,

a nd t h rou gh h is ma rri age with Io k a st e h e h a d two sons P oly ,

n e ik e s a n d Et e o k l e s a nd two d aug h ters Antigone and Ismene

, ,
.

At length howeve r p estilence a nd fami ne wasted both l a nd

, ,

and p eo p le an d wh en th e o ra cles were cons ulted t h eir answers

, ,

revealed h is blood rel ations h i p to h is qu een T h ou gh t h ei r S i n .

50 G REE K AND RO MAN MYT H O LOG Y
h a d been committed in ignorance Io k a st e h a nged herself i n , ,

th e a ngu is h of remors e and Oidip o us p ut ou t h i s own eyes

, .

Th e Theb ans b anis hed h im from thei r city an d a s h e de p a rted ,

h is sons m ade no e ffort either to help h im o r to defend h im .

Fo r th is b as e ingratitu de h e c alled down b itter cu rses on thei r

h eads from wh ich they were thencefo rwa rd to suffer ; for th e
cu rses of p a rents on ch ildren were the d irest of all With th e .

fa ithfu l Antigone h e went to Ko lo n o s in At t ik e where h e b e ,

c ame a suppli a nt at t h e S h rine of th e Eu menides the avenging ,

sp irits of th e dead Thes eu s of Athens welcomed h im a n d a f

.

forded h im a home in wh ic h to en d h is d ays in p eace After a .

nu mb er of d ays Is mene j oined th e two exiles Wh en Oidip o us .

knew th at h is end w a s n ea r h e c alled h is d aughters to h is s id e

,

to perform for h im th e l ast rites for th e dying and ta king them , ,

tenderly i n his a rms h e s ai d ,

My ch il dre n o n t h i s da y y e ce a se t o h av e
,

A f at h e r Al l m y day s a r e s p e n t a n d g o ne
.
,

An d ye n o m o r e sh all l e a d yo u r w re t ch e d l i fe ,

C a r i n g fo r m e Ha r d w a s i t t h at I k n o w
.
, ,

My c h il dre n ! Y e t o n e w o r d is st ro ng t o l o o se ,

Al t h o u g h al o n e t he b u r de n o f t h e se t o il s
, ,

Fo r l o ve in l a rg e r S t o r e y e c o u l d n o t h av e
F ro m a n y t h a n f ro m h im w ho sta n de t h he re ,

Of wh o m b e re av e d y e n o w sh all liv e yo u r li fe
” 4
.

After u ttering t h es e words h e p assed away a not h er victim o f ,

t h e fa r reach ing cu rs e of P elops

- .

T h e friends of Oidip o us des i red to bu ry his body in T h ebes ,

but th e Theb ans remembering the s ufferings b rought u pon

,

them b y th e mu ch cu rs ed dynasty of Laios forb a de them to

-
,

do so They interred it however i n a nother p lace i n Bo io t ia

.
, , ,

but when th is too became affl icted with cal amities it s c iti
, , ,

zens o r dered th e remov a l of the corp s e Ta king it to Et e o n o s .

,

th e friends ignora ntly l ai d it i n a sh ri ne of Demeter When .

the p eo p le of the local ity discovered t h is t h ey inqu i red of t h e ,

“
goddess wh at they s houl d do a nd received t h e re p ly : Remove
,
”
not th e s up p l ia nt of th e god S o t h ey left t h e bones of Oidi
.
52 G RE E K AN D RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y
failu re O f t h e ex p edition a n d the death of all it s leaders a nd ,

refused to go Po lyn e ik e s however h ad learned of a p act

.
, ,

b etween h im and Ad rastos to decide all thei r mutu al d i ff erences

by a n a p p eal to Eri p hyle th e wife of Am p h ia ra o s a nd ta king
, ,

a dva ntage of th e feminine love of p ersonal adornment h e gave

h er th e nec klace of Harmoni a a nd begu iled h er to decide i n
’
favou r of her hu sb an d s a dherence to the c ause of A drastos .

Full of res entment at being th u s forced to j oin th e ex p edition ,

Am p h ia r a o s before h is de p a rtu re enj oined h is sons to s l ay t h eir

mot h er a n d avenge h is i nevitable deat h .

The a rmy se t out u nder Ad rastos and seven generals one of ,

w h om w a s Po lyn e ik e s On thei r way they h alted at Nemea to

.

obtai n water and there Hy p sipyle a Sl ave woma n of King

, ,

Ly k o ur g o s left the ruler s i nfant so n w h om she was tend ing

’
,

a nd led them to a s p ring Wh ile sh e w a s gone a serpent killed

.

t h e ch ild an d Am p h ia r ao s decla red th at th is p o ft e n de d how th e

,

a rmy wou ld fa re B u rying th e infa nt s body t h e Argives in

.
’
,

stituted the Nemea n games at h is grave a nd ever afte rward ,

“
th e solemn fu nereal origi n of the games w a s ke p t b efore t h e
mind b y th e du n colored raiment worn by th e um p ires a n d em
-

p h a siz e d by the cyp res s grove wh ich i n a ntiqu ity su rrou nded
” 5
t h e tem p le .

March ing to t h e walls of T h ebes Adrastos sent a h erald to

,

dema nd th at Et e o k le s h a nd over t h e kingdom to h is b rot h er

a ccording to thei r agreement Meeting with refu s al h e d ivided
.
,

h is host i nto seven p a rts u nder th e seven leaders a nd stationed

e ac h before one of the seven great gates of the city wit h in ,

wh ich th e T heb a n a rmy w a s s imil arly a rranged B efore giving .

b attle Et e o k le s inqu i red of the blind seer Tei res i as wh at th e , ,

fo rtu nes of wa r woul d be a n d when the a nswer w a s given th at

,

if K r e o n s so n Me n o ik e us were to s ac rifice h imself to Ares

’
, , ,

the Theb a n a rms woul d be victorious the you ng man wit h , ,

noble devotion killed himself before the city Neve rtheles s

,
.
,

victor y di d not come immed iately to th e Theb a ns s ince they ,

were compelled to reti re before the e nemy with i n the fo rti

 MYT H S OF T HE N O RT H E RN MA I N LAN D 53

fi c a t io n sOne of th e Argive leaders K a p a n e us i n th e a rdou r

.
, ,

of pu rsu it attem p ted to sc ale th e walls by mea ns of a l a dde r ,

but for h is teme rity Zeu s stru c k h im down wit h a thu nderbolt .

Th i s wa s the beginni ng of the Argive rou t a nd s l aughter .

When many h a d been s lain both s ides agreed t h at th e fate of

,

th e cit y shou ld be determined by a duel between Po lyn e ik e s

a nd Et e o k le s Th ey fought bu t S i nce they killed one a nother
.
, ,

th ey left th e c ity s futu re still u n certa in After t h is th e fi g ht

’
.

ing bec ame irregul ar an d p romis cuou s fortu ne s teadily going ,

a gai nst the Argives u ntil at last of all t h ei r commanders Ad

, ,

ra stos alone s u rvived h e owing h i s esc a p e not to h is s kill b ut

,

to th e speed of h is d ivi nely born h ors e Are io n Am p hia r ao s .

h ad been p u rsued by one of th e enemy bu t b efore a miss ile ,

cou ld stri ke h im h e h a d been swallowed u p i n t h e eart h c h ariot , ,

h orses d river a nd all a nd wa s gra nted immortality wh ile on

, , , ,

t h e s pot where h e d is appeared t h e c ity of Ha rma

w a s fou nded .

With th e death of Et e o k le s K reon a ssu med t h e powers o f

king a nd from h is p alace h e sent ou t a decree t h at t h e bodies
,

of t h e fallen foes of Thebes s hou ld b e left wit h ou t du e fu nera l

rites Th is pl aced Antigone t h e S ister of P o lyn e ik e s i n a g rie v
.
, ,

ou s d ilemma To forego th e rites wou ld mean t h at h er b rother s

.
’

sou l woul d forever suffer in u n rest and wou l d h au nt t h e p l aces

a nd p ersons it h ad known in life ; on t h e other h a nd to perform ,

thes e ceremonies wou l d be d is loyalty to th e state Gu i ded b y .

t h e l aw of th e gods Sh e defied th e l aw of t h e king a n d gave

, ,

r est to h er b rot h er s sou l K reon h a d h er seized a nd sealed alive

’
.

in a c avern des p ite th e plea dings of h er betrothe d lover h i s

, ,

o w n so n Ha im o n Under t h e denu nciations of Teiresi as th e

.
,

king repented of his deed bu t it w a s too l ate ! When t h e c avern

,

was opened Antigone wa s already dea d and at t h e entrance

, ,

l a y th e body of Ha im o n S la in by his own h an d At th e news of

,
.

t h e tragedy Eu ryd i ke t h e qu een h a nged h erself a n d Kreon

, , ,

w a s left alone in life a victim p artly of h is own ob stin acy a nd

,

p a rtly of t h e cu rs e of Pelops .
54 G RE E K AND RO MAN MY TH O LOG Y
Ad rastos too felt t h e s ame bu rden of d uty to h is dead t h a t
, ,

weighed upon Antigone Unable to secu re th e bodies of t h e .

Argives owing to K reo n s mand ate h e called Thes eu s of ’

,

Athens to h is a id and a n Ath eni an a rmy ca p tu ring T h eb es

, , ,

s ecu red th e Argive dead AS the body of K a p a n e us lay on th e

.

p yre h is wife Evadne t h rew hers elf i nto the fl ames and wa s
,

consu med wit h her h u sb and .

The Ep igo n o i After ten yea rs t h e sons of t h e s even Argive

.

general s m arsh alled a not h er host against T h eb es to avenge

th e d eat h of t h ei r fat h ers T h ey were known i n story a s t h e
.

“
Ep ig o n o i or Later Born
,
a nd th e oracle of Apollo fo retold
-
,

th at victory wou ld rest with them if they cou ld obta in Al k

maion t h e so n of Am p hia r a o s as leader T h e r sa n dro s t h e
, ,
.
,
’
so n of Po ly n e ik e s repeated h is father s strategy a nd by mean s
, ,

of Harmoni a s rob e b ribed E riphyle to enlis t h er son s a id

’ ’
.

Un der Alk m a io n th e army marc h ed to Thebes s ac ked t h e sur ,

’
rou ndi ng villages a n d d rove th e c ity s defenders b ac k beh in d
,

t h ei r walls Cou ns elled by Teires i as th at defence wa s fru itles s

.
,

t h e T h eb ans evacu ated th e city wit h t h ei r wives a nd ch ild ren ,

a n d fou nded the new c ity of He st ia ia wh ile t h e conqueri ng ,

.

Argives entered th e gates razed t h e walls a nd collecting t h e , ,

booty gave th e b est p ortion of it to t h e Delp h ia n Apollo t h e ,

p atron of thei r victory .

Al k m a i o n Al k m a io n was now free to carry out h is fat h er s

.
’

l ast request b ut h es itating to do S O h orrible a deed h e soug h t

,

the a dvice of Apollo who b ade h im not to stay h is h an d

, .

Feeling th at h e h ad righ t o n h i s S ide h e Slew E riphyle h i s , ,

mot h er per h ap s wit h the a id of h is b roth er Am p h ilo c ho s but

, ,

fort h wit h a n avenging E rinys or Fu ry bega n to hou nd h im , ,

a nd soon d rove h im mad so th at he wa ndered from p l ace to ,

place u nti l at l ast h e c ame to th e home of P hegeu s i n P S O p his ,

by whom h e w a s p u rifie d of th e gu ilt of sh edding kind red bloo d .

Later on h e received P hegeu s s daughter Ar sin o é i n ma rriage

’
,

giving h er th e fatal robe a nd nec klace of Harmonia bu t it ,

tu rned out th at h is pu rific a tion was not com p lete for h i s ,

 PLAT E XVI I

T HE D E P A R T UR E OF AM P H I ARAOS

Am p hiara o s, fully a rm e d is re l uc ta n tly m o un ti n g

,

his c h a r i o t b e s i de his driv e r Bat o n w h o s ta n ds re i n s

, ,

i n h a n d r e a dy t o urge his fo ur ho rs e s fo rwa r d Aro un d.

t h e c h a r i o t a n d t h e h o rs e s t h e k i n s fo l k a n d fr i e n ds

o f t he s e e r a re gat h e r e d t o b id him fa r e w e ll . By t h e
o ut si de c o l um n o f t h e
p ala c e f a ca de t o t h e l e ft s ta n ds
E r i p hyl e h o l di n g t he fatal n e c k la c e . T h e b o y s e at e d
o n t h e s h o ul de rs o f t he w o m a n i n f ro n t o f h e r a n d

t h e o t he r b o c l o s e t o Am hia ra o s a re p ro bably Al k
y p
m ai o n a n d Am p h ilo c h o s w ho lat e r av e n ge d t he i r
,

fat h e r s un ti m e ly de at h F r o m a C o r i n t h ia n hr a t r o f
’
. e

ab o ut 6 00 B c in Be r l i n (Furt w ii n g le r Re ic hho ld
. .
,
-
,

G r iecb iscb e Va sen m a ler ei , N O . Se e p p 5 1— 5 2

. .
 THE NEW YORK
P UB LIC LI B RARY

A ST O R L E N o x AN D
T I L D E N F O U N D AT I O N S
.

D I
56 G RE E K AND RO MA N MYT H O LO G Y
dero n s career a nd killi ng h is hosts took posses s ion of t h ei r
, , ,

l and and n a med it Aitoli a I n th e cou rs e of time he h ad two .

sons ,
P leuron and K a ly do n who gave thei r n ames to t h e two ,
’
c h ief cities of Aitol ia a nd thei r ch ild ren and their ch ildren s
,

c hildren intermarried u ntil fin ally two cous ins Oin e us an d ,

T h e st io s were su p reme i n t h e cou ntry s cou ncils

’
.
,

Me lea gr o s a n d Ata la n te Oin e uS ru led over K a lydo n a n d

.
—

took Alt h a ia th e d aughter of T h e st io s a s h is wife Their u nion

, ,
.

w a s bles sed by a so n Me l e a g ro s and although some s aid th at ,

h is tru e fath er was Ares th ey p rob ab ly j u dged h is p arentage

,

from h is ex p loits with th e Spea r When Me le a g ro s was only .

s even d ays old th e Moira i prop h esied th at h e wou ld meet h i s

,

death a s soon as the b rand o n th e h ea rth S h ou ld be consu med .

Thereu p on to p revent h er ch il d s u ntimely end Alt h a ia too k

,
’
,

th e f a ggot then b l azing o n th e h ea rth extingu is h ed it and h i d , ,

it away in a chest Ma ny years afterward at h arvest time .

-

Oin e us wh ile O ffering s acrifices of th e fi rst fru its i n some way

,
-
,

overloo ked Artemis who emb ittered at th e s light sent a h uge

, , ,

boa r to ravage th e tilled l an d an d to destroy the me n and h erd s

of Aitoli a Of thems elves the Ait o lia n s were u n a b le to kill t h e
.

bea st an d Oin e us a ccord ingly s ummoned th e mightiest s p ea r

,

men of th e Greeks to engage i n a great h u nt p romis ing t h e ,

s kin of th e boa r a s a reward to t h e one w h o s hou ld su cceed i n

s l ayi ng it From all p a rts of Hellas t h e wa rriors came
. Kas tor
a nd P ol y deu kes I d as a nd Lyn k e us from La koni a a nd Mes
,

seni a ; Theseu s from At h ens ; Adm e t o s I ason and Peleus from , ,

Th es sal y ; Me le ag ro s and t h e fou r sons of T h e st io s from Ai

toli a ; a nd most consp icuou s of all t h e h u ntres s Ata lante of
, ,

Arkad ia .

Th is Atal ante was of doubtfu l p a rentage if t h e conflicting ,

statements of t h e myth s mea n a nyth ing but sh e was generally ,

s aid to b e th e d au ghter of I asos a nd Klymene S o great h a d .

b een h er f a ther s dis a p p ointment that sh e w a s not a boy t h at

’

h e ex p osed h er i n the forest S hortly after h er bi rth a nd t h ere ,

sh e was nu rsed by a bea r u ntil sh e w a s d iscovered by some

 MYT H S O F T HE N O RT H E RN MA I N LA N D 57

h u ntsmen who b rough t h er up an d tra ined h er i n th e ch a s e .

Wh en sh e bec ame a woman Sh e s p ent h er time h u nting ami d

the hills a nd valleys of Ark a di a a n d ke p t her l ife a s ch aste a s
,

th at of Artemis h erself With h er bow Sh e h a d s lai n two Cen

.

t a urs w h o h a d made a lustful att a c k on h er a nd at th e fu nera l ,

games of P el ias S h e h a d S hown her s kill a n d strength by

th rowing P eleu s i n wrestli ng M a de confident by th es e ex
.

l o it s sh e appea red among t h e h eroes a s a contestant for t h e

p ,
’
great boa r s s ki n .

For ni ne d ays Oin e us entertained the as s emb led h u ntsmen i n

K a l y do n a n d on the tenth th e h u nt began I n a s h o r t time th e
,
.

boa r h a d mangled a nd killed a nu mber of h is p u rsu ers Th e .

firs t blow h e h a d received w a s from t h e spear of Atala nte b u t ,

i t did little more th a n graze h im a nd th e mo r tal th ru st wa s

,

res erved for th e weapon of Me le a g ro s When at l ast th e b eas t .

h a d fallen Me le a g ro s fl ayed it a n d took th e S ki n a s h is p rize ;

,

b ut h is u ncles the sons of T h e st io s w h o i n th e contes t r e p r e

, ,

sented the Ko ure t e s o r old Ait o lia n s toc k living i n P leu ron
, ,

gru dged h im h is l awfu l gai n a n d stirred u p a qu a rrel wit h

h im wh ic h resu lted i n p itc h ed wa r between th e people of
,

K a ly do n an d the p eople of P leu ro n Me le a g ro s S howed h im.

self to be as gre at a wa rrior a s h e was a hu nter a n d among h i s ,

many enemies w h om h e killed wa s one of h is u ncles A p p alled .

at th e a ct Alt h a ia imprec ated cu rses o n h is h ead and s u llenly

, ,

Me le a g ro s reti red from the strife to h is wi fe Kleop atra a llow ,

i ng h is people to fight t h ei r b attle alone I n the appea l of .

P h o in ix to t h e angry Ac h illes i n t h e I li a d th is p a r t of t h e sto r y

is forcefully told .

“
Now wa s t h e di n of foemen about t h eir gates qu ic kly
risen an d a nois e of b atteri ng of towers ; a nd th e elders of th e
,

Ait o lia n s sent t h e b est of t h e god s p riests a nd b esou ght h im

’

[ i e Me le a g ro s] to come fo rth an d s ave th em with p romis e of

. .
,

a mighty gift ; to wit th ey b ade h im where th e p la in of lovely

, ,

K a ly do n w a s fattest to choos e h im out a fair demes ne of fifty

,

ploug h gates t h e h alf thereof vine l a nd a nd t h e h alf open

-
,
-
58 G REE K AND RO MAN MY T H O LOG Y

p loug h l and to be cut

- from out
,
th e p lain An d old knightly .

Oin e us p rayed h im instantl y and stood u p on the t h res hold of ,

h is high roofed ch amber a nd shook the mo rticed doors to

-
,

b es eech h is so n ; h im too h is S isters a nd h is lady moth er p rayed

i nstantly b ut h e denied t h em yet more instantly too h i s
comrades p rayed th at were nea rest h im a nd d ea rest of all
,

men Yet even so p ersu aded t h ey not h is hea r t wit h i n h is

.

b reast u ntil hi s C h ambe r wa s now h otly b attered a nd th e

,

Ko ure t e s were climb ing upon th e towers a nd firing th e great

c ity Then d id h is fai r gi rdled wife p ray Me le a g ro s wit h
.
-

l amentation and tol d h im all th e woes t h at come on men w h os e

,

c ity is ta ken ; th e warriors a re S lain a nd the city i s wasted of ,

fi re a nd the ch ildren a nd th e deep gi rdled women a re led c a p

,
-

tive of strangers And h is sou l was stirred to hear th e grievou s

.

tale a nd h e went h is way a nd donned h is glittering a rmou r

, .

S o he s aved t h e Ait o lia n s from t h e evil d ay ob eying h is own ,

will ; but they p a id h im not now the gifts many a n d graciou s ;

” 7
yet nevertheles s h e d rave away destru ction I n t h is fray h e .

S lew the remaining th ree sons of T h e st io s a n d then h imself

was killed At h is deat h h is mother a nd h i s wife h anged them
.

selves a n d h is s isters a s they mou rned over h i s body were

,

c h anged into gu i nea fowl -

.

Th ere is a nothe r a nd l ater vers ion of t h e sequel of t h e boar

h u nt I n th is Me le a g ro s fasci nated by the c h arms of Ata
.
, ,

l a nte gave the s ki n to her though h is u ncles O p enly resented

, ,

it s bestowal on a woman especi ally on one outs ide th e p ale o f

,
-

thei r own family Finally they seized Atalante a nd wrested

.

h er p rize from h er b ut i n ch ival rou s a nger Me le a g ro s se t upon

,

them a n d ma de them p ay the p enalty with their l ives G rieving .

fo r th e los s of h er b rothers Alt h a ia too k th e ch a rred b ra nd ,

from the chest a nd bu rned it a nd Me le a g ro s d ied immedi ately ,

afte r .

The K a lydo n ia n h u nt was not th e l ast of th e exploits of

Atal ante Accord ing to one story sh e j oined the h eroes i n
.
,

the voyage of th e Argo a nd i n one of thei r b attles she wa s

,
 C H A P T ER I V

MY T H S O F C RET E AN D AT T I K E

I . C RET E

UROP E Eu ro p e a s we h ave already seen i n t h e firs t

—

E
.
,

p art of the legend of K a dm o s wa s the daughter of ,

Agenor (or by some accou nts of Ph o in ix) One d a y wh en S h e

, ,
.
,

w a s p luc king flowers with her friends i n a beautifu l meadow of

P h o in ik ia Zeu s s p ied h er from afa r and bec a me so en a mou red

,

of her th a t i n order to deceive th e watchfu l Hera h e took th e

, ,

fo rm O f a grazi ng bu ll a nd a p p roach ed the h a p py grou p of

maidens D rawi ng close to Eu ro p e he cast a ch a rm over her
.
,

by h is gentle ma nner so th at sh e fea rlessly stro ked a nd p etted

,

h im a n d led her comra des i n p layi ng merry p ra nks with h im .

Fu rther emboldened Sh e climbed u p on h is b ac k endeavou ring

, ,

to lu re some of h er comp anions after h er but b efore they cou ld ,

come ne a r t h e bu ll with a bou n d lea p ed i nto t h e se a and swa m

,

away with her I n answer to her tearfu l p leadi ngs Zeus at

.

length reve a led h imself a nd h i s love Continu ing westwa rd .

a cros s th e dee p h e b rough t her to th e is land of Crete wh ere

, ,

h e we dde d her a nd begat the h eroes Minos Rh adamanthys , ,

a nd S a r p edon wh ile i n the mea ntime the vai n se a rch for

,

E u ro p e p rosecuted by her mother an d b rothers resu lted i n th e

fi nal dis p ers a l of th e family of Ageno r i nto va rious p a rts of th e
Med iterra nea n a nd Aegea n .

I n th e cou rse of a few yea rs the love of Zeu s waned an d h e

ab andoned E u ro p e to Asterios king of the Creta ns who rea re d
, ,

h er ch i l d ren a s h is own After th e sons h a d reac hed a dult yea rs

.
,

t h ey qu a rre l le d amongst themselves over a beautifu l y outh

n a med Mile t o s a n d when Minos trium p h ed over S a rpedon
, ,
 P LA T E XV I I I

EUR O P E AN D T H E B ULL

T h e p a i n t e r h a s a s it w e re p h o t o g r a p he d E uro p e
a n d h e r c o m a n i o ns c a r e ss i n g t h e b ull at t h e m o m e n t
p
j us t b e fo re t he c re at ure l e a p e d i n t o t he se a T h e.

g ro up o f fi g ure s is S ho w n agai n s t a r o c ky a n d p a rtly

w o o de d h ill s i de a n d n o t i n a m e a do w a s t h e m yt h
, ,

w o ul d l e a d o n e t o e x p e c t T h e ro un d c o l um n in t he
.

c e n t re is a a re n tly s a c r e d in c h a ra c t e r w h il e t h e
pp ,

sq ua re p i lla r an d t he wat e r a r at t h e r i gh t m a a rk
-
j y m
a fo un tai n at w h i c h t he m ai de n s h av e b e e n drawi n g
wat e r A n a rro w s t r i p o f p al e bl ue al o n g t he l o w e r
.

e dge o f t h e
p i c t ure s m b o li z e s t h e p ro xi m ity o f t h e
y
se a
. F ro m a Po m p e ia n wall p ai n ti n g (He rm a n n
-

Bruc k m a n n D e n hm a ler der Ma ler ei des Alt er t um s

, ,

No . See p 6 0. .
 M YT HS OF C RET E AN D ATT I K E 61

t h ey all fled from the ki ngdom Mile t o s too k up a p erma nent

.

abode i n Asi a Mi nor a nd fou nded th e c it y wh ic h bore h is n a me ;

S ar p edon attac ked Ly k ia a nd won it s th rone a nd Zeu s g a ve ,

h i m the boon of a life th ree generations long ; Rh ad am a nth y s ,

who h a d enj o y ed sovereignty ove r th e isl a nd s of the se a left ,

h is dominions a nd to ok refuge i n Bo io t ia whe re h e bec a me th e

,

h u sb and of Al kmene ; Minos rem ai ned i n Crete an d d rew u p a

code of l aws by w h ic h he wa s to gai n immorta l renown Th e .

commonly a cce p ted story rel ates th at h e married P as iph a e ,

the d a ughter of Hel ios a lthoug h a nothe r s tates th at h is wife

,

was Crete the d au ghter of h is ste p father Asterios A l a rge

,
-
.

family w a s born to h im the most famou s of h is sons b ei ng An

,

dro g e o s G lau kos a n d K a t r e us a nd of h is d au ghters Ari adne

, , , ,

a n d Ph ai dra .

Myth) of Mi n o: a n d his S am ; Mi n or
~

W h en Asterios died
.
,

Mi nos cl a imed th e c rown bu t was thwa rted i n h i s e fforts to

,

secu re it u ntil as a l ast resort h e asserted tha t it wa s his by

, , ,

d ivi ne right a n d p romised to demonstr a te th is by eliciting th e

O pen ap p roval of the gods Offering a s acrifice to P oseidon h e
.
,

p rayed th at the god wou ld sen d u p from t h e depths of th e se a

a b ull a s a s ign of h i s sovereignty adding the p romise t h at h e
,

wou ld forthwith ma ke the b ull a victim on the alta r of Posei

don a s a th an k o ff ering The deity hearkened to the p etition
-
.
,

b u t so beautifu l w a s th e beast wh ic h h e th rust u p wa rd from

the w a ters th at Minos became greedy for it a n d th in king to ,

d eceive th e god s acrificed a nothe r i n its p lace He ga ined .

th e kingdom wh ich he so mu ch coveted a nd besides th e , , ,

u nd is p uted comma n d of the G reat S e a an d its islands but ,

p u nis h ment w a s i n store for h im P oseidon remembering th e

.
,

attem p ted deception sowed in the heart of P as i p h a e a n un n at

,

u ral love for the bu ll and d rove h er to consummate her des ire
,

wit h the h elp of th e s killed c raftsma n D a ida lo s; but her sin

bec ame known w h en sh e b roug h t i nto the worl d a h ideou s
monster wit h t h e body of a man an d the h ea d of a bu ll th e
lVIin o t a ur 1
Advised b y a n or a cle Minos s h ut t h e c reatu re i n
.
,
62 G R E E K AND ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
the l abyrinth wh ich D a ida lo s h ad constructed for h im th i s ,

b uilding cons isting of so i ntricate a tangle of p ass ages th at i t

was im p oss ib le for one to fin d h is way out of it There th e .

Minotau r remai ned feed ing on the p rey b rought to h im from

a ll p arts of Crete u nti l the d ay when h e w a s killed by Th eseu s
of Athens Th is story however i s best tol d i n connexion with
.
, ,

the c areer of T h eseus .

An dr oge os — The experiences of t h e sons of Minos were a

.

medley of tragedy a n d miracle An dro g e o s h eard th at t h e se a

.

born bull wh ic h Hera kles h a d ta ken to Argolis h a d escaped fro m

th at territory a nd wa s ravaging t h e lands abou t Ma rat h on .

A p p arently t h in king t h at a Cretan a rm was more s killed to do

b attle wit h a Cretan beast h e too k s h ip a nd s ailed to At t ik e
,

i n t h e h op e of killing t h e b ull As it h appened t h e animal killed

.

h im b ut from t h is i ncident develo p ed th e c ircu mstances w h ic h

,

led later on to T h eseu s s voyage to Crete

, ,
’
.

Gla uk os T h e legen d of Glau kos rel ates t h at w h en a small

.
,

ch ild h e was once pu rs u ing a mou se a nd fell i nto a j a r of

,

h oney i n w h ic h h e was s mot h ered to deat h Minos sou ght for .

th e c h il d everywh ere bu t without s uccess an d at l ast h e a p

, ,

pealed to th e sooths ayers w h o answered h im in t h e form of a

,
“
ri ddle : I n t h y field s g r a z e t h a calf w h ose body c h anget h hu e
t h rice i n th e sp ace of each d ay I t is first w h ite t h en red an d
.
, ,

at t h e l ast b lac k He who c a n u nravel t h e meaning of t h is ri ddl e

.

”
will restore t h y child to t h ee alive After Po lyido s t h e seer .

h a d d ivined th at th e enigma alluded to the mu lberry h e fou n d ,

the body of Glau kos i n th e honey j a r and Minos enclosed h i m -

,

i n a ch amber with t h e corpse b i dding h im b ring it b ac k to ,

l ife Wh ile wondering w h at to do Po lyido s c h anced to se e a

.
,

s n a ke c rawl acros s the floor to t h e c h ild s body an d h e killed it ’

,

with a stone S oon afterward h e obse rved a second se rpent

.

come nea r to t h e body of the first and covering it wit h gra ss , , ,

revive it I nsp ired by t h is example t h e seer did t h e s ame th ing

.
,

to th e body of Gl au kos a nd to h is u nbou nded delig h t be h eld it

,

slowly come to life Mi nos gladly rece ived h is so n b ac k from

.
64 G REE K AN D R O MAN MYT HOLOG Y

ch a r a cteristics of the powerfu l ra ce of se a kings who ru led over -

Crete i n the d ays wh ic h p receded t h e dominion of t h e Argives .

I n a certai n sens e th en th e tr ad ition is correct wh ic h p la ces

, ,

h i m three generations b efore th e Troj a n w ar ; h e is not fa r from

being a historic a l ch a racter .

Minos is ch iefl y kn ow n a s a r u ler o f power ful i niti ative in

m a ny fields He fou n ded nu merou s cities i n Crete the most
.
,

not a b le being h is ca p ital Knossos ; to facilitate t h e a dm in is

,

t r a t io n of government h e divided t h e isl and i nto t h ree d istricts

with Knos sos P h a istos a nd K y do n ia a s h ea d cities ; a nd h e

, ,

extended h is sway far out over the is la nds and t h e coasts of

the mai nla nd and many settlements were n amed af ter h im
, .

He divi ded th e Creta n b u rgh ers i nto two main class es farmers ,

a nd soldiers p rodu cers a nd defenders ; wit h th e ass is tan c e

—

of th e peo p le of Ka ri a h e is s ai d to h ave cl ear ed t h e se a of

p i rates ; an d to en ab le h is citizens to develo p t h eir mar it ime c o m
merce h e i nvented a typ e of s mall coasting vessel Th e code of .

l aws wh ic h h e established among the Creta ns h e r eceived in

th e fi rst pl ace from Zeus a nd i n order to obtai n advi ce wit h
, ,

reference to su ch modific ations of it as s h ou ld b e neces s a ry from

time to time h e went to Mou n t I da every nint h yea r a nd c o n
,

ferred wit h Zeu s I n h is a dministration of th e l aw h is b rot h e r

.

Rh a d a mant h ys as s is ted h im i n th e cities and Talos the ma n , ,

of b ronze i n t h e cou ntry b ut Rh adama nthys s u cceeded only

, ,

too well so th at h e i ncu rred the j ealousy of Minos a nd w a s

,

b a nish ed to a remote p a rt of th e isla nd As a wa rrior Minos .

s howed hi mself cruel a nd h a rs h and i n confl ict with h is ch a racter

a s a j ust a nd mil d ru ler although th is s ide of h i s p ortrait is
, ,

no doubt colou red by Athenia n p rej ud ice His c areer in a rm s

,
.

wil l b e na rrated i n the myth s of At t ik e .

D a ida lo s . Thoug h a native of At h ens D a ida lo s i s more

—
,

closely connected wit h t h e legends of Crete th a n wit h t h os e

of At t ik e At Athens h e killed h is n e p h ew i n a fit of j ealousy
.

a n d fle d to Crete where Minos receive d h i m i n h is cou rt a n d

,

encou raged h is i nventive genius Among th e many wonderful .

 M YTHS OF C RE TE AND ATT I K E 65

th ings wh i ch h e c reated for the ki ng w a s th e labyrint h of

Knossos wh ich we h ave al rea dy described ; but h e p rostituted
h is ab ility by a iding P as i p h a e i n h er i ntrigue with th e b ull of
Poseidon a nd with h is so n I karos h e was thrown i nto p rison
,

by Minos By mea ns of cleverly contrive d wings th e two man

.

aged to esca p e from their confinement the father enj oining ,

I ka ros not to fly too low lest th e wings dip i n th e se a a nd

,

th e glue wh ich hel d them togeth er b e softened nor too h igh , ,

lest th e h eat of th e sun h ave th e s ame e ff ect I karos d isob eyed

.
,

sought too lofty a flight a nd fell headlong i nto th at p art of

,

the Me diterranea n wh ich s i nce th at d ay h as b een known a s

th e I k a r ia n S e a w h ereas th e more c au tiou s D a ida lo s fl ew s afely
,

to th e S i cili an c ity of K a m ik o s whos e king Ko k a lo s secretly

, , ,

gave h im p rotection T h ither Mi nos followed by s h ip an d re

.
,

so rted to a s h rewd device to fi nd ou t if D a ida lo s were really

t h ere S howing Ko k a lo s a s n ail s hell h e told h im th at a great
.
-
,

rewa rd wou ld b e bestowed u pon t h e man who cou ld put a linen

threa d t h rough its coils whereupon Ko k a lo s gave th e sh ell to
,

D a ida lo s who p ierced it tied a th rea d to a n a nt a nd sent it

, , ,

th rough th e hole d rawi ng th e th read beh ind it Minos know .

,

ing th at only D a ida lo s cou l d h ave done th is demanded th a t ,

Ko k a lo s s u rrender h im b u t t h is t h e S icilia n king wou l d n o t

,

do thou gh h e consented to enterta in Minos i n his p al ace

,
.

One day w h en th e Creta n ruler was b ath ing t h e d aughters of ,

Ko k a lo s su ddenly a p p ea red a nd killed h im b y p ou ring boi li ng

p itc h over h im His followers bu ried his body a nd erected a
.

monu ment over t h e grave fou nding t h e city of Minoa in th e

,

vi ci nity .

D a ida lo s is p rob ably to b e regarded as t h e r ep res entative o f

the a rtists and artis ans of the later Minoa n o r My k e n a ia n age .

One of th e h ighly p rized rel ic s p rese r ved i n th e temp le o f

Ath ene P oli as on t h e Atheni a n Ac ro p olis was a fold ing ch ai r s ai d
to h ave been fas h ioned by h i s h a nds Of image s att ribute d to
.

“
h i m P au s a ni a s s ays th at they a re somewh at u ncouth to t h e
” 2
eye bu t there is a tou ch of th e d ivine in them for a ll t h at
, .
66 G REEK AN D ROMAN M YTHO LOGY

II ATT I KE
.

T h e body of Atti c myt h s is a relatively late c reation Ca reful .

s t udy of it s hows th at i ts com p onent p a r t s were d rawn from

many di ff erent local Helleni c sou rces a nd t h at t h e p roces s of
weaving th em togeth er w a s long ; b u t j us t wh a t this p roces s
(o r p roces ses it may b e ) w a s will p rob ab ly never be more tha n
, ,

th e obj ect of conj ectu re I t i s enough to sa y t h a t the e v i

.

de uces point to a n abu nda nce of bo t h cons ciou s a nd u nconsciou s

im i t a t ion of other bod ies of myt h at va riou s p eriods to a de ,

libe r a te fab rication o f genealogies a nd to the nai ve is su anc e ,

of s tories to a ccou nt for ritu als w h ose mea nings h a d been lost
i n a d ar k p ast ; b ut it is d iffi cu lt to c ite wit h certai nty even a
few insta nces of th es e for there is a great gulf a s yet only p re
, ,

c a r io usly b ridged between t h e h istori ca l cu lts of At t ik e a n d

,

t h e earliest period of wh ic h we h ave any religiou s remains .

K e k r op s
. Th e ea rly genealogies were even to the ancients , ,

a weird tangle ,
contai ni ng a s they d i d many ac knowledged
double a p peara nces not a few du mmy personages an d p atent
, ,

i nver s ions of time rel ations hips Ke k ro p s w h o w a s commonly

.
,

a ccepted a s t h e great origin al ancestor of t h e At h eni a ns wa s ,

reputed to h ave been born of th e soil a n d w a s rega rded a s ,

b eing p a rt ma n a nd p a rt serpent The most recent sc h ol ars h ip

.

r ega rds hi m a s a form of P oseidon the se a god im p o rted from ,

-
,

th e e ast a nd l ater identified with the n ative agricu ltu ra l d ivi n

it y Er ic h t h o n io s Ke k r o p s bec ame the first ru ler of At t ik e
.

a n d ch a nged its n ame from Akte to K e k rO p ia .

D u ring h is reign Poseidon ca me to Athens an d with h i s tri dent

str uc k a s p ot o n the su mmit of the Acropolis wh ence gus hed
forth a s p ring of s alt water afte rward s ac red to P oseidon an d
“ ”
known a s the S e a P oseidon wa s now th e su p reme d ivinity
.

of th e kingdom b ut Athene soon c a me a nd wrested the su

,

r e m a c y from hi m To bea r legal witnes s to he r conques t sh e

p .

s u mmoned Ke k ro p s o r a s some s ay the c itizen ry of Athen s

, , , ,

o r the c i rcle of the Olympia ns ; a n d as materia l evidence of h er

 P L AT E X I X
T HE B I RT H or ER I C H T H ON I OS

G e, e m er gi ng g ro un d e n t rus t s t h e i n fa nt
f ro m t he ,

Eric ht ho n io s t o Ath e n e t h i s b e i n g a m yt ho l o g i c al
,

w ay o f s ayi n g t h at At h e n e h e rs e l f is a n e a rt h g o dde ss .

T h e tall m a n ly fig ur e w ho l o o k s p at e rn ally o n t h e

,

sc e n e b e fo r e h im is He p h ai sto s O n b o t h s i de s o f t his
,

a re t he E ro t e s v s re s i de d o v e r
“
g ro u
p ( L o e w h o
p
t he un i o n o f t h e o d a n d go dde ss F ro m a r e d fi ure d -
g .
g
st a m n os o f ab o ut 5 0 0 B c i n Mun i c h (Furt w éi n g le r
. .
,

Re ic hho ld, G r iecb iscb e Va sen m a ler ei, N o . I Se e

p 67
. .
68 G REE K AND ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y

P rokne an d P h ilomele a nd of two sons Boutes a nd Ere

, ,

c h t h e us who d ivi ded t h e royal duties b etween t h em on t h eir

,
’
father s death the first ta king the j oint p riesthood of Athene
,

a nd P oseidon the second the administration of t h e govern

,

ment Boutes be came th e fou nder of a p riestly family wh ic h

.

conti nued down to h istoric al times E rec h t h eu s wa s reall y a .

double of Eric h t ho n io s a s is indicated by h is n ame w h ic h i s

, ,

only a n abb revi ate d form of E r ic h t h o n io s and thu s after a , ,

fas h ion E rechtheu s also wa s a wa rd of Ath ene I t was s ai d

, .

th at h e h a d s na ke li ke feet a nd th at to h ide them a s h e went

-

about among h is p eo p l e he invented th e ch ariot a nd thu s

avoided wal king alt h oug h i n some sou rces h e is des cribed a s
,

enti rely of hu man form As secul ar leader of the Athenia n s

.

h e condu cted a n expedition against t h e peo p le of Eleus is and ,

i n accorda nce wit h t h e be h est of a n o racle h e s acrificed h i s

you ngest d aug h ter to b ring victory to t h e At h eni a n arms .

His s u cces s w a s i ndeed tragic for t h oug h h e s lew Eum o lp o s

, ,

th e comma nder of t h e Eleu s inians h is ot h er d aug h ters too k ,

t h ei r own l ives on learning of the o ff ering of t h eir s ister a n d ,

h e h i mself was killed by Poseidon t h e fat h er of Eum o lp o s ,

.

Of h is d au g h ters Kre o usa P ro k r is an d Ore it hy ia bec ame f a

, ,

mou s n ames i n Attic myt h He w a s followed i n order by a so n

.

and a grandson Ke k ro p s an d Pandion t h e second of w h om

, ,

was dispos ses sed of h is t h rone by h is u su rping cou si ns th e ,

son s of Metion Ta king refuge i n Megara h e t h ere b roug h t

.
,

up a family of fou r valia nt sons Aig e us Pallas N isos a nd , , , ,

Ly k o s These to avenge their father s wrong i nvaded At t ik e

’
.
, , ,

evi cted th e u su rpe rs and pa rtitioned t h e real m a mongst t h em

,

selves allowing Aig e us however t h e ch ief authority T h e

, , ,
.

legends of t h e ma rriages a nd t h e ea rly reign of Aig e us belong

more p roperly to t h e accou nt of t h e life of his so n Theseu s .

The S o n ; of P a n di o n ; The Wa r w ith Mi n or After retu rn .

ing from a soj ou rn i n Troizen Aig e us cel eb rated t h e Pa nat h

,

e n a i c festival I t h appened th at An dro g e o s t h e so n of Mi nos

'

.
,

of Crete wa s t h e victor i n all t h e athletic contests a nd a s

, ,
 M YTHS OF C RET E AN D ATT I K E 69

a sup reme test of th e you ng m a n s s ki ll a nd swiftnes s of foot ’

Aig e us s ent h im agai nst th e bu ll of Ma rathon b ut An dro g e o s ,

lost h is life i n th e u nd erta king On th e other h a nd th e au thors

.
,

of certai n accou nts state th a t on h is way to th e fu ner a l games

of P elias h e wa s kille d by j ealou s rivals who h a d lost to h i m
i n Athens I n either event Mi nos h el d Ath ens a s bl ameworth y
.

for h is son s death a nd to p u nis h h er led a gre a t a rm y a nd fleet

’

against h er ta ki ng Mega ra by storm a nd ma king N isos p ris

,

o ner Now Nisos h a d growing i n h is h ead a p u rple h ai r a n d

.
,

a n o ra cle h ad declared th at a s long a s h e retai ned i t h is ki ngdom

wou ld s ta nd ; bu t h is d aughter S kylla falli ng i n love wit h ,

Mi nos p lu c ked t h e h ai r i n order to wi n favou r a nd b roug h t

, ,

abou t h er fath er s fall W h en Minos s ailed away sh e as ked to

’
.

b e ta ken wit h h im b ut meeting wit h a refus al on accou nt of

,

h er treac h ery sh e th rew h erself i nto t h e se a a nd bec ame a

,

fi sh wh ile Nisos i n pu rsu it of h er wa s c h anged i nto a se a

, , ,

e agle Lyk o s a t h ird so n of Pa ndion w a s c redited by some

.
, ,

Athenia ns wit h h aving fou nded th e fa mou s Ly k e io n i n At h ens .

At h ens hers elf h el d ou t agai nst all t h e a ss au lts of Minos ,

until finally h e appealed to Zeu s to V isit vengea nce upon t h e

, ,

c ity a n d the god sent fami ne a nd pestilence to do wh at h um an

,

e ff orts cou l d not avail Th e Athenians s ac rificed fou r maiden s

.

over t h e grave of G e r a ist io s b ut still thei r troub les di d not

,

ab a te an d at l ast t h ey yielded an d accepted t h e terms of

,

Minos w h o cruelly exacted th at eac h yea r At h ens was to send

,

to Crete seven u na rmed youth s a nd mai dens to b e t h e p rey

of the Mi notau r From th is d rea dfu l trib ute t h e At h eni an s
.

su ff ered u nti l release d yea rs afterwa rd by T h eseu s .

The D a ug hter; of K e h7 0p 5 Agrau los one of the th re e

.
—
,

d aug h ters of Ke k r o p s became the wife of Ares a nd by h im th e

,

mother of a d au ghter Alk ip p e who wh ile stil l a me re gi rl

, , , ,

was s h amefu lly attac ked by Ha lir r h o t h io s a so n of P osei don ,

.

Ares p romptly killed th e o ff ender a nd o n th e appeal of P osei , ,

don was tried before a trib u n al of the gods on a roc ky emi

,

n e n c e at t h e foot of t h e Ac ropoli s b eing a cqu itted a s i t were , , ,

7o G R E E K AN D R O MAN M YT HO LO G Y
on t h e strength of the u nwritten l aw After th is the Arb e .

n ia n s,
es s a y ing to follow th e divine exam p le established a ,

c rimina l cou rt o n the s ame s p ot a nd des ignated it Are o p a g o s ,

” 4
“
Hi l l O f Ares Th e two s isters O f Agrau los Herse a n d
.
,

P a ndrosos were both u nited i n wedloc k to Hermes by whom

, ,

th e one bec ame the m other O f the beautifu l K e p h a lo s a nd th e

other bore Keryx th e forefather O f a great Athenia n family
, .

The D a ug hte r : of P a n di o n Wh en wa r b roke out between

.

Athens a nd Thebes over t h e qu estion O f t h e ma rc h la nds ,

Pa nd ion as ked Tereu s so n O f Ares to come from Th race to

, ,

h elp h im B y mea ns O f his ass ista nce h e won the war a n d a s a

.

reward gave h im h is daughter P rokne b ut after a few years O f ,

ma rried l ife the love of Tereus cooled a n d a p ass ion for his
wife s s ister Ph ilomel e mastered h i m He tol d h is s ister in
’
, ,
.
-

l aw th at Prokne wa s dea d and p rofessed so wa rm a love fo r

h e r th at sh e consented to become h is wife B u t it wa s not .

long b efore sh e d iscovered h is tric kery w h erefore lest she tel l , ,

h er story to th e world Te reus c ut out her tongu e and co n

,

fi ned her i n a solita ry p lace Notwith sta nding h is p recautions

.
,

sh e wove a mes s age i nto a garment a nd sent it to h er s ister .

After a long s ea rch P ro kne fou nd P h ilomele a nd together they ,

devi se d a revolting revenge on Tereu s i n p u rsu a nce O f wh ic h ,

P rokne i nviting h i m to a b a nquet se t before h im the fles h O f

, ,

thei r own so n Itys Th e s isters then made h aste to fly from th e

.

l a nd b ut Tereu s ove rtook them i n P ho k is a nd a s they pite

, ,

O usly p rayed the gods for es ca p e from their ruthles s pu rsu er ,

they were al l ch anged i nto bi rds P rokne becoming a n ig ht in ,

gale P h ilomele a swallow a nd Tereu s a hoo p oe The a ncient

, , ,
.

Atheni a ns accordingly u sed to sa y th at the sweet p la intive

, ,

song O f the nighting a le w a s the wai l O f P ro kne for her um

h a p p y Itys The resembl a nce between th is story and th at O f
.

the Bo io t ia n A edon a nd It y lo s needs no poi nting out I n refer .

e nce to a si mila r stor y P a us an ias rema rks with the n a i ve te

5
,
“
of a ch ild : Th at a ma n s hou ld be tu rned i nto a b i rd is to
”
me i nc redible .
72 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LOGY
then bestowing on hi m lovely gifts su c h a s p lease the hea rt O f
,

woman s uggeste d th at h e ma ke trial O f h is wife s fidelity T O

,
’
.

h is su rp ris e P ro k r is wea kene d at the s ight O f the gifts b ut ,

when h e res u med h i s real form sh e bec a me ash amed and fled
away to Crete There sh e wished to follow Artemis i n the
.

h u nt but the god des s would h ave none O f her i n her ch aste
,

comp any B rea king i nto tea rs P r o k r is told Artemis O f th e

.
,

wic ked deceit p ractised on her a nd i n pity t h e d ivinity gave ,

h er a never erri ng h u nting s p ea r a nd a dog La il a p s whic h

- -
, , ,

never mis sed its qu a rry D isgu is i ng herself a s a youth P ro k r is

.
,

retu rned to At t ik e a nd wi nning t h e attention O f Ke p h a lo s

, ,

t h roug h h er p rowes s wit h the gif t s O f Artemis p romis ed h i m ,

t h at sh e wou ld give t h em to h im i n retu rn for his a ffection ,

s aying t h at neither gol d nor si lver could buy them from he r ,

b ut only love At t h at h e gra nted h er desi re an d fort h wit h

.
,

sh e beca me her own O l d self a n d th ei r former relations were

resu med P ro k ris w a s still fearful O f th e wiles O f Eo s how

.
,

ever a n d one d ay sh e h i d in a th ic ke t nea r her h usb an d a s

,

h e wa s h u nting in order to sp y o n h er beautifu l riva l Ke p h a lo s .

,

s eeing a movement O f twigs a nd th in king th at it wa s c au sed by

some beast h u rled h is j avelin wh ich a ccordi ng to i t s n atu re
, , , ,

flew straight to its mark b ut to h is dismay h e dis covered t h at

, , ,

t h e qu a rry h e h ad s la in wa s h is own dea r wife .

A second form O f th e s tory d i ff ers from t h is i n several de

tails B ribed b y the glitter of a golden crown P ro k r is sur
.
,

rendere d herself to one Pteleon a nd w h en detected by he r , ,

h u sb and i n her sin too k refuge at th e cou rt O f Minos Minos

,
.
,

too made love to h er for P a s ip h a e h a d so bewitched h i m wit h

, ,

a certa i n d rug t h at h e cou l d not esca p e a p ass ion for eve ry

woma n whom h e met a p ass ion wh ic h wa s bou nd to work
,

evil for both lovers ali ke By th e use O f a magic a nti dote .

P ro k ris free d h im from t h i s s p ell a n d i n gratitu de Minos gave ,

h er th e s p ea r an d th e dog Nevertheles s a p p rehens ive of some .

,

evil d esign on th e p art O f P a sip h a é she made he r way to At t ik e ,

a nd p atch ed up he r former allia nce with Ke p h a lo s One d ay .

,
 P LA T E X X
Eo s AN D K EP H ALO S

Eo s, s udde n ly a pp ro a ch i n g K e p h alo s f ro m b e h i n d ,

h as lai d he r l e ft ar m a c ro ss his sh o ul de rs an d w it h
,

h e r ri g ht h a n d ha s gra s p e d h im fi r m ly b y t he w r i s t ,

th us e nde av o uri n g t o c he c k his fl i g ht a s he s ta rt s away

i n fe a r ; at t he s a m e ti m e she s p re a ds he r w i n gs a n d ,

with an u p w a rd g l anc e i n di c at e s wh ith e r sh e w i s he s t o

c o n v ey h im F ro m a re d fig ure d hylz x s i gn e d by
'

—
.

Hi e ro n (e a rly fi fth c e n t ury i n t he Mus e um o f

Fi n e Art s Bo st o n (phot og r aph) Se e p p 7 1 7 3
,
. .
—
.
 MYTHS OF C RET E AND ATT I K E 73

a s t h ey were h u nting togethe r h e slew h e r by mista ke with ,

h er own j avel in whereu p on a p p ea ring before the cou rt O f

, ,

Are o p a g o s h e w a s a dj udged gu ilty an d ba nis hed for l ife from

,

the bou nds O f At t ik e His exil e coincided i n time with h i s

.

receipt O f a requ est from Am p h itryon th at h e go to Theb es

wit h h is u ne rring hou nd and ri d th e cou nt ry O f t h e sh e fox
,
-

t h at wa s ravaging th e c rops a nd peo p le T h i s a nimal s life .

’

s eemed to h ave been p rotected by a ch a rm so th at none cou l d

ta ke her a n d eac h month the Th eb ans u sed to send a youth
,

to h e r for her to devou r Ke p h a lo s b ribed by th e O ffe r O f a

.
,

po rtio n O f Ta p h i a n booty went to Thebes a n d put h is dog o n

,

th e trail O f the ravenou s beast ; b ut the dog never ove rtoo k

h er for i n th e mi dst O f t h e p u rsu it Zeu s ch anged them bot h to
,

sto ne Ke p h a lo s wa s given h is rewa rd however a nd withd rew to

.
, ,

a western isl an d thenceforth to b e known a s Kep h allenia where , ,

b roodi ng over h i s u nh a p py love h e committed s u icide by ,

th rowing h imself from the wh ite cli ff s O f the isl an d T h e c h ief .

figu re in the origina l story seems to h ave been only K e p h a lo s ,

P ro k r is being a later a ddition T h e legend a rose from th e very

.

a ncient exp i atory ritu al i n wh ic h a h uma n being bore th e bu rden

O f sin to b e exp i ated and leaping i nto th e se a w a s d rowned
, , , .

Or e i thyi a Ore it hy ia t h e remai n ing d aug h te r O f Er e

.
,

c h t h e us w a s once playi ng wit h h er com p a nions o n t h e b a n k of

,

the I liso s or a s one sou rce O f th e m yt h states wa s o n h er

, , ,

way to t h e Acropoli s to s acrifice to Athene when Borea s t h e , ,

north wi nd su ddenly seized her a n d c arrie d her O ff to h is home

,

i n Th race There h e forced her to wed h im a n d sh e bore to

.
,

h im two winged sons Zetes a nd Kalai s w h o afte rwa rd s ailed

'

, ,

on t h e Argo an d were killed in the p u rsu it O f the Ha rp ies .

The s ub sta nce O f th i s legend was not o riginally a produ ct O f

th e Atti c fancy ; rather 1t 1s a n embellis hment O f a wide
,

s p rea d b el ief th at i n the tu rmoil of th e storm th e p ass ionate

wind god s ee ks h is b ride P erh a p s to the Athenia ns Ore it h y ia
-
.

re p resente d th e morning mist O f th e valley la nds driven away -

by th e strong clear winds O f day .

74 G R E E K AN D R O M AN M YT HO LO G Y
Boreas a n d Ore it hy ia also h a d two daughters Kleo p atra an d
,
“
Ch ione ( S now The former m arried P h ineu s to ,

whom sh e bore two sons b ut her hu sb an d grew ti red O f her

,

a n d formed a n alli a nce with Ida ia O f Troy by whose h ea rtles s

,

wiles h e was p ersu aded to p ut out h is c h ildren s eyes Thi s

’
.

crime was never forgotten th roughout Hellas a nd wit h th e

,

hel p of Boreas the Argonauts vis ited on P h ineu s a d readfu l

p u nis h ment. Ch ione b ec ame closely associated wit h A t t ike
th rough her des cend a nts After a cla ndestine amou r wit h
.

“
P oseidon sh e gave b irth to a so n Eum o lp o s ( S weet
whom sh e cast i nto th e se a i n fe a r O f her father ; b ut P oseidon
rescu ed h i m a nd h a d h i m c ared for i n Ait h iO p ia u ntil h e h a d
attained manhood For a foul c rime against hosp ital ity
.

Eum o lp o s w a s forced to leave th is cou ntr y a n d with his so n ,

I sm a r o s was received i nto th e home O f a Th racia n king where

, , ,

too h e showed h imself u ngratefu l for ki ndness a nd plotted

, ,

against h is host Leaving Th race h e came at l ast to Eleus is

.
, ,

a nd i n the wa r ag a ins t Athens h e led the E leu s i ni a n a rmy

and fell by th e sword O f Erechtheus Th is l atter myt h contains
.

severa l featu res wh ich i ncline one to b elieve th at Eum o lp o s

wa s a figu re del iberately c reated by t h e Eum o lp ida i t h e ,

p riestly order O f Eleu s is for th e pu rpos e O f wi nning t h e re

,

s p ect wh ic h wou ld read ily come to religiou s o rders O f admit

t e dly a ncient descent The Th raci a n connexion O f Eum o l p o s
.

l inked h im geogra p hically wi t h D ionysos a nd i ncreased h is

p restige at E leus is .
76 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
a dva nced civi lization were not as yet perfect i nstruments
fo r s ecu ring a n d mainta ining th e welfare O f h u ma n society .

Th e sto ry O f Hera kles rej ection O f Aph rodite and h is choice

’

O f Ath ene at th e p a rting O f th e ways ma kes a very p retty

a p ologu e b ut it does not reveal to u s the Hera kles whom t h e

,

G reeks knew ; rather h e is h ere p ut on exh ib ition a s a sort of

“
reformed ch a ra cter by those w h o know a nd fea r t h e e ff ects
of h is moral exam p le .

At the earliest point to w h ic h h e c an b e traced Hera kles

s eems to h ave been a he ro O f Ti ryns i n Argolis b ut his exploits ,

were na rrated in Rhodia n s agas a nd c a rried by the ub iqu itou s

Rhodia n s a ilors to m any p o rts O f th e Med iterra nea n In .

va riou s p la ces th e s agas were mod ified a n d enla rged by foisting

stories O f pu rely loca l origi n on Hera kles u ntil a s h is fame , ,

s p rea d some poet was insp ired to as semb le t h e many s aga s

,

u nder one title a nd to give to th e worl d t h e fi rst vers ion O f th e

Labou rs Hera kles w a s appa rently not at fi rst the poss es s ion
.

O f all t h e Doria ns b ut bec ame their hero p a r ex ce llen ce throug h

,

the i nfl uence O f t h e Delph i c ora cle p erh aps not l ater t h an 700
,

The Bir th f
o H
W h en Pers eu s d ied h e left b e h ind
e ra /
cle f .
,

h im i n Mykena i fou r sons Alk a io s S thenelos Mestor a n d

, , , ,

Ele k t ryo n t h e des cenda nts of a ll of w h om enter i n some way

,

o r ot h er i nto th e story O f Hera kles Al k a io s h ad a so n Am p hit

.

r yon ; E l e k t r yo n a d aughter Al kmene a nd bes ides l awfu l

, , ,

sons a n atu ral so n Lik y m n io s; S t h enelos a so n Eu ryst h eu s ;

, ,

a n d Mesto r a d aug h ter who bore to Poseidon a so n T a p hio s

, , ,

t h e colonizer O f th e isl and O f T a p ho s D u ring t h e reign O f .

Ele k t ryo n i n Mykena i P t e re l ao s a so n O f T a p h io s came t h it h er

, , ,

wit h h is people a n d dema nded a sh a re O f Mestor s kingdom ’

,

b ut failing ignom iniou sly in th eir e rrand th ey atta c ked th e

, ,

sons O f Ele k t ryo n a nd slaughtered a ll except Lik ym n io s .

Whe n t h e b attle w a s ove r thei r fellow T a p h ia n s s a iled away

to Elis with Ele k t r yo n s cattle althoug h not long afte rw a rd
’
,

Am p h itryon redeemed th em a nd b rought them bac k to My

 P L AT E X X I
HE R A K L ES AN D T H E L I ON OF N EM EA

He ra k l e s is l e a n i n g fo rw a r d, his k n e e s
al m o s t t o uc h
in g t h e g ro un d an d is t h ro w i n g t h e w e i g ht o f his b o dy
,

o n t h e li o n s h e a d a n d s h o ul de rs ; at t h e s a m e ti m e wit h
’

h is ri g ht h a n d he s e i z e s t he b e a s t by a h i n d q ua rt e r a n d

p o w e r f ully dr aw s it t o wa rd h i m s e l f w h il e h is l e ft a rm
, ,

p a ss i n g u n de r t h e l i o n s t h ro at is c h o k i n g h im t o de at h
’

, .

T h e he r o s q uiv e r a n d sh e at h e d s w o r d a re S us p e n de d in
’

t h e bac k g ro un d At he n e p a rtl y a rm e d s ta n ds at t h e
.
, ,

l e ft e a ge rly w at c h i n g t he fray F ro m a bla c k fig ure d

.
-

a mp hor a o f ab o ut 5 0 0 B c .fo un d at G e la (Mon um t i

.
,
en

Amie/7 1 xvii Plat e X L)

°

, , Se e p p 8 0 8 1
. .
— .
 HERA K LE S 77

kena i Ele k t ryo n bou n d o n exa cting vengea nce for the out
.
,

r age ass igned the a ffa i rs of state to Amph itryon an d betrot h ed

,

h is d aughte r Al kmene to h im on th e cond ition th at the m a r

r ia g e b e deferred u ntil th e outcome O f t h e ex p edition s h ou l d

b e known ; b ut after ma king thes e a rrangements a n d wh en ,

a bou t to ta ke b ac k h is c attle a miss ile from t h e h a n d of Am

,

p hi t r yo n p rob,
ably wholly by a ccident stru c k h i m a n d,
killed
h im . With th e stai n O f family b lood u pon h im Amph itryon ,

fl e d wit h h is betroth ed to T h ebes a nd allowed t h e p ower to

fal l i nto th e h and s O f S t h enelos bu t i n t h ei r new h ome Al k
,

mene p romised h im sh e wou l d ignore t h e strict letter O f th e

t erms O f t h ei r betroth a l a n d wou ld wed h im s hou l d h e avenge

t h e mu rder O f her b rothers at t h e h a nds O f t h ei r Tap h ia n

ki nsmen He met t h e p romise by lead ing a well—equ ipped a rmy

.

o f Th eb a ns a n d thei r allies aga inst T a p h o s Alt h ou g h h e wa s

.

su ccessfu l i n h is nu merou s ra i ds h e w a s u n ab le to s ecu re a

,

decis ive V ictory a s long a s P t e r e l ao s was alive for t h is m an , ,

n o t u nl i ke N isos O f Megara h a d growing i n h is h ea d a golden

,

h a i r on th e continued p ossess ion of w h ic h h u n g t h e fate O f

,

h imself a nd of h is ki ngdom Crazed wit h love for Amp h itr y on

.
,

P t e re l ao s s dau ghter p lu c ked the h ai r from h er fat h er s h ea d

’ ’

a n d by t h at a c t su rrendered her cou ntry to its enemies b ut , ,

fi lled with contem p t for h er treason t h e victo r killed h er a nd ,

t oo k to T h ebes th e booty O f T a p h o s .

Now i n Amph itryon s ab senc e Al kmene h a d b een vis ited

’

b y Zeu s i n t h e gu is e of her h u sb a nd a n d by h im h ad b ecome

w ith ch ild so th at w h en the rea l Amph itryon retu rned h e
, ,

a nd h is wife were confronted with a p erplexing domestic ri d

d le wh ic h w a s not s atisfactorily solved till more t h a n a yea r
h a d p assed Just b efore Al kmene gave bi rth to h er ch ild a
.
,

scene was enacted on Ol y m p os w h ich h a d a profou n d influence

’
o n the ch il d s ca reer The event i s well des cribed i n the word s
.

o f Agamemnon i n th e I l i a al
2
.

“
Y e a eve n Zeu s wa s blinded upon a time h e w h o t h ey sa y ,

i s greatest among gods an d men ; yet even h im Hera wit h

78 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
female wile deceived on th e d ay w h en Al kmene in fa ir c rowne d
,
-

Thebes wa s to b ri ng fo rth th e strength O f Hera kles For then .

p rocl aimed he solemnly among all th e gods : Hea r me ye a ll ‘

,

both god s a nd goddes ses wh ile I utter th e cou nsel O f my sou l

,

with in my heart Th is d ay sh all E ileithyia t h e h elp O f tra

.
,

va iling women b ring to the ligh t a ma n who s h all be lord ove r

,

a ll th at dwell rou nd about a mong th e ra ce of men who a re ,

s p ru ng O f me by b lood An d to h im in subtlety qu een Hera

.
’

s p a ke : Thou wilt p lay t h e c h eat and not a ccomplis h t h y word

‘
.

Come now Olymp ian swear me a firm oat h t h at verily a nd

, ,

i ndeed s h all th at ma n be lord over all t h at dwell rou nd about ,

w h o th is d ay s h a ll fall between a woman s feet even h e amon g ’

,

a ll men w h o a re O f t h e l ineage of t h y b lood SO s pa ke sh e a n d .

’
,

Zeu s no wis e perceived h er subtlety b ut swa re a mighty oath , ,

a nd the rewith was h e sore blinded For Hera d arted from .

Olym p os pea k a n d came swiftly to Ac h a ia n Argos where sh e

’
, ,

knew wa s t h e stately wife O f S t h enelos the so n O f Pers eu s w ho ,

also wa s great wit h ch ild a n d h er s eventh month wa s come ,

.

He r so n Hera b rou g h t to t h e light though h is tale of month s ,

wa s u ntold b ut sh e stayed Al k m e n e s b ea ring a n d kept t h e

,
’

Eile it h y ia i from h er a id T h en she b rought t h e tidings h ersel f

.

’ ‘
a nd to Kronos so n Zeu s sh e sp a ke : F ather Zeus of th e b righ t
l ightning a word will I spea k to t h ee for t h y h eed T O day i s
,
.
-

born a ma n of valou r w h o s h a ll rule among the Argives Eurys ,

th eu s so n O f S thenelos th e so n O f P erseus of thy l ineage ;

, ,

not u nmeet is it t h at h e b e lord a mong Argives S he s a id b ut .

’
,

s h a rp p ai n smote h im i n t h e d ept h s O f h is soul a nd straig h t ,

way h e seized Ate by h er b rig h t—h ai red h ead i n t h e a nger O f h i s

sou l a nd swa re a mighty oath th at never aga in to Olympos
,

a nd t h e sta rry h eaven s h ou ld Ate come who blindeth a ll

a l i ke : He s aid a nd wh i rl ing h er i n h is h and fl u ng h er from th e
,

sta rry h eaven a nd qu ic kly came sh e down a mong t h e works

,

of men Yet ever h e groaned a gainst her when h e behel d his

.

” ’
beloved so n i n c ruel trava il at Eu rystheu s hest Wh en a t .

length Al k m e n e s ful l time h a d come sh e gave b irt h to Hera kles

’
,
80 G REE K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
th at d ay to p ay to T h ebes double t h e trib ute wh ic h Thebe s
h a d formerl y ren dered to them As a compens ation for h is .

efforts i n a rms Hera kles w a s given Megara K r e o n s d au ghter ,

’
,

a s h is wife who i n the cou rse O f time bore h i m t h ree ch ild ren
, .

The M H H h ’
a dn e ss of er a k l es —
era kles .su cces ses e ated t he

j ealou s wrath O f Hera and sh e vis ited a terrible madnes s upo n

the h ero who not knowing w h at he d id killed h is own ch il
, , ,

d ren a nd t h os e O f h is b rothe r Ip hik le s some with h is bow som e , ,

by fi re a n d some with h is sword W h en h e c ame to h imself

,
.
,

overwh elmed with remorse h e left T h ebes a nd went to T h esp ia i ,

where h e was ceremoni ally pu rified O f h is sin He de p a rte d .

t h ence for D e lp ho i w h ere i n Apollo s s h rine the p riestes s

, ,
’
,
“
uttered t h is p rop h ecy : F rom t h is d ay forth t h y n ame s h al l
no more be Alk e ide s but Hera kles I n Ti ryns t h ou s h alt ma ke .

th ine abode a nd there serving Eu rystheu s s h alt t h ou a c co m

, , ,

p li sh thy l abou rs W h en .th is s h all b e thou s h alt become one ,

of the immortals Wit h t h e words ringing i n h is ea rs Hera

.
,

k l e s se t out for Ti ryns wea ring a rob e t h e gift O f At h ene a n d , ,

ca r rying t h e arms w h ic h t h e gods h a d given h im t h e sword O f

Hermes t h e bow O f Apollo t h e b ronze b reastpl ate O f He p h a is
, ,

tos a nd a great club wh ic h h e h a d h imself c ut i n Nemea

,
.

The Tw elve La b o ur s o f Her a kles; 3

Fir st La b o ur T he .
-

first l abou r w h ic h Eu ryst h eu s enj oined on Hera kles was to

kill th e lion O f Nemea t h e seed O f Typ h on a nd to b ring its
, ,

s ki n to Ti ryns alt h ou gh no man h ad b een ab le a s yet even to

,

wou nd the beast Going to Nemea Hera kles fou nd its trail
.
, ,

w h ich h e followed u ntil it led h im to a c avern wit h two mout h s ,

one O f wh ich h e bloc ked u p a nd entering by the ot h er grappled

, , ,

with t h e lion and c h oked h im to deat h From Nemea to My .

kenai he c a rried th e body on h is shou lders Eu rystheu s stood .

agh as t at the s igh t O f th e monstrou s c reatu re a nd at thes e

p roofs O f Hera kles su perhuma n strength and i n h is fea r h e
’
,

p rep ared a storage j ar i n w h ic h to h ide forb idd ing Hera kles

-
,

eve r to e nter h is gates again a nd henceforth is su ing h is orders

,

t h rough he ralds As for Hera kles h e tu rned th is h is fi rs t labou r

.
,
 H E RAK LE S 81

to good accou nt for from th at d ay h e wore t h e l ion s s kin

,
’
,

wh ic h no weapon cou ld penetrate at once a s a cloa k a nd a ,

shield .

S eco n d La b o ur I n t h e sp rings a nd swamps O f Lern e

.

dwelt a hu ge h ydra w h ich us ed to lay was te the la nds rou n d

abou t a nd to ensu re his dea t h Her a kles was s en t ag a i ns t th is
,

c reatu re from whos e enormou s body grew ni ne h e ads th e

, ,

middle o ne being immortal T h e monste r h a d defied all a t

.

tempts to ca p tu re or to kill it a n d h a d b roug h t many strong

,

men low ; but finding th e c reatu re c rou c h ing su llenly in its

l a ir th e h ero forced it out by mea ns O f fl aming mis s iles a n d
,

gra s p ed it at th e s ame instant th at it s eized h im S toutly swing .

i ng h is club h e knoc ked O ff th e hyd ra s h eads one by one b ut

,
’
,

to h is a l a rm two hea ds grew i n t h e p l ace of ea c h one th at h e

destroyed w h ile a h uge c rab c ame to t h e a id O f th e hydra an d
,

gripped its a ss a ilant by t h e foot T h is crab Hera kles eas ily

.

killed an d t h en wit h t h e a ss ista n ce O f h is nep h ew Io l ao s

, ,

b u rned away t h e hyd ra s newly s p routing h eads At l ast h e c ut

’
.

O ff t h e deat h les s h ea d a n d pl aced it u nder a h eavy stone lest ,

i t rise to life again an d i n t h e monster s gall h e d ippe d all h i s

,
’

a rrow h ead s The a c h ievement of killing t h e h yd ra Eu rys t h eu s

.

qu ibblingly d is allowe d on t h e grou nd t h at Hera kles h ad not

performed it alone .

Thi r d La b o ur — Hera kles was next ordere d to p roceed to

.

a mou ntai n range in t h e north of t h e Peloponnesos a n d to

c arry away a live th e K e ry n e ia n doe w h ic h h a d golden h orn s

,

a nd wa s s acred to Artemi s SO swift O f foot wa s it th at it led

.

th e h ero a wea ry c h as e for a whole yea r b u t fin ally it s s trength ,

fl agged a n d it fled a cros s t h e mou ntai n of Artemision to th e

b a n ks O f th e river Ladon wh ere Hera kles too k it alive Apollo
,
.

a nd Artemis however d isputed h is rights to h is p rize a n d

, , ,

Artemis even a ccu sed h im O f t rying to kill h er s acred a nimal ,

but by a d roitly laying t h e b l ame on anoth er Hera kles w a s at ,

lengt h allowed to bea r t h e doe on h i s b roa d s h ou lders to

Myken ai .
82 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY

Fo ur th La b o ur S till another beas t of the wil d wa s h e co m

.

m a n de d to ca p tu re a live the fierce boa r th at came forth

—

from the ridges of Eryma nthos a nd wasted the town of P so p his .

Hera kles went to th e mou ntain and wa s entertained by P h o lo s ,

’
a Centau r who yielding to h is gu est s im p ortu n ate request
, ,

fo r wine to give zest to thei r rep ast of meats O p ened a j a r ,

’
ta ken from th e Centau rs common sto re Th e other Centau rs .

of the neighbou rhood s n i ff ed the a roma of t h e wine a nd i n a

b elligerent mood gathered about the dwelling of Ph o lo s wh ere ,

u p on Hera kles atta c ked t h em killing some a nd routing t h e ,

others so t h at t h ey took refuge with the wis e Centau r Chei

, ,

ron Unfortu n ately a n arrow s h ot at them c h a nced to h it

.
,

C h eiron i n flicting a wou nd wh ic h Hera kles woul d h av e

,

h ealed h a d not th e p a in of it d riven t h e Centau r to exch ange

,

h is immortal ity for the mortal ity of P romet h eu s a nd thu s

volu nta rily to d ie After th is by a nother u n h appy a ccident
.
, ,

P h o lo s wa s killed by d rop p ing one of Hera kles p oisoned a r

’

rows o n h is foot When t h e hero h a d b u ried h is friend h e pu r

.
,

s ued t h e boa r h ig h u p t h e l p e s of Erymant h o s to t h e deep

s now a n d s n a red it ; a n d on h is a rriva l at Mykena i wit h t h e
h uge c reatu re E u rystheu s h id i n t h e great j ar .

F ifth La b o ur Aug e ia s King of El is h a d so many h erd s of

.
, ,

cows a nd goats th at th e offal from them h a d accu mul ated u ntil

al l tillage was sto p p ed Eu rystheu s ordered Hera kles to clea n
.

awa y th e nu is a nce a nd going to Aug e ia s th e h ero o ff ered to

, , ,

p erform t h e tas k on th e sti p ul a tion th at h e s hou ld receive on e

te nth of the floc ks an d h erd s to wh ich th e king h es itatingly
,

agreed Without delay Hera kles b ro ke down a l a rge p a rt of

.

th e fou ndations of the stab l es a nd th rough the b rea c h thu s

ma de d ive rted th e u nite d waters of th e rivers Alp h e io s a nd
Peneios t h u s fl ush ing the filth entirely away Aug e ia s with
,
.
,

th e s cru p u los ity of a n Eu r y stheu s now with held th e p rom ,

is ed rew a rd on th e grou nd th at Hera kles wa s acting at th e

“ ”
comm a n d of a noth er a nd not of h is own free will B ut h e ,

a dde d I will s ubmit the question to a rb itration His sin c e r

,
“
.
 P L AT E XX I I
HE RA K L Es A ND TH E HY D R A

He ra k l e s , w e a ri n g t he p ro t e c ti n g l i o n s k i n in his-
,

l e ft h an d g ra s p s o n e o f t he hydra s m a ny h e a ds an d is
’

ab o ut t o c ut it o ff w it h t he s w o rd h e l d i n his r ight
ha n d . O n t he o p p o sit e s i de o f t he m o n s t e r t he he l
m e t e d I o l ao s is i m itati n g his m a s t e r s m a n n e r o f atta c k
’
.

W it h it s fr e e h e a ds t he hy dr a is biti n g fi e rc e ly at it s
a ss aila n t s Be h i n d He ra k l e s sta nd At he n e i de n tifi e d
.
,

b y t he b r a n c h o f o liv e i n h e r h a n d a n d He rm e s
,
T he .

i de n tity o f t he t h re e w o m e n n e xt Io la o s is un k n o w n .

F ro m a bla c k -fig ure d E re t rian a mp hor a o f t he sixt h

c e n t ur n At h e ns C
y B C .i .
, ( a t a lo ue ales v a ses
g p oi n t s da
f

i l d f f t b en es, S upp lem e n t p a r G eorg es N icole ,

’
m usée n a t on a

Plat e IX) . Se e p 8 1
. .
84 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
ity wa s soon put to t h e test for w h en h is own so n rep roved
,

h im for h is ingratitu de h e tu rned bot h so n a nd b enefactor

,

out of t h e cou ntry T h is l abou r too Eu ryst h eu s refus ed to

.
, ,

place to t h e credit of Hera kles for t h e tech nical reason t h at

h e h a d b a rgained fo r a reward T h e story seems to b e a n .

old fol k tale

- .

S ixth La b o ur — Hera kles next errand was to clea r t h e

’
.

mars hes of Ar k a dian St ym p h alo s of t h e man eating b irds w h ic h -

u s ed to congregate t h ere a nd w h ich owing to th e dens e

, ,

growth of u nderb ru s h an d trees bordering on t h e ma rs h es ,

were diffi cu lt of access B u t At h ene came to the h elp of

.

Her a kles a nd gave h im some b razen cymb als by the clash ing
of w h ich h e compelled the b irds to ta ke to t h e a i r ; a nd a s t h ey
ci rcled above h is h ead h e s h ot them down one by one with
,

h is u nerring a rrows I t i s p rob able th at these b irds typ ified

.

a pestilence th at a rose from the a rea s of stagnant water .

S e ven th La b o ur With th is l abou r Hera kles bega n h is a c

.

t iv it ie s outside t h e Peloponnesos being sent by his tas k ,

master to Crete to lead thence to t h e mainland th e b eautiful

b u ll wh ich P oseidon h ad cau sed to b e born from th e se a fo r
t h e s acrifice of Minos Mastering t h e powerfu l c reatu re h e
.
,

rode it t h rou gh th e se a to Ti ryns a nd from there d rove it over

l and to Mykena i wh ere it w a s loosed ; bu t instea d of remaining
,

h ere it roamed all over the l and mangling men a n d women

, ,

a s it went u nti l it wa s s lai n i n Marathon by Theseu s

,
.

Eig hth La b o ur . I t wa s to th e northern land of T h race

—

t h at Hera kles w a s next dispatc h ed h is tas k being to subdu e ,

a nd catch the man—eating horses of D iomedes t h e so n of ,

Ares an d th e king of the Bist o n ia n s B y ma in strength h e .

s eized them a nd d ragged them to th e se a bu t at th is point th e ,

Bist o n ia n s h aras sed h im to su ch a degree th at h e gave th e

s teed s to h is com p a nion Ab de ro s to gu a rd Wh ile h e was e u .

g a ged i n routing th e foe th e horses killed Ab de ro s w h o wa s

, ,

b u ried by Her a kles with th e cu stoma ry rites a nd bes ide w h os e ,

tomb th e city of Abdera wa s fou nded by th e h ero On re .

 HERAK LES 85

c e iv in g th e h orses Eu rystheu s immed ia tely loosed t h em a s h e

,

h a d the bull a nd th e y ru sh ing o ff to t h e h ig h lands were h ar

, , ,

ried to death by the wild beasts .

N i n th La b o ur P rior to th is l abou r t h e strengt h of Hera

.

k le s h a d bee n p itted aga inst beasts a nd men only b ut now ,

Eu rystheu s directed h im to matc h it against t h e warrior

women the Amazons w h o lived i n a remote d istrict of As i a
, ,

Minor nea r the s hores of t h e Euxine T h ei r ch ief i nte rest .

wa s wa r a nd only indi rectly th at of motherhood a nd of a l l ,

t h e c h ildren to whom they gave b irt h t h ey rea red the females

only whose right b rea sts they cu t off so a s not to i nterfere wit h
,

pro p er h andling of th e bow Thei r queen wa s Hip p olyte a .

,

favou rite of Ares who h ad given h er a beautifu l gi rdle a s a

,

token of her prowess i n arms a nd to wi n t h is ci nctu re wa s t h e

,

e rra nd of Hera kles .

S aili ng from G reece wit h a grou p of comp a nions t h e h ero ,

tou c h ed at P a ros a nd wa rred on th e sons of Mi nos Thence h e .

p roceeded to King Ly k o s of Mys ia whos e territories h e in ,

creased by th e conquest o f neighbou ri ng tribes a n d at l ast ,

h e rea ched the port of T h e m isk y r a where Hippolyte V isited ,

h im to lea rn th e obj ect of h is mis s ion To h is su rp rise sh e p rom .

i sed to su rrender her girdle withou t a struggle b ut Hera i n , ,

t h e gu ise of a n Amazon s tirred u p th e women agai nst h im and

,

Hera kles su specting a plot i n th e ready p romise su mma rily

, ,

s lew t h eir qu een an d s a iled homewa rd wit h t h e p rize .

His route led h im p ast Troy and l anding there h e fou n d t h e

, , ,

city i n the th roes of a dreadfu l c al amity Y ea rs before Apollo .

a n d Poseidon h ad j ointly b u ilt th e walls of t h e town for its

king Laomedon on condition of receiving a certai n recompense .

Th is however h a d never been given to them w h erefore i n

, , , ,

a nger Apollo a ff li cted T roy with a pl ague a nd P oseidon sent

,

a monster to devou r th e p eo p le as the y went about t h e p l ain .

Ju st before t h e h ero s a rrival Laomedon i n order to sp are

’
, ,

his citizens h a d bou n d h is d aughter Hesione to th e se a

,

roc ks a s a p rey for th e monster a n d Hera kles p ledged h i m ,

86 G REE K AND ROMAN M YTHO LOGY

s elf to sl ay it a nd s ave Hes ione shou ld the horses w h ic h Zeu s

h ad given Laomedon for th e t h eft of G anymedes b e su rrendered
to h im He p erformed h is p art of t h e contract by lea p ing down
.

i nto th e monster s t h roat a n d cutting h is way out th rough its

’

belly b ut t h e Troj ans fa iled to fulfil t h eirs w h ereu p on b reat h

, , ,

i ng out t h reats of a later p u nishment Hera kles emb arked i n ,

h i s s h ip a nd s a iled to My kenai with h is p rize Many s c h ol a rs .

a re now i nclined to th in k th at t h e origin al models of th e

Amazons were the Hittites whose s trange cu stoms a n d a p
,

p arel seemed to t h e Hellenes to b e stri kingly feminine 4

.

Ten th La b o ur
. Nea r th e d ista nt river of Ok e a n o s was a n
is land called Er yt h e ia where l ived G e ryo n e us so n of C h ry
, ,

saor and the nymph K a ll iro é He w a s a hu ma n monster wit h

.

t h ree bodies i nstea d of one an d h e wa s known all over t h e

,

world for h i s h erd of red c attle wh ic h were gu arded by Eu ry

tion an d t h e two—headed dog Ort h os a b rot h er of t h e h ell,

h ou nd Kerberos Hera kles wa s a ss igned t h e tas k of d rivi ng t h is

.

h erd to My ken ai Cross ing Eu rop e h e c ame to t h e stra its

.
,

between t h at conti nent and Africa and se t u p two p illa rs

a s memo ri als of h is j ou rney Here Helios beat so h otly u pon
.

h is h ea d th at h e s h ot a n a rrow at h im a nd i n admiration for,

h is attempt of t h e imposs ible Helios gave h im a golden c up i n

w h ic h h e crossed Ok e an o s a nd reached Eryt h e ia Wit h h is .

club h e eas ily put t h e wa rders of t h e h erd out of t h e way b u t ,

it was only after a long stru ggle t h at h e killed G e ryo n e us

h imself wit h a n a rrow G at h eri ng t h e c attle i nto t h e c up of
.

Helios he transported t h em to Eu rop e an d d rove t h em east

,

wa rd overl a nd in su ccess ive stages At Rhe g io n a b u ll b ro ke

.

loose a nd swimming th e stra its to S icily mingled wit h t h e

, , ,

h erd s of King E ryx and w h en Eryx res isted a n attempt to

,

rega in th e animal Hera kles wrestled with h im and th rew

,

h im to h is death From t h e toe of Italy to th e extremity of t h e

.

Ad riatic the c attle were d riven and th ence to t h e Hellespont

, ,

b u t m any of th em m addened by a gad fly sent b y Hera wa n

,
-
,

dere d away from th e mai n herd and were lost i n t h e wild l a nds
88 G REE K AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y

whe re h e is s aid to h ave stolen a team of oxen a n d to h ave

s acrifice d them notwith sta nding the imp recations of thei r
,

owner From th at time onwa rd it was customa r y to u tter im

.

p re c a t io n s wh en s acrificing to Hera kles Wandering across .

Arab i a a nd Lydi a h e ch a nced to come to th e p lace w h ere th e

,

u nh a p py P rometheus w a s ch ai ned Moved with p ity h e s h ot .

,

the b ird th at w a s tormenting h im u nbou n d h is fetters an d wit h

, ,

the p ermis s ion of Zeu s gave h im Ch e iro n s eterna l immu nity ’

from death At last h e reached th e end of h is wea ry j ou rney

.
,

the l and of th e Hyp e r b o r e ia n s wh ere Atlas stood bearing t h e

heavens o n h is s hou lders With little more ado Hera kles killed
.

th e d ragon p lu c ked th e a p ples a nd conveyed them to Eur y s

, ,

theus b ut a s they were too d ivi ne for morta l keep ing they were
, ,

later restored to th e Hes p eri des Another vers ion of t h i s .

legend in wh ich Atlas is b egui led to accom p lis h th e theft i s

, ,

i ncons istent with the ch a racter of th e trad itiona l Hera kles .

Tw e lf th La b o ur One realm of n atu re w a s a s yet un co n

.
—

quered by Hera kles th e u nderworl d

—
a n d t h it h er h e wa s
s ent on h is last miss ion to fetch Kerberos th e h ell hou n d wit h ,
-

th ree heads a nd th e ta il of a s er p ent a nd out of whos e body ,

grew a writh ing ta ngle of s na kes On h is way to T a in a ro n i n .

La koni a the most s p acious entry to th e lower world Hera kles

, ,

h alted at Eleu s is a nd a s soon a s Eum o lp o s h a d p u rified h im

, ,

of the bloo d of the Centau rs h e w a s i niti ated i nto th e m ys

,

t e r ie s Once a t the c ave of T a in a ro n h e descended a nd fou n d

.
,

a mong th e s h a des those of ma ny whom he h a d known i n t h e

world above Though the p lace w a s entirely strange to h im
.
,

h e coul d not b e d a u nted from continu ing h is deed s of ch iva l ry .

He release d Theseu s from the bonds wh ich Hades h a d th rown

u pon h im over p owered Me n o it e s the herd sma n of Hades kine
, ,
’
,

u ntil P erse p hone h a d to beg for h im to b e s p ared a nd kill , ,

i ng one of the c attle h e sh ed it s b lood to gratif y the gibberi ng

,

s h a des Kerberos h e fou n d on gu a r d at the entra nce to Acheron

. .

P rotected b y h is b rea st p l a te a nd im p enetrable lion s s kin h e

’
,

c autiously ap p roache d t he b e a st and su ddenly gras p ing hi m

‘

, ,
 P LAT E X X I I I
r . HE RAK L Es AND N E R Eus

J ust t o t he r i ght o f t h e c e n t re o f t he c o m p o s iti o n He ra k l e s m ay

b e di sti n g ui sh e d by t h e li o n s k i n w h i c h h e w e a rs o n h is h e a d a n d t h e
-

fr o n t o f h is b o dy ; ab o v e h is sh o ul de rs c a n b e s e e n t he r im o f a q uiv e r
a n d t h e e n d o f a n un st r un b ow H e s ta n ds wit h his f e e t w i de a a rt
g p .

so as t o b r a c e h i m s e l f a g ai n s t t h e s t rugg l e s o f N e re us w h o m h e h o l ds ,

ti g htly in h is a r m s T he se a g o d is s ho w n wit h h um a n he ad a n d
.
-

s h o ul de rs w h il e h is b o dy w h i c h h e la s h e s wi l dly ab o ut in h is e n
, ,

de a vo urs t o e sc a p e is th at o f a fi sh At t h e l e ft o f t h e p i c t ure
,
.

He r m e s wit h t he a duc us (h e ral d s wa n d) s a n dal s chl mys (a s o rt o f

’
c e , ,
a
,

c ap e et a s s t rav e ll i n g h a t dr aw s n e a r t o t h e c o m bat
) and
, p ( )
o T h e , .

t w o fr igh t e n e d w o m e n o n e it h e r s i de m ay b e N e re i ds F ro m a bla c k .

fi g ure d l éyt b os o f t he lat e s ixt h c e n t ury B C fo un d at G e la (Mon u

e . .
,

m n t i A t i chi xvii Plat e X X V)

e n ,
Se e p 8 7
,
. . .

2 . HER A K LE S
T H E C RE T AN BUL L AN D

He ra k l e s a s i n e w y a n d b e a rdl e ss yo ung m an is r un n i n g b e s i de t he
, ,

b ull a n d e n de av o ur i n g t o re ta rd it s s p e e d by p ulli n g ba c k o n it s r ig ht
h o rn . In h is r i ght ha n d h e is s wi n g i n g h is k n o tt e d c l ub p re p a rat o ry
t o de ali n g t h e c r e at ure a he av y bl o w He is lig h tl y c la d fo r h is st re n .

uo us ta s k w e a r i n g o n ly a s h o rt sl e e v e l e ss cb it on
, O n h is he a d is a
, .

e c ul ia r c a p wit h a c o n i c al c ro w n a n d a p ro j e c ti n g p e a k s uc h a s is
p , ,

o ft e n w o r n b
y H e r m e s a n d Pe rs e us A t h is l e ft s i de a pp e a rs t h e h ilt .

o f a s w o rd F ro m a bla c k fig ure d [ ehyt b os w ith a w h it e gro un d fo un d

.
-
,

at G e la a n d a p p a re n tly o f t he e a r l y fi ft h c e n t ury B C (Mon um en t i . .

An t ichi xvii Plat e XX V III )

, ,
S ee p 8 4 . . .

3 . HE RA K L Es AN D AP O LL O
He ra k l e s v e ry e a s il y i de n tifi e d by h is c l ub l i o n s k i n (t h e
c an be ,
-

l e gs o f w h i ch a re k n o tte d a c r o ss h is c he s t ) a n d t he q uiv e r o ut o f , ,

w h i c h fi ve sh a ft s a re p ro t rudi n g I n h is l e ft ha n d he g ra s p s o n e o f
.

t he l e gs o f t h e D e l p h i c t r i p o d w h i c h h e is t ryi n g t o w re st f ro m Ap o l l o ,

a lit h e b o yi sh fi g ure b e a r i n g a la de n q uiv e r o n his ba c k D i re c tly in

,
.

t h e pat h o f He ra k l e s a n d wit h h e r fa c e t o wa r d h im s ta n ds At h e n e ,

full y a rm e d a n d b e h i n d h e r He rm e s wit h his c h a ra c t e ri sti c att r ib ut e s

, , , .

T h e w o m e n w ho w it n e ss t he c o n t e st c a n n o t b e i de n ti fi e d F ro m a .

bla c k fig ure d I hyt b s o f t he ea rly fi ft h c e n t ury B C f un d at G e la

- e o . .
,
o

( M o um
n t i I ri hi xvii Plat e XX I I I
en a c
) , S ee
p p ,8 9 9 0 . .
—
.
 H E RAK LES 89

by th e hea d a n d nec k forced h im to submit to being led

,

awa y He m ad e h is asce nt b y way of the grotto at Troizen

.
,

a nd when h e h a d s hown the dog to Eu rystheu s a s i ndisputab le

p roof of h i s su cces s he took h im b ac k to
,
H ades .

The L a te r Ad ven tur es o f H er a k les; I n Eub o i a .

—
On h is re

leas e from h is servitu de to Eu rystheu s Hera kles retu rned to

,
,

h is h ome c ity of T h eb es w h ere h i s first act w a s to get rid of

,

h i s wife without p roper cau se by h ea rtles s ly h a nd ing h er over

t o Io l ao s l i ke a mere c h attel I n ca sting about h im for another
.

spou se ,
h e learned th at Euryt o s lord of the Eub o ia n city of ,

Oic h alia h a d o ff ered h is d aughter Iole to the ma n who s houl d

,

excel h imself a n d h is sons in a rch ery Hera kles too k u p th i s .

v ery genera l c h allenge a n d won but h is fai r p rize wa s with ,

h el d from h im o n th e grou n d th at h is madnes s mig h t retu rn

a n d d rive h im to repeat th e mu rderou s deeds of h is ea rlier

y ea rs. Not long after t h is ep isode the wily Aut o ly k o s stole

some of Eur y t o s s cattle bu t t h ei r ow n er attribu ted the theft
’
,

t o Hera kles a s a n a c t of revenge It ch a nced th at I p h it o s one .

,
’
o f Eur y t o s s sons when search ing for the lost animals fel l
, ,

i n with Hera kles w h om h e engaged to j oin h im i n h is erra nd ;

,

b ut s u d denly i n t h e mi dst of t h ei r peacefu l i ntercou rse at

,

T i ryns a fit of mad ness c ame over Hera kles a nd graspi ng h i s

, , ,

f rien d i n his powerfu l a rms h e d ashed h im to destru ction from

,

t h e s ummit of the c ity wa lls Now i n the eyes of th e Greeks .

a n act of violence agai nst a friend w a s one of the mos t r e p r e

h e n sib le of s i ns so th at a d rea dfu l disease w h ic h c ame u p on

,

H era kles was regarded by al l a s a j u st retribution for h is evi l

doing He sought p u rification at the h ands of Ncreu s (Neleu s )
.
,

b ut was ignominiou s ly tu rned away a s a n o ff ender for whom

t here wa s no p ardon Later ; at Am y k l a i h e received it from
.
,

t h e more tender—hearte d D e i p ho b o s bu t th is removed only h i s ,

p ollution a n d i n order to fi nd a cu re for h is d isease h e went

,

t o D e lp h o i w h ere the p riestes s refused to d is p ense to h im th e

,

h ealing wis dom of th e oracle Overm astere d by rage Hera kles .

,

p roceeded to s ac k t h e s h rine s cattering it s fu rnis h ings about ,

9 0 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
a s woul d an angry ch ild a nd laying hold of t h e s acred tri p od
, , ,

h e w a s on the p oi nt of s etting u p h is own i ndependent oracle

.

when A p ollo res isted h im with force I n th e midst of thei r .

struggle they were u nex p ectedly sepa rated by a t h u nderbolt of

Zeu s whereupon t h e oracle revealed to Hera kles th at h e wou ld
,

obtai n re l ief from h is malady a n d would ma ke p ro p er amend s

for h is crime only when h e h a d been sold into s lavery a nd h a d
served three yea rs i n bondage .

I n Lydi a Hermes sold Hera kles to Omp h ale t h e widow of

.
,

T m o lo s a former king of Ly di a a nd Euryt o s to whom th e

, , ,

money realized from th e s ale w a s o ff ered refu sed it wit h a ,

mu ch more genu i ne scrupulou s nes s th a n th at w h ich ma rks th e

a ctions of most ch ara cters of myth Th is p eriod i n Hera kles .
’

life was relieved by many episodes w h ich h a d a mi rthfu l a s

wel l a s a s eriou s s ide D u ring a p a rt of h is servitu de Om p h ale
.
,

pos sessed of a s aving sense of hu mou r made th i s most m a s ,

cu line of al l t h e heroes wear woman s garb and engage in th e ’

n arrow rou nd of domestic d uties wh ile sh e h erself went abou t

,

wearing the lion s s kin and wielding t h e h uge club Yet Hera
’
.

k le s wa s given enou g h freedom to a llow h im to go from lan d

to lan d a ccomplish ing great exploits Near Ep h esos there were .

two men c alled Ke r k O p e s who made a p ra ctice of waylaying

tr a vellers a nd one d ay when Hera kles wa ked from a nap by
, ,

th e roads ide h e saw t h em sta nding over h im wea ring h i s

,

a rmou r a n d b randish ing his weapons Relying on h i s s trengt h .

alone b e s eized them tied th ei r feet together a nd h anging

, , , ,

th em h ea d downward one on eac h end of a great stic k of

,

timber h e p roceeded to c arry th em o ff b u t soon wo n ove r

, , ,

by thei r i rre p res sible p leas a ntries let t h em go I n Au lis l ived

,
.

a cert a i n S yleu s who u sed to force p a ssers b y to till h i s vine -

ya rds ; bu t Hera kle s wa s not to be thu s treated Up rooti n g .

a ll the vines i n th e vi neyard a nd p iling them into a hea p ,

h e p laced S yleu s a nd h is d a u ghter on the t o p a n d kindled it ;

a l though in one form of th e t a le he gorged h imse l f a t S yleu s s ’

l a rder and then washed away the enti re p l antation by d ivert

92 G RE E K AN D R O M AN MYT HO LOGY
re a son of it a nd th in king to ta ke h im off h is gu ard atta cked ,

h im treacherous ly Hera kles however wa s a m aster of r e

.
, ,

ta liation for when h e s ubsequ ently caught them i n a n ambu s

,

cade h e p ut Aug e ia s and h is sons to deat h ca p tu red th e city

, ,
“
of Elis an d gave th e kingdom to anot h er
,
Then t h e vali ant .

so n of Zeu s assemb led in P is a all h is hosts and a ll th e spoil s

of w a r a nd measu red o ff t h e bou nd aries of a p reci nct wh ic h

,

h e m ade s acred to h i s mig h ty s ire I n t h e m idst of t h e p la in

.

d id h e se t as ide a level s p ace t h e Altis a nd fenced it rou n d

, ,

about T h e land wit h out t h is sp ace did h e orda in to b e a p lac e

.

for fea sting a nd for rest Th en to Alp h e io s stream h e s acrificed

.
’

” 5
a n d to th e twelve sovereign gods I n the s p ace w h ic h h e
.

h a d consecrated Hera kles celeb rated th e first Olymp i an games .

From P is a h e went aga inst t h e city of P ylos wh ich fell ,

before h i s a rms a nd h ere h e encou ntered P e r ik lym e n o s one

, ,

of th e son s of N e re us who tried to es ca p e h is fate b y resorting

,

to t h e p owers of transformation wh ic h Poseidon h a d given

h im He cou ld ch ange h imself into a lion a s n a ke a bee or
.
, , ,

even so small a n i nsect as a gnat bu t wh en h e h a d ta ken t h e

,

form of th is l ast a nd was abou t to escape Hera kles vis ion wa s ,

’

mi ra culou sly cleared so th at h e detected a nd c au g h t h im ,

a nd s lew h im a long with all t h e rest of h is family except h i s

b rothe r Nestor I n th is struggle Hades fou ght o n t h e s i de of
.
.

th e P ylia n s an d w a s grievou sly wou nded by Hera kles .

Among th e allies of Nereu s h a d been th e sons of Hip p o k o o n

of S p arta aga inst whom Hera kles organ ized a n expedition for
,

their o p pos ition to h im a nd for their wa nton mu rder of one of

h is ki nsmen as well a s for a grudge a gai nst t h e S pa rtan s w h o
,

h a d with h el d clea ns ing from him after t h e death of I p hit o s .

After mu ch p ersu as ion he enlisted on h is s ide King Kep h eu s

of Tegea a nd to s ave Tegea from captu re d u ring the absence
,

of its defenders he left with Ke p h e us s d aug h ter a loc k of th e ’

Gorgon s h ai r enclosed i n a b ronze water j a r I n th e wa r th at

’
- .

ensu e d I p h ikle s and the men of Tegea were killed but i n s p ite ,

of th is los s Hera kles w a s able i n the end to overcome h is foes

 P L AT E XX I V
AM A Z O N S IN BA TT LE

T o t he l e ft o f t h e c e nt re o f t he p i c t ure a n Am a z o n ,

w e a r i n g a t urba n li k e h e l m e t a n d m o un t e d o n a ho rs e
-
,

t h rus t s wit h a la n c e at a fall e n G re e k wa rri o r b e h i n d ,

w h o m o n e o f h is fe ll o w s battl e s wit h a n o t he r Am a z o n
atta c k i n g w it h a n axe Bo t h o f t he wa rr i o r w o m e n
.
-

a re c la d in ti g ht fit t in g g a rm e n ts c o ns p i c uo us by
-

re a so n o f t h e i r u lia r c h e ue re d a n d z i g z a g p at t hrn s
p e c
q .

F ro m a re d fig ure d v o l ut e k a t r o f t he latt e r hal f o f

- r e

t he fi ft h c e n t ury B C in t h e Me t r o p o lita n Mus e um o f

. .
,

Art , N e w Y o rk (p hot og r aph) . S e e p p 8 5,

. 10 —
3 04 .
 THE NEW YORK
PUB LI C LI BRARY .

A S TO R L E N O X A N D
T I L D E N F O U N DAT I O N S
,

L
 H ERAK LES 93

a nd gain t h ei r c ity w h ic h h e restored to its rig h tfu l king

, ,

Tyn da reos (or p erh aps to h is sons ) who h a d b een d riven ou t

, , ,

by th e sons of Hip p o k o o n I t wa s j u s t a fter t h is occas ion t h at

.

Hera kles met Au ge i n Tegea .

I n Aito l i a a n d the Mo n t i n s
u a —
Hera kles c rossed th e Gu lf
.

of Cori nth to Aitoli a a n d became a su itor for the h a nd of

D eianei ra th e d aughter of Oin e us of K a lydo n a lthou g h in so
, ,

doing h e b ecame a riva l of t h e powerfu l river god Ac he lOOs -

.

W h ile wrestling wit h t h e d ivinity w h o h a d ta ken th e form of a

,

bu ll t h e h ero b ro ke a n d retai ned one of h is h orns w h ich wa s

, ,

so p reciou s to its owner th at for its restoration h e allowed

Hera kles to posses s D ei aneira a nd bes ides to ta ke t h e won

, , ,

de r ful Ho rn of P lenty wh ic h wou ld give to h im who h eld it a s

,

much food o r d rin k a s h e s h ou ld wis h for For ma ny d ays .

Hera kles wa s entertai ned by Oin e us a nd even h elped h im i n ,

a wa r of conqu es t along th e coast of th e Ad ria tic b ut a s u su al , , ,

h is bu l k a nd strength got h im into troub le i n sp ite of h imself .

O ne day h e c h anced to kill a l ad w h o wa s rel ated to th e king ,

a nd thoug h forgiven by t h e l a d s fat h er h e went i nto v o lun

’
,

ta ry exile as t h e cu stom of t h e cou ntry requ i red a nd se t o ut

, ,

with Deianeira to ta ke u p h is abode with Ke yx of T r a c h is ,

a city on t h e oth er s ide of t h e mou nta ins Arriving at th e .

river Evenos over w h ic h N e sso s th e Centau r u sed to ferry

,

o n h is b ac k t h ose w h o travelled afoot Hera kles c rossed alone , ,

l eaving h is wife i n t h e ca re of N e sso s As soon a s t h e h u sb and .

wa s a l ittle d istance away t h e Centau r made a viciou s attac k

,

u pon th e woman b ut at h er outcry Hera kles tu rned an d with

,

a well aimed s h aft p ierced h er ass ai l ant th rough t h e h ea rt

- .

When N e sso s h ad c rawled out on t h e river s b a n k to die h e ’

,

called Dei aneira to h is s ide and gave he r a mixtu re of h i s

blood wh ic h h e p romis ed wou ld se rve a s a love ph iltre to
, ,
-

revive h er h usb an d s a ff ection for h er s h ou ld it wa ne at a ny

’

time .

As Hera kles p assed t h roug h t h e cou ntry of t h e D ryopi ans ,

h e fou n d h imself i n need of food He h ad app a rently forgotten

.
94 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY

th e bou ndless c a p acity of h i s magic Horn of P lenty so t h at , ,

when none wou ld give h im food he seized a n ox and p repa re d ,

a meal from it T h e inhospitality of the D ryo p i ans h e neve r

.

forgot a n d later h e pu nished them with a deva stating wa r

, ,

killing thei r ki ng a s h e wa s impiou sly feasting i n a s h rine of

Apollo Not long afterwa rd h e went to the ai d of Aig im io s
.
,

king of the Dori ans who wa s being beleagu ered by the Lapi
,

th ai a nd d rove the besiegers away I n t h is d istrict there wa s

,
.

a p l ace well ada p ted for a n ambu scade w h ic h the vota ries of
A p ollo h ad to p as s on thei r sout h wa rd j ou rney to D e lp ho i ,

a nd there K y k n o s a so n of Ares u sed to lie i n wait a nd attac k

, ,

them as the y went by ; but when h e met wit h Hera kles h e w a s

overpowered a nd sl ain a nd t h encefort h t h e p ilgrims were un
,

molested .

At last the moment a rrived for Hera kles to pu nis h the faith
less nes s of Eur yt o s Goi ng aga ins t Oic h al ia h e slew the king
.
,

a n d h is sons a nd m any of thei r allies a n d then s ac ked the city ,

a n d took Iole captive When the news of t h is seizu re reach ed

.

th e ea rs of Dei aneira h er hea rt w a s a fla m e wit h j ealousy and

, ,

sh e p re p ared to ma ke use of the gift of N e sso s It h appened .

th at Her a kles sent a messenger to her from Oich alia to b ring

b a c k to h im a ceremoni a l vestment for a solemn s acrifice .

Choos ing a rob e sh e p ou red over it some of t h e magic l iqu id

, ,

b ut h er trust i n N e sso s tu rned out to h ave been too h asty fo r ,

it wa s no p h iltre th at h e h ad given her bu t a fiery li qu id wh ic h ,

wr a p p ed th e bod y of Hera kles i n deadly fl ames a s soon a s h e

donned th e garment Recognizing th at h is end w a s nea r t h e
.
,

h e ro a s ce nded Mou nt Oita above T r a c h is a nd h ad a great

pyre of wood bu ilt Upon th is h e l ay down a n d ordered thos e
.

about h im to kindle it bu t none h a d th e bol d ness of hea rt

,
’
to ta ke th ei r ma ster s l ife At length a p as ser b y P o ia s (o r
.
-
,

perh aps Po ia s s so n Ph ilo k t e t e s) wa s i nduced to do th e deed

’
,

by th e gift of Hera kles bow and a rrows As the fl ames ros e ’

.

a nd consumed th e hero a clou d from wh ic h thu nder p roceeded

,

wa s seen to gathe r over h im a nd to ta ke h im into its bosom ,

 C H APT E R V I

T HES EU S

N th e story of h i s life a s it now stand s T h es e us is f ran kly

a n imitation of Hera kles a lthoug h t h i s does not mea n th at
,

h is figu re owes it s entire existence to its model A p p arently ,

.

legend s of a certa i n Th eseu s were very ea rly b roug h t from

Crete to t h e coasts of t h e Argolid about Troizen a nd t h roug h,

long years of re p etition t h ey became so famili ar to th e peop le

a s to b e regarded a s of loca l origin a nd t h u s a s fit th emes fo r

local poets B y mea ns of poetry a nd cu lt the name of T h eseu s

.

wa s sprea d th roughout Greece bu t i n Athens it won especia l

,

recognition b ecau se of friendly rel ations b etween Ath ens a nd

Troizen a n d h er neighbou r c ities thu s sup p lyi ng a fou ndatio n
,

for the consciou s m anu factu re of new myths a nd th e c o m

pou nding of ol d ones W h en t h e Athenia ns reached t h e stage
.

of posses s ing a politi ca l cons cious ness t h ey fou n d themselve s

,

very d ifferent from t h eir o ld er neighbou rs i n th at they wer e

withou t a n orga nized body of myt h extolling thei r des cent a n d
d eta iling t h e gloriou s exploits of a great h ero forefather Ju s t
- .

l i ke u psta rt wealt h i n a modern democracy concocting it s a ris

t o cra t ic coat of arms t h e At h eni ans resolved to se t up a n a
,

t io n a l h ero a n d to d rap e h i s figu re i n the na rrative of h i s a l

le g e d exploits T h eseu s w a s ready a t h and pa rtly Athenia n

.
, ,

p a rtly outs ider As a n Athenia n h e cou ld eas ily wi n local a ffe c

.

tion ; a s a n ou tsi der h e was i n a pos ition to s qu a re wit h th e

’
peo p le s politica l as p irations by b rea king with th e a ristoc ra cy
a nd i ntrodu cing a new order of th ings Th e At h eni ans t h ere
.
,

fore too k h im a s h e w a s a nd for t h e s a ke of fixing h im stil l

, , ,

more definitely i n th ei r local ity added a nu mb er of stories of

,
 P L AT E XXV

T H E S EU S AN D AM P H I T R I T E

T h e se us , a s l e n de r yo ut h w it h l o n g fai r hai r s ta n ds
,

o n t h e up t ur n e d h a n ds o f T rit o n b e fo r e Am h it r it e e n
p ,

t hr o n e d i n h e r p ala c e i n t h e de p t hs o f t he se a W it h .

h e r r i gh t h a n d t h e Q ue e n o f t h e W at e rs e xt e n ds a
gre e ti n g t o t he l ad wh il e i n he r l e ft she ho l ds agai n s t
,

h e r b re a s t t h e c ro wn wh i c h sh e wil l p la c e o n h is h e a d
a s a s i g n t h at h e is t h e so n o f Po s e i do n .Be t we e n h e r
a n d T h e s e us s ta n ds t h e n o bl e a n d un us ual l h um a n
y
fi gure o f At h e n e F ro m a re d fi g ure d hylz x b y Eup h ro
’

.
-

n io s e a rly fi ft h c e n t ury i n t h e L o uv re F urt

( (
wa n gl e r—Re ic hh o ld G r i echische Va sen m a ler ei N o
, ,
.

Se e p . 10 1 .
 T HES EUS 97

long estab l ish ed local cu rrenc y to th e stoc k of tales a lready

-

gathered about h im S o keen l y awa re were t h ey of the c a lc u

.

l ated deliberation of th e p rocess th at to th em Th eseu s of al l ,

the h eroes wa s i n a cl as s by h imself a personage a lmost acros s

, ,

th e th res hold of h istory .

Bir th a n d Ch ildho o d Ki ng Aig e us of At h ens t h ou gh twic e

.
,

m arried w a s not bles sed with ch ild ren a n d i n h is d is a p p oint

, ,

ment h e sought th e couns el of the ora cle receiving a rid dling ,

a nswer wh ic h only se rved to per p lex h i m th e more Going to .

Troizen h e m a de known h is trouble an d th e a nswer of t h e

,

oracle to King P ittheu s who qu ic kly perceived th e d rift of

,

th e res p onse a n d j ust a s qu ic kl y devised a s ch eme b y wh ic h to

fulfil it P l y ing Aig e us with wi ne u ntil h is wits dese rted h im
.
,

P itth eu s left h im overnight in th e com p any of h is d au g h ter

Ait h r a a n d when morning d awned a n d Aig e us came to h im
,

s elf h e b ade Ait h r a to rear th e so n sh e wa s destined to bea r

, ,

a n d not to d is clos e h i s p aternity to h im u ntil th e proper time

s hou ld come wh ich wou l d b e h e s a id when their boy s hou l d
, , ,

be able to roll away a ce rtain stone u nder wh ich Aig e us h a d

h idde n a se t of a rm ou r a n d wea p ons a n d a p air of s andals ,
.

I n d ue time th e ch il d wa s bo rn a n d w a s immedi ately a s most

, ,

a gree give n th e n ame of Theseu s His grandfather P itt h eu s

,
.

d iligently ci rcu l ated th e story th at h e was t h e so n of Poseidon ,

th e tutela r y deity of Troizen bu t h is mother h el d h er p eace

, .

E ve n a s a mere ch ild Theseu s s howed h imself fearless for ,

on ce wh en Hera kles h is ki nsma n vis ited Troizen he gazed

, , , ,

withou t flin c h in g at th e d readfu l lion s ki n At s ixteen years - .

of age he wa s fu lly grown a n d a s was the custom of you ng

,

me n went to D e lp ho i a nd p resented to th e god a cli p p ed loc k

of his h ai r a s a token of su rrender of h is life to th e divine will .

Th en h i s moth er too k h im to the stone an d wh en h e h ad l ifted ,

it an d donned th e armou r revealed to hi m t h e mystery of h i s

b i rt h a n d sent h i m to h i s father i n Athens .

T h e you ng ma n confident i n his strengt h a nd im p elled by

,

t h e des ire to riva l Hera kles decided to ta ke th e long a nd

,
9 8 G REEK AND ROMAN M YT HO LOGY

d angerou s la nd—route i nstea d of t h e s h ort a nd easy voyage

a cros s th e gu lf Noth ing cou ld dis su ade h im from h is pu r p os e
.
,

not even the stories wh ic h Pittheu s told h im O f t h e cruel rob

b ers i nfesting the h ig h way ; i ndeed these only w h etted h is a p ,

p etite for a dventu re With t h e intention merely

. of defending
h imself s h ou ld need a ris e a nd of wa ntonly h a rming none h e ,

se t ou t from Troizen on a j ou rney t h at wa s fated to involve

h im i n six great labou rs .

The La b o u s f These us; Fi st La b o u

r o r r —
As T h e seu s p as sed .

t h rou g h Ep ida uro s going nort h ward he wa s confronted by th e ,

robber P eri p hetes a so n of He p h a ist o s a nd Anti kleia who in

, L , ,

h e r it in g h is father s l ameness u sed a n enormou s club a s a n a i d

’
,

i n wal king S tan ding acros s Th eseu s s p at h h e forb ade h i m

.
’
,

to p roceed bu t th e hero too qu ic k a n d strong for h im pou nced

, , ,

on h im killed h im a nd too k h is club both a s a memento of t h e

, ,

exploit a nd a s a n i nvincible weapon for t h e futu re .

S eco n d La b o u r —
At t h e Isthmu s of Cori nth lived S inis a
.
,

gia nt son of Poseidon who made a p ra cti ce of seizing travellers

,

on the I sthmi a n h ighway a nd of b i nding t h em to one or more

resilient s aplings th at h a d been bent to t h e grou nd t h e releas e ,

of t h e trees allowi ng t h em to spring b ac k to a n u p right pos i

tion an d i n so doing to tear a su nder t h e bodies of t h e victims .

Th is heartles s wretc h T h eseu s hoisted wit h h is own peta rd ,

even forcing h im to lend a h and i n bending down t h e tree to

wh ich h e wa s to be tied On t h e death of S i nis h is d au g h ter.

fled to a bed of tall as p aragu s and implored t h e p lants t o

h ide h e r but wh en reassu red by Theseus t h at no h arm woul d
,

befall h e r sh e came out of h e r h i ding p lace and consorted wit h

,
-

h im afte rwa rd bea ring a so n Me l a n ip p o s w h ose des cenda nts

,

wors h ip p ed the as p a ragu s p l ant T h i s story may be a myt h ica l .

version of a ritu al of a P oseidon cu lt i n th e Ist h mian groves -

.

Thir d La b o ur To t h e right of th e road j u st a s one left

.
-
,

th e Isth mu s was th e town of Kro m m yo n About t h is p lace

,
.

ro a m e d a n u nusu a lly ferociou s wild so w to w h ic h t h e terrified

~

neighbou rhood h ad given the n ame of Ph a ia T h ough person .

 1 00 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
of the b lood of S i nis who w a s a ki nsman of h is own t h roug h
,

thei r j oi nt rel ationship with Poseidon As h e went across .

th e city cl ad i n a long flowi ng robe h e p assed a temple o n th e ,

roof of wh ich the bu ilders were still a t work These noticing .

,

h i s pecu li a r garb bega n to ma ke s p ort of h im a n d as ked h im

,

why a p ro p er you ng l ady l i ke h imself wa s ou t wal king u nes

c o r t e d whereupon
,
withou t a word T h eseu s u nyoked a team
, ,

of oxen s ta ndi ng by a nd tos sed t h em h igher t h an t h e p ea k of

t h e bu ildi ng .

T h e h ou sehol d of Aig e us h e fou nd to b e i n a desperate

s tate for th e king h a d b ecome old and th e peo p le h a d grown
,

restles s u nder hi s feeb le s ce p tre b ut a s th ere wa s no h eir h e ,

still clu ng tenacious ly to th e th rone Medei a w h o wa s now .

,

h i s wife with t h e vis ion of a witc h recognized T h eseu s a s soon

,

a s h e ap p ea red but sh e kept her d iscove ry to h erself an d

,

p lotted to ta ke h i s life by poisoni ng h im a t a feast Theseu s .

,

however detected h er des ign a nd at a timely moment revealed

,

h imself to h i s father by d rawi ng hi s sword a s if to c ut t h e meat

on t h e table Aig e us a nd th e popu l ace received h im wit h
.

great j oy a nd a c knowledged h im a s th e p ri nce of t h e realm .

B u t th e cou sin s of T h eseu s t h e sons of Pallas were very , ,

a ngry for h is a rriva l h a d spoiled thei r c h ances of su cceeding

,

j ointly to th e th rone D ecla ri ng th at Aig e us wa s only a n

.

a do p ted b rot h er of P all as and th at Th es eu s wa s a n u n known,

outlander th ey p roclaimed wa r aga inst h im a nd plotted t o

,

en tra p h im b ut a tra itor revealed thei r pl a ns a nd T h eseu s

, ,

reta ined th e su p remacy .

These us i n Cr e te It wa s not long before T h eseu s h ad t he

.

O p p ortu nity of doi ng his greatest deed for Ath ens for th e time ,

a rrived when th e Atheni an s mu st ma ke th ei r th i rd p ayment o f

tribute of Atti c you th s to Minos a nd th e popu lace b egan to ,

fin d fault wit h Aig e us on th e grou nd th at h e h ad ta ken no

steps to r id th em of th is period ic cal amity To still t h ei r ch id .

i ng T heseu s offered h imself a s one of the victims of th e Mino

tau r wh ile a ll th e oth ers were c h osen by lot a lth ough one
, ,
 P L AT E X X V I
LA P I T HS AN D C E N T A URs

In th i s sc e n e t hre e s e p a rat e c o m bat s a re b e i n g e n

ac t e d In t hat o n t he ri g ht a C e n ta ur is w i e l di n g a
.
,

tall t r i p o d agai n s t a L a p ith a n d p a rryi n g t he bl o w o f a

dagg e r .T h e C e nta u r o f t h e c e n t ral g r o u is wit h o n e
p
h a n d fo rc ibly draw i ng his a n ta go n i s t t o w a rd h i m s e l f
a n d w it h t h e o t h e r h a n d c l e n c h e d is b e ati n g h im in

t he fa c e At t h e l e ft a L a p ith a n d a C e n ta ur a re
.

battli ng t he o n e wit h a do ubl e axe a n d t he o t he r

,
-
,

with t h e n e c k o f a b ro k e n j ar F ro m a re d—figure d
.

hylix by Ar i s to p h a n e s (lat e fi fth c e n t ury i n t he

Mus e um o f Fi n e Art s Bo s t o n (Furt w an g le r Re i c h
,
-

h o l d G r iechische Va sen m a ler ei N o

, ,
. Se e p p .

1 04 — 0 5 .
 T HES EUS 10 1

a ccou nt of t h e legend states th at Mi nos selected them all ,

n aming Th es eu s fi rst B efore going on boa rd th e sh i p Theseu s

.

s ec retly a ssu red h i s fath er th a t h e wou ld s u cceed i n killing th e

Minotau r a n d t h u s free h is peo p le from thei r bondage ; a nd s ince
the trib ute—boat ordi n a rily c a rried a b lac k s ai l to beto ken t h e
ho p eles s nes s of its p a ssengers Aig e us gave t h e h elmsma n a
,

wh ite one to b e hois ted fa r ou t a t se a on t h e voyage h ome i f

Th eseu s were retu rning s a fe a nd sou nd .

I t w a s p rob ab l y after the a rriva l of th e Atti c yout h s i n Crete

th a t Mi nos exp ress ed h i s doubts th at P os ei don wa s th e father
of Th es eu s a nd to ma ke a tes t of h is p arentage h e t h rew a
,

ring i nto th e se a Th eseu s plu nged i n after it a n d wa s born e

.

b y a dolph i n o r a Triton to t h e t h rones of Posei don a n d Am

p hi t r it e T.h ere Poseidon gra nted h im t h e fu lfilment of t h ree
wis hes t h at h e mig h t ma ke i n t h e fu tu re w h ile Amp h itrite ,

gave h im a garl a nd a nd then bea ri ng t h e l atter a s a n emblem

, ,

of h i s divi ne b irt h h e emerged from t h e water b ringing t h e

,

ri ng to Mi nos .

B efore th e captives were enclosed i n t h e l abyri nt h Ari adne , ,

a d au g h ter of Minos fell i n love with Th eseu s a n d p romis ed to

,

h elp h im fi nd h is way out of t h e p rison if h e wou l d b in d h im ,

'

s elf to ta ke h er to At h ens an d m a ke h er h is w ife Th eseu s .

p romptly gave th i s easy p ledge a nd at th e su ggestion of D ai

,

d alos Ari ad ne t h en p res ented h im wit h a s kei n of li nen th rea d

w h ic h h e was to u nwi nd a s h e a dva nced to t h e innermost re
ces s of th e labyrinth Once t h ere h e eas ily s lew t h e Mi notau r
.

with h is fists a nd by following the th rea d made h i s way b ac k

,

to th e light E mb arki ng on h is sh ip wit h Ari ad ne h e fled from

.
,

Crete a nd tou c h ed at th e isl an d of Naxos b ut a s to j u s t wh at ,

h appened h ere th e sou rces a re not agreed One h a s it th at .

Thes eu s tiri ng of h i s b ride deserted h er a n d th at sh e i n

, , ,

d esp ai r h anged h erself ; a noth er t h at D ionysos en amou red , ,

of h er conveyed h er to Lemnos a nd forced h er to wed h im ;

,

and still a noth er th at d riven by a s torm on t h e s hores of

, ,

Cypru s Aria dne d ied from ex p osu re a nd T h eseu s i nstituted

,
10 2 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
regu l ar s acrifices at h er tomb At all events Th eseu s reached .
,

home withou t h er b ut a s th e sh i p drew near to Athens th e, ,

h elmsman i n h is great j oy forgot to hois t t h e wh ite s ail an d ,

Aig e us seeing th e bl ac k one th rew h imself over th e cli ffs on

, ,

wh ich h e stood a nd w a s d ashed to p ieces On landing Th eseu s .

’
b u ried h i s father s remai ns a nd p ai d h is vows to Apollo .

FI G .
4 . TH E S E US AN D T H E MI N OTA UR
Th e se us thl ti y u g m w it h hi l ft h d i t h Mi t u by h
, an a e c o n an , s e an se z e s e no a r a o rn ,

w h il w it h hi
e ig h t h d h i s r b ut t t h u t t t h m t w it h
an e h t w d
s a o o r s a e ons er a s or s or .

C mpo th i m
a re f k ill i g w it h t h t m t i
s an n e r o d i t h t t Th t w p t t
n a en o ne n e ex . e o s e c a o rs

of th t uggl m y b Mi
e s r e d Ai d
a F m
e d fig u d k t
no s an f t h fi fth r a ne . ro a re -
re r a er o e

c entu y r f u d t G l (M um ti A ti hi xvii P l t XXX )

B C . .
, o n a e a on en n c , ,
a e .

Theseus and T h e sto ry of T h eseu s

the Bull o f Ma r a tho n .
—

a nd th e b u ll of Ma rathon i s really a continu atio n of th at of

h is Creta n a dventu res I t will b e remembered th at t h e beas t .

h ad killed An dro g e o s t h e so n of Minos a nd after th is i t co n , ,

t in ue d u nchec ked
,
its ravages among bot h men a nd c rops ,
.

As signing h imself th e t a s k of s ub dui ng it Theseu s went to ,

Ma rathon grappled with th e b u ll a nd b y s h eer strengt h of

, ,

mu scle forced i t to submit to h is wi l l after wh ic h h e d rove i t ,

a c ros s cou ntry a nd th rough th e s treets of Athens a t las t s ac ri ,

fi c in g i t on the a lta r of A p ollo .

1 04 . G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y

i n th e vi ci nity of At h ens a nd th ei r graves were obj ects of

,

i nteres t to travellers for many centu ries Th i s myth ical con .

fl ic t foresh adowed the l ater wars of h is tory i n wh ic h Athens

wa s to b e th e leader of the Gree ks aga inst i nvading b arb a
ri a ns .

These us a n d Hip p o lytos I f we a re to d isc re dit the s tory

.

of Antio p e s nob le d eath we mu st accept a nother i n wh ic h

’
,

sh e w a s se t as ide by th e fic kle Th eseu s i n favou r of P h ai dra ,

a s ister of th e deserted Ari a dne According to th is vers ion .

,

h er rej ection gave her a p retext for leading the Am a zons to

p rosecu te a wa r agai nst Athens bu t by Theseu s sh e left a so n ,

Hippolytos who tu rned ou t to b e a somewh a t i ntractabl e

“

com p ou nd of a Jeh u a nd a Jose p h As a youth h e wa s de .

voted to t h e h u nt a nd wa s a d i ligent wors h i p p er of th e ch as te

Artemis w h il e A p h rod ite a n d a ll h er works h e h ated with a
,

h oly h atre d For th is Ap h rodite pu nis h ed h im cau s ing h i s

.
,

step mother Ph a i dra to b u rn with love for h im a nd to m a ke

-

evil a dva nces b ut when h e h aug h tily rej ecte d t h ese sh e

, ,

sla ndered h im before h is fathe r who b an ished h im and b e ,

sou gh t Poseidon to vis it destru ction u pon h im a s t h e f ulfil

ment of one of the th ree wis h es h e w a s to gra nt Poseidon .

h ea rd t h e p rayer a n d ra ised up from t h e se a a n enormou s b ul l

wh ic h so frightened th e horses of Hippolytos t h at t h ey ra n
away and killed h im When it wa s too l ate t h e trut h of th e
.
,

m atter wa s revealed to t h e remorsefu l T h eseus w h ile t h e gu ilty ,

P h aidra took h er own l ife by h anging .

Fr i en dship w i th P e i r i tho b s P e ir it ho o s h a d h ea rd of t h e
’

—
.

great strengt h of T h eseu s and i n orde r to tes t it d rove some

, , ,

of T h eseu s s c attle from t h e p l ai n of Ma rathon Theseu s pu r

’
.

s ued t h e ra ider bu t when t h ey c ame face to face they fou n d

, , ,

themselves u nexpectedly attra cted to one anot h er P e ir it ho Os .

p rom p tly o ff ered to p a y w h atever d amages Th eseu s migh t

cl a im b ut a ll th at the l atter wou ld a ccept w a s a pledge of
,

friendsh i p a nd th en ceforth th ey were inse p a rable Theseu s

,
.

wa s p resent at th e wedding of P e ir it ho o s to D e i da m e ia i n th e
 T H E S E US 10 5

cou ntry of t h e La p it h a i w h en some Thes s al i a n Centau rs who

, ,

were al so guests b ecame h eated with win e a n d atta c ked th e

,

La p it h women ; but led by T h eseus th e men fou g h t t h em o ff

, , ,

s lew some a n d d rove oth ers from the l and

,
.

When Th eseu s wa s abou t fifty years old t h e two friend s ,

kidnap p ed Helen of a nd h eld her for a wh ile i n Attic

-

territory th i s c on Ef it ut in g a n a dventu re with whos e deta ils

“

we h ave al ready b ecome acqu a inted D uring h er d etention .

Th es eu s a ccomp anied P e ir it h o Os to t h e home of Ha des to

s eize P ersep hone an d ma ke h er th e b ride of P e ir it h o o s but th e ,

tas k wa s not li ke t h at of captu ring th e p a rtly mo rta l Helen ,

for H a des h a d th e two ab du ctors overpowered a nd bou n d with

serpents to t h e S eat of Leth e Hera kles
l ater se t Th es eu s free b u t even h is great s trengt h wa s in suf
,

fi c ie n t to en ab le h im to loos e P e ir it h o Os .

D e a th of These us O n retu rning to At h ens T h eseu s learne d

.

t h at Helen s b roth ers h a d stormed th e fortres s where sh e h a d

’

been h el d c a p tive an d h a d ta ken h er b a c k to S p a rta an d a long , ,

with h er h is own moth er Ait h r a wh ile to inc reas e his troub les
, , , ,

a noth er pol itica l p a rt y w a s in th e a scend a ncy a n d wa s in

st ig a t in g th e people a gainst h im F inding th e O p p os ition too
.

great h e solemnly cu rs ed t h e At h eni ans an d with h i s family

,

withd rew to t h e roc ky is la nd of S kyros wh ere it is s aid at , , ,

th e command of th e ki ng of th e isl an d h e wa s p u s h ed ove r

the se a cli ff s an d killed After t h e fal l of Troy his ch ildren
- .

retu rned to Athens an d reigned Neverth eles s t h e s p i rit of

.
,

Theseu s wa s not dead for at Marathon h e fough t on t h e

,

s ide of t h e At h eni an s and tu rned th e tide of b attle i n th ei r

favou r At th e close of the P ers ian wars h is bones were b rou ght
.

to Athens from S kyros i n obedience to an oracle an d b u ried ,

wit h great pomp i n a tomb i n t h e h ea rt of the city .

 C H APT E R V I I

T H E V O Y AG E O F T H E ARG O

HE voyage of t h e Argo i s th e great cu lmi nating episod e

i n t h e vici ss itu des of certai n b ra nc h es of t h e family of
Aio lo s a nd it will th erefore b e necess a ry to revi ew th e live s
, , ,

of th e mos t importa nt p ersonages of th i s family .

The D escen da n ts o f Ai o l os; S a l m o n e us,

P e l i as . S a lm o n e us,
a so n of Aio lo s w h o h a d s ettled i n Elis d rew u pon h imself t h e
,

d ivi ne a nger for h aving attempted to u su rp some of th e p re

ro g a t iv e s of Zeu s
,
for h e ma de a p ractice of imitating t h e
thu nder a n d the ligh tning of a rai n —storm a nd was killed by a
real bolt from the h an d of Zeu s F rom t h is desc ri p tion of h im
.

we a re to i nfer t h at h e w a s of t h e cl as s of rai n ma ki ng magi -

c ia n s still to b e fou nd i n some primitive commu nities His .

d aug h ter Tyro was forced to yield to th e emb races of Posei

don a n d bore twi n sons N ereu s (Neleu s ) a nd Peli as w h o were
, ,

exp osed i n i nfancy b ut were fou nd a n d rea red i n a nother

,

family th a n thei r own Nereu s a nd h i s ch i ld ren were s l ai n by

.

Hera kles at Pylos b u t Peli a s took u p h i s abod e somew h ere

,

i n Th es s aly married a nd h a d among ot h er c h ild ren a so n

, , , ,

Ak a st o s a nd a d au ghter Al k e st is who wa s destined to become

one of th e mos t famou s of women For a n imp iou s act of h i s
.

you t h Hera visi ted on P eli a s a cu rs e w h ich wa s to follow h im

th rou gh life T y ro afte r th e ab a ndonment of h er ch ild ren
.
, ,

w a s legally wedded to K re t h e us h e r fath er s b roth er a nd b e

’
, ,

c ame th e mother of th ree more ch ild ren Amyth aon Aiso n , , ,

a nd Ph e r e s who lived togeth e r i n the Th es s al ia n city of

,

I o l k o s whi c h K r e t h e us h a d fou n ded u ntil P h e re s wit h l au d

, ,

able e nter p ri s e b u il t t h e new ci ty of P h e r a i o n a n inl and site

, ,
 P L A T E XXV I I
T HE AR G O N A UT s

T he i n te rp re tati o n o f t h i s sc e n e is by n o m e a n s
c e rtai n. I t has b e e n e x p lai n e d a s de p i c ti n g a ba n d o f
At h e n ia n wa rri o rs ab o ut t o g iv e battl e t o t he Pe rs ia ns
i n t he p re s e nc e o f t h e g o ds a n d hero e s o f o ld .

G e n e rally h o w e v e r it is t h o ug ht t o re p re s e nt a g ro up
, ,

o f t h e Arg o n a ut s with o ut re fe re n ce t o an y p a rti c ula r

,

e p i s o de
. I f t h i s i n t e rp re tati o n is c o rre c t o n e c a n ,

e a s il e r c e iv e t h e a p ro p r iat e a e a ra nc e o f At h e n e
y p p pp ,

t h e divi n e p at ro n e ss o f t h e Arg o o f He ra k l e s w it h
, ,

c l ub a n d li o n s k i n a n d o f o n e o f t h e D io sk o uro i w ith
-
, ,

h is h o r s e . An y att e m p t t o i de nti fy t h e o t he r fi g ure s

wo ul d b e p ure l y f a nc i ful F ro m a re d fig ure d hr a t r o f
.
- e

t h e e n d o f t h e fi ft h c e n t ury B C in t h e L o uv r e (F urt
. .
,

wa ng l e r Re ic hho ld Gr iechische Va serzm a l r ei N o

-
,
e ,
.
108 G RE EK AND RO MAN M YTHO LOGY
b rought abou t a failu re of the c rops a nd when At h a ma s s en t ,

messengers to the oracle to i nqu ire how to remove th is condi

tion I no suborned them a n d th ey b rought b a c k a fals e r e
, ,

port annou ncing th a t th e l a nd woul d aga i n b ea r fru i t if

,

P h r ixo s were s ac rificed to Zeu s As the l a d s tood by t h e a lta r

.

to be s la in h is mother Ne p hele s u ddenl y led ou t a ram wi t h

,

a go l den fleece the offs p ring of P os eidon a nd Th eoph a ne a n d

, ,

lacing P h r ixo s a nd Helle on the a nima l sh e d rove it away

p .

S wiftly it went eas twa rd overla nd to t h e stra its between Eu rop e

a nd Asia bu t a s it wa s swimming t h es e Helle fell O ff it s b ac k
,

i nto th e water a nd was d rowned whence ever afte rwa rd t h e , , ,

“
G ree ks knew th e straits a s th e Helles p ont ( Helle s
’

P h r ixo s on the other h and w a s borne by th e ra m to th e fart h e r

, ,

end of the E uxine wh ere was the l a nd of Kolch is over wh ic h

, ,

King Aie t e s rule d Th ere a s o ne s tory s ays h e grew to ma n

.
, ,

h ood a n d afte rward retu rned to h i s ol d home i n the wes t ;

a lthough accord ing to a va ri a nt legend h e wa s killed by Aie t e s
, , ,

a nd th e ram w a s s acrificed to Zeu s wh ile its gol den fleece wa s ,

hu ng on a migh ty oa k i n t h e grove of Ares a nd gu arde d by a

d ragon .

The Re t ur n of I a so n Th e narrative now retu rns to Io l k o s

. .

When K r e t h e us died h is so n Aiso n was d is p os ses s ed of his ki ng

,

do m b y his h a l f b rother P elias but h e s till live d on i n Io lk o s

-
,

a n d offered no res is t a nce to the u s urp er To p re p a re howeve r .

, ,

for a da y of venge a nce he c raftily a nnou nced th at h is so n

I a so n was de a d wh ereas i n re a l ity h e h a d sent h im away to
, , ,

Chei ron to be e duc a ted wh i l e to P eli as h e ma de the p ro p hecy

,

th a t some da y h e P e l i a s would die at th e h a nds of a n Aio l id

, ,

o r b y a n incu r a b l e p oison Y e a rs a fter th is I a so n retu rned to

.

Io lk o s a n d wi t h man y oth ers w a s i nvite d by P eli as to a feast of

,

P osei don b ut i n c rossin g a swol l en s tre a m on the w a y h e

,

ch a nce d to l o se h is left s a n da l i n the mi re As h e a p p roached .

wi t h o nl y h is r igh t fo ot sh o d P e l i a s ob serve d h im a n d whe n

, ,

h e l e a rn e d w ho h e w a s c a l l e d to mi n d with a gre a t s hoc k th a t

th i s w a s t h e m a rk of t h e m a n b y whom h e w a s doome d to die .
 T HE VO YAG E O F T HE A RG O 19 9

After a conference of s evera l d a ys with h is fath er a nd other

ki ns fol k I a so n a p p ea ri ng b efore P eli a s boldly a s ked h im to
, , ,

su rrender th e th rone a n d s ce p tre a nd th e u su r p er wea kly ,

a s sented b u t b egged h i m to h ave p ity o n h i s old age

,
Woul d .

h e not fi rs t of a ll h e a s ked recover th e Golden Fleece a nd by

, , ,

th u s ap p e a s i ng th e sou l of P h r ixo s b ring p eace to th e line of

Aio o s On th i s cond ition P elia s was wi l l ing to ste p down from
l ?

the th rone wit h ou t a struggle I a so n a cce p ted th e tas k b ut

.
, ,

s u s pecti ng a ru s e agai ns t h i s life engaged Ak a st o s P e lia s s, ,

’

so n,
to s h a re th e d a ngers of th e a dventu re with h im .

The Vo ya g e of the Ar g o S u mmoning Argos a so n of

.
,

P h r ixo s I a so n b a de hi m b u il d a fi ft y oared s h i p a nd with

,
-
,
“
th e h el p of Ath ene Argos fas h ioned th e most excellent of a ll
” 1
sh ip s th at h ave made tri al of th e se a wit h oa rs a nd n amed ,

i t th e Argo I nto it s p row Ath ene fitted a piece of th e tal ki ng

.

o a k of Zeu s at Dodon a a nd wh en it wa s completed I ason

,

s ent h erald s th rou ghou t G reece a nnou nci ng h i s ex p ed ition .

F rom a l l p arts men h as tened to enrol l themselves a s h is com

p a nions Thei r nu mb er wa s too gre at for u s to c at a logu e them
.

“
h ere b u t we may sa y th at all of t h em were real h eroes th e
, ,
”
c rown of men l i ke gods i n figh t ma ny of whom we h ave met
, ,

i n the m y th s alrea dy recorded B idd ing fa rewell to th e p eo p le

.

of Io lk o s the com p a ny with d rew to th e sea shore a nd bes ide

, ,

th e s h i p h el d a cou nc il i n whic h with one a ccord they elected

I a so n th ei r lea der After a s acrifice to A p ollo i n wh ic h th ey
.

fou nd th e omen s favou rab l e th ey l au nched th e Argo a nd s a iled

,
“
away th rou gh th e G u lf of P a g a sa i to the open Aegea n a nd ,
” 2
th ei r arms s hone i n th e sun li ke fl ames a s th e sh i p s p e d on .

S kirting th e coast th ey h eld fi rst a northwa rd a nd l a ter a n

,

e astward cou rs e u ntil th ey c ame to Lemnos wh ere lived a

, ,

race of women ru led b y Hy p s i p y le who ou t of j ealou sy

, ,

h ad kille d o ff all th ei r h u sb a nds b u t who by th is time wea r y

, ,

of s i ngle existence j o y fu ll y welcome d th e Argo s c rew a nd

,
’

tem p ted th em to delay among them for a s eason With th e .

wea knes s of tru e s a ilors th e men yielded to th eir begui lements

1 10 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOG Y

and lingered many d a y s ; a nd p erh a p s th ey wou ld utterly h av e

forgotten th ei r goal h ad not Hera kles vigorou sly b rou ght t h em
to thei r s enses E mb arking once more they s ai led nort h to
.
,

S a moth ra ce where they acce p ted i niti ation i nto th e s a cre d

,

myste r ies i n order to ensu re t h ems elves a s afe retu rn a n d ,

“
thence they p assed th roug h t h e Helles p ont d ark gleami n g ,
-

”
with e ddies to th e isl a nd of Kyz ik o s t h e l an d of the D o lio n e s
, , .

Here they obtai ned stores a nd i nformation a nd h a d to ward ,

o ff a n attac k of t h e six—armed E arth —born men ma ny of w h om

,

fe l l before the bow of Hera kles After p roceed ing only a s hor t
.

d ist a nce eastward t h ey were b uff eted by h ea d wi nds a n d

,

driven b ac k to a not h er p art of t h e is land Th e s ame D o lio n e s .

who h a d given them food saw t h em l a n d b ut were u nab l e

to recognize th em owi ng to t h e d ista nce a n d ta king t h em fo r ,

p i rates they se t upon th em only to b ring

,
d estru ction u po n

themselves For twelve d ays a nd twelve n ights t h e Argon auts

.

were detai ned h ere by reason of s torms wh ic h ab ated h ow , ,

ever after a s acrifice to Hera W h en t h ey h ad rowed to a poi nt

,
.

on the coast of Mys ia Hera kles a n d Hyl as h is favou rite youth

, , ,

went ashore a nd made th ei r way i nto t h e forest t h e one to get ,

wood a nd th e other to draw water ; b ut a s Hyla s stooped ove r

a s p ring the water—nym p h s won by h is b eauty reac h ed u p a n d
, , ,

d rew h im u nder One who h eard h im c ry ou t ra n an d tol d

.

Hera kles th i nking th at a b east h a d sl ain h im a nd i n va i n t h e

, ,

h ero wan dere d bac k and fort h t h rou g h t h e fores t s earc h ing fo r
th e l ad b eing away so long th at h is friends o n t h e Argo forgot
,

h im a n d p ut to se a wit h ou t h im .

Comi ng next to th e cou ntry of t h e Be b ry k ia n s t h e Argo ,

ma uts were ch allenged by King Am y k o s to c h oos e one of

th ei r number to contend with h im i n boxing a nd P olydeu kes , ,

b ro t h er of Kas tor o ff ere d h imself Figh ting eac h wit h h i s box

, .
,

i ng gau ntlets on th ey smote one a nothe r wit h su ch b lows

,
“
a s wh en sh i wrights with th ei r h ammers sm ite s h i s tim ’
p p
” 3
bers , u ntil a t l a st P ol y deu kes p l ace d a b low s qu a rely o n
Am y k o s s h e a d a nd h e fe l l to th e grou nd wit h h is s ku l l c ru s h ed
’

,
 P L A T E XX V I I I
ME D E I A A T C O R I N T H
o w e st p a n e l B e g i n n i n g at t h e
l e ft t h e s c ul pt o r
(L ) .

h a s de p i c t e d s e rially t h e la s t s c e n e s in Me de ia s li fe at ’

C o ri nth . I n t h e fi rs t sh e di s m i ss e s he r t w o c h il dr e n
,

with t he fatal g i fts fo r G la uk e I n t he s e c o n d t h e

.
,

r i n c e ss w ra p p e d in t h e b urn i n g ro b e an d wit h he r
p ,

hai r a fla m e is w r it h i n g in ag o ny w h il e Kr e o n he r
, , ,

fat h e r sta n ds n e a r he r vi sibly t o rt ure d b y t h e t ho ug ht

, ,

t hat he is un abl e t o he l p h e r Me a n w h i l e t he c h il dre n

.
,

t e rrifi e d at t he havo c w h i c h t h ey h av e w ro ught hast e n ,

t o fi n d t he i r m o t h e r .I n t h e la st s c e n e Me de ia is
st e pp i n g i n t o t h e c h a r i o t draw n by wi n ge d dra go n s
, ,

O p p o rt un e ly s e n t t o he r by he r g r a n dsi re He li o s , .

F ro m a sa rc o p h ag us in Be rli n (Br un n Bruc k m a n n -

,

D e n hm a l e r g i h
r ecischer un d r om sci he r Sculp t ur , N o .

Se e p . 1 15 .
1 12 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LOGY
stood th e city a nd p al ace of Aie t e s while on th e ot h er w as t h e
,

grove she l tering the G ol den Fleece .

T h e go ds now b egan to i ntrigue i n favou r of the Argonauts .

Hera and Athene begu iled A p h rod ite to instil a p assion for
I a so n i n the heart of Nl e de ia one of the d aughters of Aie t e s
,
.

Th is w a s of su p reme moment for th e Argonaut leader s inc e ,

withou t her ass istance h e would h ave been hel p les s before
the tas k wh ich Aie t e s demanded th at h e accom p lis h a s th e
price of the fleece th is requ i rement b eing to ploug h a fiel d
,

with a yoke of bull s with b raze n feet a nd flaming b reat h to ,

so w it with d ragon s teeth

’
a nd t h en to s lay th e a rmed me n
,

th at shoul d spring up from th i s stra nge s eed Now s inc e .

,

Medei a wa s a sorceres s a nd a p riestes s of Hekate sh e co m ,

p ou nded a d ru g wh ic h wou ld render one a nointed with it im

mu ne from fire and i ron for o ne d ay a n d s ec retly meeti ng ,

I a so n sh e gave it to h im After telling one a noth er of th ei r

.

love they p a rted an d at d awn I a so n wit h h is body and a r

, , ,

mou r a nointed wit h Medeia s ch a rm faced t h e ferociou s b ul ls

’
,
.

Th rowi ng th em with ease h e forced t h em to submit to t h e

,

yoke and to p loug h the field a n d w h en t h e wa rriors h a d,

’
s p rung up from th e dragon s teeth s c attered b roadc ast h e ,

h u r l ed a stone i nto thei r midst a s K a dm o s h ad done at T h ebes

, ,

and se t them to killing one a nother He h ad now completed .

h i s tas k u nh a rmed a nd Aie t e s wa s filled with d ismay

, .

As soon as Medei a realized th e full meani ng of w h at s h e h a d

done sh e fle d sec retly to I a so n a nd p romised to h el p h i m wi n
,

the G ol den Fleece i f h e would p ledge h is word to ta ke h e r

with h im to He l l a s a nd ma ke h er h is b ride Acce p ti ng th i s .

con dition I a so n wa s led by her to th e oa k o n w h ic h th e fleece

,

w a s h ung and wh ile sh e ca st a s p el l on th e d ragon h e s na tch ed

, ,

th e p rize a n d fle d with h e r to the Argo They were soon wel l .

out t o se a hot l y p u rs ued by Aie t e s b ut when Medei a sa w h e r

, ,

f a ther dr a wing nea re r sh e resorte d to a c ru el device to ch ec k

,

h im Ki l l ing her b roth er Ap sy r t o s whom sh e h a d ta ken with

.
,

her she scattered h i s severed members over t h e water th u s

, ,
 T HE VO YA G E OF T HE A RGO ”3

forcing Aie t e s th rough h is s ense of p iety to collect th em a nd

, ,

to go a s hore a nd give them p ro p er bu ri a l I n the meantime th e .

Argo h a d ou t d is tanced h im a n d s afely reached th e delta of th e

-

D a nube a nd although a few Ko lc h ia n s ca me u p a little l ater

, ,

th ey were beaten Off .

S ome h ow (i n defia nce of th e geogra p hy of th e region a s it

i s known tod ay ) th e Argon auts ma de thei r way by water to
th e hea d of th e Ad ri atic S e a a nd thence went sout h wa rd to th e
,

i sl a n d of Kerkyra (Corfu ) With h u ma n voice th e Argo now .

s p o ke to them solemn words of wa rning decla ri ng th a t for ,

th e mu rder of Ap sy r t o s th ei r home coming woul d be del ayed -

b y Zeu s u ntil t h ey s houl d reac h Au soni a a nd b e pu rged of th ei r

sin by Ki rke I n s ea rc h of th i s strange la nd th ey s a iled to the
.

rive r Er ida n o s a n d to th e Rho da n o s (Rh one ) b ut wa rned by , ,

Hera avoided th e Rh ine At lengt h t h ey fou nd thei r goal

,
.
,

a nd b ei ng pu rified with j oyfu l h ea rts tu rned their p row towa rd

, ,

Hell as u nder th e s afe gu id a nce of the Nere i ds .

T h e Argona uts rou te led t h em p as t An t h e m o e ssa t h e is lan d

’
,

of t h e S i rens whos e bl a ndishments h owever d id not over

, , ,

come them for t h e song of th ei r com p anion Orph eu s d rowned

,

th e allu ring voices They fared p as t S kyll a a nd Ch aryb dis a n d

.

th e is l a nd of T h r in a k ia with its h erd s of t h e c attle of th e S un

, ,

a n d c ame to t h e l and of th e P h a ia k ia n s I n th i s p lace they .

were met by a b an d of Ko lc h ia n s who dema nded th e r e st o r a

tion of Medei a bu t th e P h a ia k ia n king i nte rvened a s a rb iter
, ,

a nd s a i d th at sh e wou ld b e su rrendered only o n condition

th at sh e were yet u nwedded to I a so n wh ereu p on th e p ai r ,

m a de h aste to b ecome ma n and wife a nd foiled th e Kol

’
ch i ans pl ans After a soj ou rn of ma ny d ays among th e h o s
.

it a b l e Ph a ia k ia n s t h e men of th e Argo resumed thei r j ou r

p ,

ney b ut wh en they were j u st i n s ight of th e Peloponnesos th ey

,

were d riven by a northerly gale a cros s th e se a to Libya and ,

were hel d by th e s h oals of th e S yrtes As I ason wa s won dering .

h ow to extric ate h is sh ip from these d angerou s waters he h ad ,

a fortu nate d ream b eing tol d i n vision t h at h e would se e a

,
1 14 G REE K AN D ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
hors e emerge from th e dee p a nd th at th e Argon au ts ta king ,

their vessel on th eir shou l ders were to follow the s teed wh it h er

,

soever i t might le a d The p rediction c ame tru e a nd for twelve

.
,

d ays a n d twelve n igh ts they were gu ided overlan d by a hors e

to the T r it o n ia n La ke nea r wh ich they fou nd th e Hes p erides
, ,

who informed th em th at Hera kles h a d b een th ere only th e d ay

b efore i n qu est of t h e Golden Ap p les Desi rou s of seeing .

their former comrade they s earc h ed th e wild cou ntry rou n d

,

about bu t wit h no more resu lt th a n to d iscover th at th ey

,

were hopeles sly los t i n a strange l and u ntil i n t h ei r d esp a i r

, , ,

Triton appea red to them and showed t h em t h e way to th e S e a

of Minos .

Reach ing th e se a th ey s ailed to Crete bu t w h en t h ey a t

, ,

tem p ted to l a nd they were b eaten o ff by th e Creta n coa st

p a trol ,
Talos 4
Now . this ma n wa s one of t h e Race of B ronze ,

a nd from h is nec k to each of his a n kles ra n a great vein th e ,

lower end of w h ic h wa s sto p p ed by a b ronze s tu d which wa s ,

h is vu lnerab le spot P utting Ta los u nder a spell Medei a

.
,

d rew ou t a s tu d a nd let h im b leed to d eath After a d elay i n .

Crete of only one d ay th e h eroes h as ten ed p as t Aigin a a n d

Eub o ia a nd soon entered th ei r home port of P a g a sa i from wh ich
the y h a d se t ou t fou r month s before .

The D ea th of P e l i a s Th e en d of t h e voyage i s not th e end

.

of th e story So fa r was th e p e r fidio us P eli a s from yield ing h i s

.

ki ng dom now th at h is conditions h a d b een fulfilled th at h e

even p lotted agains t I ason a nd h is fami ly Aiso n a nd h i s .

wife were d r iven to ta ke thei r own l ives a nd Ia son for s afety s, ,

’

s a ke with dr ew to Corinth where h e d edic ated th e Argo to

, ,

P osei don a n d from wh ere h e never ceased s ending mess a ges to

Me dei a encou r a gi ng h er to d evis e some mea ns of removing
,

P e l i a s According to a nother form of the story Medei a by h er

.
,

m a gic a rts resto r ed both Iason a nd h is fath er to you th th u s ,

a rousing i n th e h ea rts of th e d a ugh ters of P el ias so keen a des i re

th a t th ei r f a th er too shoul d be r ej uven a ted th a t th e sorceres s
, ,

p ro fesse d t o give them a reci p e for th is tra nsformation a nd a

1 16 G REEK AND ROMAN M Y THO LO G Y
great relu ctance to ab a n don a gricu ltu re a s th eir ch ief means of
s ubs istence a n d to ta ke to se a fa ring i ns tead Th e a dventu res
-
.

of the Argonauts are therefore wild exaggerations of th e

, ,

yarns of s a ilors who i n very early times p enetrated the stra nge
,

l a nds of the Mediterra nea n bas i n i nterwoven wit h ma ny

,

genu ine fol k tales

- .
 P L AT E XX I X

PR I AM B E F O RE ACH I LL E S

Ac h ill e s,a b e a rdl e ss y o un g m an hal f r e c li n i ng o n ,

-

a c o uc h b e s i de a tabl e la de n wit h v ia n ds h o l ds in his ,

l e ft ha d a p i e c e o f m e at w h il e w it h his ri ght ha n d he
n

r ai s e s a da gg e r o r a k n i fe t o h is li p s He s e e m s t o b e .

g ivi n g rde rs t o a s lav e in utt e r di s re ga rd o f t he p re s

o

e n c e o f Pr ia m w ho s ta n ds b e fo re h im at t h e h e a d o f
,

a g ro up o f slav e s b e a ri n g a va ri e ty o f g i ft s T he .

b o dy o f He k t o r li e s li m p ly at full l e n gt h b e n e at h t h e
c o uc h I n t h e ba c k g ro un d c a n b e s e e n Ac h ill e s
’
.

s h i e l d wit h it sg org o io C o ri n t h ia n he l m e t q uiv e r a n d

ne n, , ,

so m e
g a rm e n ts F ro m a re d fig ure d skyp hos app a re n tl y
.
-
,

by Bryg o s (e a r ly fi ft h c e nt ury in V i e n n a (F urt

w ang l e r Re ic hho ld G i hisch Va sen m a l r i N o
-
,
r ec e e e , .

Se e p . 1
3 0 .

PELEUS AN D T H ET I s

T hi s w h i c h t he a rti s t has b o l dl y vi o lat e d

sc e n e ,
in
t h e law o f t h e un ity o f ti m e de i c t s t h e att e m t s o f
p p ,

T h e ti s t o e sc a p e f ro m t h e e m b ra c e s o f Pe l e us In t h e .

bac k g o un d t h e go dde ss a p p e a r s in h um an s ha p e w h il e
r
,

he r a ssum p ti o n o f t he f o r m o f a do l p h i n is s ugge st e d
by t he do l p hi n w hi ch she h o l ds in h e r r i ght h a n d T he .

li fi sh b e tw e e n he r a n d Pe l e us t he fla m e o n t he alta r
o n-
, ,

a n d t h e se r e n t ab o ve it s i m ila r ly su g e s t o t h e r o f h e r
p g
'

t a n sf m ati n s T he w o m a n h ur ryi g away t o t he

r or o . n

r i g ht m ay b e a se a ny m p h F ro m a bla c k —fig ure d l hy

- . e

t h s fi ft h c e n t ury B C
(
o
) wit h a w h it e g ro un d fo un d at
. .
,

G la (M um t i A t i hi xvii Plat e X III )

e on en n c Se e
, , .

p . 12 2 .
 C H AP T E R V I I I

T H E T AL E O F T RO Y

HE tale of Troy , l i ke th at of th e Argonauts i s i n it s com ,

p le t e form a tis sue of ma ny s tories woven at su ndry times

abou t a s i ngle great i ncident S ome of th e legends deal with
.

s ecul ar facts di rectly p erti nent to th e i nci dent th e wa r for Troy ,

a nd th e comman d of th e D a rd a nelles S ome a re p l ainly fol k .

tales of a variety of ori gi ns d ragge d i n so to spea k a s em

, , ,

b e llish m e n t s to a n i nteresting theme S ome not wholl y to .

,

b e d i ff erenti ated from th e p receding class a re myths d rawn ,

from certa i n cu lts and ritu a ls a nd others mu s t b e pu rely con

,

sciou s i nventions T h e tale of Troy i s not a d rama b u t rath er

.
,

a great treasu ry of d rama s a nd mos t of its personages bot h

, ,

h u ma n an d d ivi ne h ave been m ade known to us i n scenes a l

,

rea dy portrayed We mu st now mars h a l th e h u ma n personages

.

by families a nd s ketch those p a rts of t h eir h istories w h ich i n ,

comb in ation led u p to t h e great wa r

,
.

The Ho use of D a r da n o s D a r da n o s a so n of Zeus l ived i n

.
, ,

t h e is la n d O f S a moth race wit h h is b rother I as ion w h o wa s ,

stru c k dea d by a thu nderbolt for a s h amefu l crime wh ile ,

D a r da n o s i n grief left h is home a nd estab lis hed a new one on

, ,

t h e As i ati c mai nl an d nea r th e mou th of th e Helles p ont Find .

i ng favou r with T e uk ro s th e king of t h e l and h e wa s given a

, ,

tract i n wh ich h e b u ilt a city ca lled after h imself and l ater ,

h e i n h erited th e sovereignty a nd ch anged th e n ame of th e

enti re cou ntry to D a rd a ni a After h im th e th rone w a s occu p ied
.

su ccessively by a so n Er ic h t h o n io s a nd by a gra ndson Tros who

, ,

saw fit to c al l th e cou ntry Troi a Th i s Tros h a d th ree sons

.
,

G anymedes Assar a k o s a nd I los T h e fi rst while s till a you t h

, ,
.
, ,
 1 18 G REEK AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY

w as loved b y Zeu s for h is beau ty a nd was ca rried away b y a n

e a g l e to Ol y m p os where he bec ame t h e c up bearer of the king
,
-

of the gods Assa ra k o s is known c hiefly th rough h is d escend

.

a nts ; a gra ndson Anch ises became by A p h rodite th e fat h er

, ,

of the great Ain e ia s I n a wrestling contest i n P h rygi a Ilos won

.

a s a p rize fifty youth s a nd fifty maidens a nd received from t h e ,

king of the cou ntry a s p otted heifer wh ich h e wa s d i rected to

follow u ntil it shou ld lie down ; o n th at s p ot h e wa s to es tab
lis h a city I n accorda nce with t h es e d i rections h e fou nded
.

I lion a nd after p raying for a s ign of t h e a p p rova l of Zeus h e

, ,

d is covered sta nding before h is tent t h e p alladion a n image o f ,

Pallas Athene of almos t huma n s ize B u ilding a s h ri ne h e .

,
’

p l aced the s ta tu e with in it a s a symbol of h i s c ity s life a nd at ,

h is death the c hief au thority w a s left i n t h e h a nds of h i s so n

La omedon whom Hera kles afte rwa rd killed for h is failu re to
,

kee p h is word .

With I lo s s so n P o da r k e s l ater known a s Pria mos (Pri am )

’
, ,

begins the im p orta nt p a rt of t h e h is tory of I lion or Troy .

P ria m fi rs t wedded Arisbe and afte r wa rd He k a b e (i n Latin

, ,

Hecub a ) the d aughter of K isse us (o r Dymas o r S a n g a rio s)

, ,
.

The first ch ild th at He k a b e gave h i m was the migh ty Hektor ,

but when sh e w a s abou t to b ri ng a not h er i nfa nt i nto t h e world ,

sh e d reamed th at sh e h a d given b i rth to a fl aming torch wh ic h

fi red a nd consumed I lion a nd th is vis ion a reader of d reams

,

i nter p reted to mea n th at th e b abe would destroy h is native

city P ri a m i n fe a r of the s ign h a d h im exposed immedi ately
.
, ,

a fter b irth on th e s lo p es of Mou nt I da b ut a s t h e Fates wou ld

, ,

h ave it he was first nou rished by a sh e bea r and was t h en fou n d

,
-
,

b y a h erdsm a n who reared h im till h e h a d atta ined the yea rs

,

of manhood The n a me fi rst given to h im wa s Pa ris but for

.
,

h i s s uccess i n wa r ding o ff robbe rs from th e fold s a nd for h i s

“
be a uty it was ch ange d to Alexa n dros ( Defender of Men
I t h a p p ened th a t a f a vou rite bul l oc k of his h erd wa s sent to
P ri a m a s a victim for a s ac rifice wh ic h t h e king was to o ffe r
for the ve ry so n whom h e h a d ex p osed b u t Pa ri s followed t h e ,
12 0 G REE K AND RO MAN MYT HO LO G Y

so that in th e race wi th P e l o p s Oin o m a o s wa s t h rown a nd , ,

c aught i n th e reins was d ragged to h is death With Hippo

,
.

da m e ia P elops s ailed to h is home i n Argos wh ere t h ere ,

we re afterwa rd born to t h em among other sons Atreu s a n d

, ,

Th y estes .

For the s ins of T a n t alo s a n i nevitab le cu rse of family s tri fe

a n d b loods hed followed al l the generations of h i s hou s e .

Un known to Atreu s h i s wife yielded h erself a nd h er a ff ections

,

to T h y estes Now Atreu s h ad p romised to s acrifice to Artemi s

.

the mos t beautifu l a nimal th at s hou ld b e fou n d among h i s

floc ks but when one of h is ewes gave b i rt h to a golden lamb
,
1
,

h e greedily coveted th e p reciou s c reatu re a nd stra ngling i t ,

h id it s body i n a ches t th at th e goddes s migh t not se e i t .

B es ides h imself only h is wife knew of th is l amb w h ich h e

, ,

seemed to rega rd a s th e emb lem of th e ki ngsh i p at Mykena i ,

a nd sh e p rivily gave i t to Thyestes who th ereby s ecu red th e,

th rone P rompted by Zeu s Atreu s made a p act with h i s

.
,

b rother t h at if th e su n shou l d b e s een to revers e its u su a l

cou rs e th e kings h i p wa s to revert to h imself One morning
,
.

the sun ch a nced to be i n total ecli p s e I nter p reting th is a s .

the setting of th e sun i n th e east Thyestes yielded to Atreus

, ,

a nd then when a ll h is i niqu ity wa s revealed wa s exp elled

, ,

from th e cou ntry S ome ti me afterwa rd u nder t h e gui se of a

.
,

reconci l i a tion Atreu s rec alled h im b u t actu ally i t was i n

, ,

order to wrea k a mos t revolting revenge for h e killed T h yes tes ,

’

ch i l d ren a n d served thei r cooked fles h to thei r p a rent a nd i n ,

th e mi dst of th e mea l with ghou lis h s atis faction made known

, ,

to the father th e natu re of th e food Th y estes fl ed p lotting .

,

revenge i n h is tu rn a nd a n oracle decl a red to h im th at h i s

,

des i re wou l d be realized th rou gh a so n whom h e shou ld b eget

b y h is own d augh ter His s p i ri t reb elling at th e thoug h t h e
.
,

endeavou red b y al l p ossib l e mea ns to avoid b ri nging th e o ra cle

to fu l filment eve n though h e shou l d lose h i s kingdom Destiny
, .

w a s a g a inst h im however for Aig ist h o s a so n of u nwitting

, , ,

inces t restore d h im to M y kena i wh ere h e ruled u ntil d rive n

, ,
 P L A T E XXX
T H E S AC R I F I C E OF I P H I G EN EI A

D i o m e de s an d O dy ss e us ,a s t ro n gly b uilt b e a rde d ,

m a n a re c a rryi n g I p h ig e n e ia t o t he alta r fai n tly vi s ibl e

,

at t he r i gh t o f t h e s c e n e T he m ai de n rai s e s h e r
.

h a n ds t o wa rd h e r fat he r Aga m e m n o n t h e v e il e d p e r
, ,

so n a e t o t h e l e ft in a la s t a pp e al fo r he l p B e tw e e n
g ,
.

h e r an d t he alta r t o w e rs t h e fo re b o di n g fi g ur e o f Ka l
c h a s c la d i n h is c e re m o n ial ro b e s a n d m e ditativ e ly
,

h o l di n g t h e s a c r i fi c ial k n i fe i n his r ai s e d r i gh t ha n d .

Hi gh in a ba c k g ro un d o f c l o ud a n ym p h is l e a di n g a
de e r t o Art e m i s w h o s e i m a g e fla n k e d b y h un ti n g
, ,

do g s sta n ds o n t he c o l um n b e s i de Aga m e m n o n
, .

F ro m a Po m p e ia n wall p ai n ti n g (He rm a n n Bruc k

- -

m ann D ,
hm l
en a er d Ma ler i d s Alt er t ums N o
er e e , .

S e e pp . 1 2 5- 2 6 .
 T HE T A L E OF T RO Y 12 1

ou t by At re us s sons Agamemnon a nd Me n e lao s aided by

’
, ,

T y nd areos of S p a r ta Th es e two sons married d aughters of

.

Tynd a reos ; the former took K lyt a im e st ra a nd ru led at My

kena i a nd th e l atter wedded Helen a nd su cceeded h i s fat h e r
,

i n —law o n th e th rone of S p a rta .

The Ho use of Ai a hos After h er removal to t h e isl a nd of

.
—

O in o n e as we h ave rea d i n th e ta les of Cori nth th e nym p h

, ,

Aigi n a bore to Zeu s a so n n amed Aia k o s Noticing th at h e .

wa s withou t comp a nions h is father tu rning the a nts of t h e

, ,

i s la nd i nto h uma n b eings ma de Aia k o s th eir king a nd by a, ,

p lay on th e Gree k word fo r a nt these a nt men were -

known a s Myrmi dons B y a firs t m a rri age Aia k o s h a d two

.

sons ,
Peleu s a n d Tel amon a n d by a second a nother so n , , ,

P h o k o s Of a ll men of th at age Aia k o s was th e most devoted

.

to th e wors h ip of th e gods a nd so de a r wa s h e to t h em o n th at
,

a ccou nt th at when a fami ne c ame u p on Hellas th ey removed it ,

i n a nswer to h is s upplic ation a lone wh ile after death h e wa s ,

a ccorded a h igh p lace i n th e ki ng dom of H a des .

S p u rred o n b y j ea lou sy P eleu s a nd Tela mo n killed t h ei r

,

b rother P h o k o s a nd for th ei r c rime were s ent i nto exile .

Tel amon took refu ge i n t h e is la nd of S al amis w h ere l ater h e ,

b ecame ki ng a n d m arried i nto th e l i ne of P elops t h e fru it of ,

th is u nion being th e h ero Ai as (Aj ax) Afterwa rd Telamon .

a ccom p anied Hera kles o n h i s ex p e dition agains t Troy a nd a s ,

a reward fo r h i s se rvices received Hes ione by whom h e became ,

th e father of T e uk r o s .

P eleu s m ade h i s way to Ph th i a i n Th ess a ly a nd there won

th e king s d a u ghter a n d a portion of l a nd Accidentally killing
’
.

h i s fath er in l aw h e h a stened to I o l k o s wh ere Ak a st o s p u rged

- -
, ,

h i m of h i s pollu tion a n d w h ere too Ak a st o s s wife made th e

, , ,
’

same ch a rge aga i nst h im th at P r o it o s s wife h a d alleged aga inst

’

B ellerophon Ak a st o s b elieved th e tale a s w a s only too n at

.
,
’
ural but fearing to ta ke Peleu s s life o p enly resorted to ma ny
,

u nderh a nded p lots although i n th e end Peleu s wa s s aved by

,

th e Centau r Ch ei ron an d from th at d ay t h ese two were fa st

,
12 2 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
friends B ecoming en amou red of th e se a nym p h Th etis t h e
.
-
,

d aughter of Nereu s a nd fi ndi ng h imself b a ffl e d by h er power

,

to a ssume a ny sh a p e sh e wish ed h e wa s cou nselled by t h e ,

wise Chei ron to seize her a n d defy h er elu s ivenes s T h is h e did .

,

a nd though sh e became now fi re now water a n d now b east h e , , ,

clung to h er u ntil resuming h er norma l form sh e consented

, ,

to ma rri a ge a nd they were wedded o n hi o un t P elion i n th e

,

p resence of all the gods w h o gave t h em ,

m any p riceles s gifts .

I n du e time a so n was born to Peleu s a nd T h eti s a nd to ,

c leans e h im of h is i nheritance of mortality h i s mot h er wou l d

b ath e h im i n amb ros i a by d ay a nd p as s h im t h rou gh fi re by
n ight but Peleu s protested at th e h ars h nes s of t h e treatment
, ,

a nd Thetis offended retired to h er h ome i n t h e se a Peleu s

, ,
.

p l a ced the i nfa nt i n th e ca re of Chei ron who fed h im on t h e ,

flesh and ma rrow of wild b easts a nd gave h im t h e n a me of ,

Ach illes becau s e h i s lips h ad not tou c h ed a moth er s b reas t ’

“ ”
b y a fals e etymology with not a nd
’

( ct
x e ik o s
, ,

trai ning him too i n th e h u nt a nd i n those spo rts t h at develop

, ,

th e p eculia r strength and b eauty of a man When th e boy wa s .

nine yea rs old Kalch as the p rop h et foretold t h at if h e wen t

, , , ,

with th e G ree ks against Troy h e s hou l d s u rely d ie th ere ; a n d ,

yet h e s aid th e Hellenes cou l d not conqu er t h e city withou t

, ,

h im Th rou gh a strange i nfatu ation Th etis h oped to evad e th e

.

p rop h ec y a nd sent Ach illes d res sed a s a gi rl to t h e cou rt o f

, ,

Ly k o m e de s king of S kyros where h e remai ned for s ix yea rs

, ,
.

At th e end of th is time Odys seu s w a s deputed by t h e G reeks

to go to S kyros a nd b ring Ach illes to Troy b u t t h e you ng ma n s ,
’

d isgu ise s afely concealed h im for a wh ile At length t h e wily .

O dy s seu s h a d h i s men b low a lou d ala rm of trumpets wh en ,

out i nto th e mai n h a l l of th e p al ace ru sh ed Ach illes who ,

th inking a n enem y wa s u p on th em t h rew o ff h i s feminine

ga rb a nd donned h is armou r Now th at h is i dentity w a s e s .

t a b l ish e d h e was easily p ersu aded by Odys seu s to espous e

,

th e c a use of th e G reeks a nd wit h h is bosom friend P a t ro k lo s

,

h e j oine d th e h os t at Au lis .
12 4 G RE EK AN D ROMAN MYTHO LOG Y
a dmitted h is p retence but though h e consented to thei r re
,

quest he ever a fter bore a grudge aga inst P a lamedes .

The K yp r i a ; Tr a diti o n a l Ca uses of the Wa r

“
T h ere wa s .

a time when thou s a n ds u p on thous a nds of men cu mb ered th e

b ro a d bosom of earth Havi ng p it y o n them Zeu s i n h i s great
.
,

wis dom reso l ved to lighten ea rth s b u rden S o h e caus ed t h e ’

.

s trife a t I l ion to the e nd th at th rough deat h h e might ma ke a

void i n th e r a ce of men ; a n d the h eroes p eris he d thu s b ri nging ,
”
to p as s the will of Zeu s I n these words the late epi c known
.

a s the Kyp r i a with a n a lmost modern politica l c as u istry

2
, ,

traces the c a u se of th e wa r b ac k to over p o p ulation I ns tea d .

of solving th e p roblem by thu nderbolt and flood Zeu s decided ,

to use a much les s di rect method F irs t of all h e b rou ght abou t .

the ma rriage of T hetis with the morta l P eleu s a nd then h e ,

begat a d aughter Helen who wa s so b eau tifu l t h at i t cou ld

,

be s a i d of h er :

h s t ro n g m e n s e y e s; sh e sn a r e t h t al l
’
She sn a r e t

C i ti e s; a n d fi r e f ro m o ut h e r e at e t h up
Ho u se s Such m a g i c h at h sh e , a s a c up
.

Of de at h
” 3
.

I n b rief she w a s a troub le ma ker by b irt h I nto th e midst of

,
- .

the gods gathered at th e wed ding of P eleu s Zeu s s ent Eris

, , ,

who sti rre d up a qu a rrelsome deb a te a mong Hera Athene an d , ,

A p h ro dite as to wh ich of t h em was th e most beau tifu l ; a nd

,

Zeu s knowing th at woma n li ke they coul d never settle th e

, ,
-
,

question of themselves h a d them a p pea r o n Mou nt Id a before

,

P a ris a s a rb iter .

An d t h i s P a r i s j u dg e d b e n e at h t he t re e s
T h re e C ro w n s o f Li fe t h re e div e r se G o dde s se s
, .

T h e g i f t o f P all a s w a s o f W a r t o l e a d ,

His E a st in c o n q ue r i n g b a ttl e s a n d m a k e bl e e d ,

T h e h e a r t h s o f He lla s He r a h e l d a T h ro n e
.

I f m aj e sti e s h e c r av e d t o re i g n al o n e

F ro m Ph ryg i a t o t he la st r e al m o f t h e W e st .

An d C y p r i s i f h e de e m e d h e r l o v e l i e st
, ,
 P LA T E X XX I
HE K T O R T A K I N G L E AV E OF AN D R O M ACH E

O w i ng to it s la c k o f fe e li n g
t h i s sc e n e is a n i ma de
q u at e ill us t rati o n o f t h e fa m o us e p i s o de i n t h e s ixt h

b o o k o f t h e Ilia d T h e c e n t ral fi gure s a re O f c o urs e

.
, ,

He k t o r a n d An dro m a c h e Be hi n d t he fo r m e r his
.

dr iv e r K e b rio n e s is m o un t e d o n o n e o f t h e t w o c h a r i o t
h o r s e s w h il e b e hi n d t he latt e r s ta n d Pa r i s a n d He l e n
, .

T he fi g ure s a p p ro a c h i n g f ro m t h e s i de s a re n o t n a m e d .

F ro m a Ch a lk idia n é r t r o f ab o ut 5 50 B C in
a e . .
,

W ii rz b urg (F ur t w ii n g le r Re ic hh o ld G r iechische Va sen

-
,

m a le r ei , No . Se e p . 120 .
 T HE TA LE OF T RO Y 12 5

Beyo n d all h e av e n m a de dr e a m s ab o u t m y f a c e
,

An d fo r h e r g r a c e g av e m e [ i e He l e n ] An d 10 !
. . .
, h e r g r a ce
W a s j udg e d t he f ai re s t a n d sh e s t o o d ab o v e
,

T h o se twai n
” 4
.

P a ri s t h en awa rded A p h ro dite t h e apple i nscribed with th e

“ ”
legend To t h e most bea utifu l
,
.

At th e s uggestion of the goddes s w h om h e h a d h onou red

P a ri s bu i lt a sh i p a n d with f a ir omens went to S p a rta where ,

h e wa s cou rteous ly entertai ned D u ri ng a n abs ence of Mene

.

l aos however h e th rew th e l aws of hos p it a lity to th e wi n ds

, , ,

m ad e love to Helen and a t l ast with her ful l consent c arried

, , ,

h er away i n h i s s h ip along with her j ewels a nd h a n dm a idens ,

l a nding h er i n Troy after a deviou s a n d stormy vo y age .

When Me n e l ao s dema nded h er return a nd w a s refused h e ,

rememb ere d the o ath sworn by h is fellow su itors a nd resolved -

to i nvo ke thei r ai d i n a war of p u nis h ment ; wherefore with ,

h i s b rother Agamemnon of M y ken ai h e gathere d together ,

th e C h ieftai ns of t h e G ree ks a nd se t s ai l from Au lis T h ey .

l a nded first o n the coa st of T e ut h r a n ia wh ich th ey a ttac ked,

u n der th e im p ress ion th at it wa s Troy a nd here it was th at ,

T e le p h o s the so n of Au ge a nd Hera kles w a s sorely wou nded

, ,

by the s p ea r of Ach illes When the Gree ks endeavou red to

.

s ail thence to th ei r p roper desti n a tion they were caught by ,

a s torm a nd driven b a c k to th eir home coasts Agai n Me n e l a o s .

m ars h alled them at Au lis b ut th is time h e too k th e p re c a u

,

tion of s ecu ri ng some one to gu ide t h em straigh t to thei r goal ,

a n d su ch a leader was p resent i n th e p erson of T e l e p ho s who , ,

out of gratitu d e for h aving h is wou nd h ealed by t h e s ame s p ea r

with wh ich it h a d b een c a used consented to serve th e G reeks
,
.

At Au lis Agamemnon killed a s acred h i nd of Artemis a nd th e

goddes s i n a nger s ent on th at great host storms a nd desp ai r
” 5
of s ailing ,
w h ereu p on Kalch a s consu lted the omen s a nd
m ade known to Agamemnon th at h e cou l d not ob t a i n fai r
wind s u nti l h is d au ghter I p h ig e n e ia s houl d b e s acrificed on th e
a lta r of Artemis S h ri n ki ng from t h e tas k of ta king th e maiden
.
126 G REE K AND RO MAN M YTHO LO G Y
from h er mother Agamemnon d epu ted i t to Odys seu s w h o
, , ,

s h a meless l y re p resenting th a t sh e wa s to become th e b ride of

Ach illes le d her away from Mykenai J ust a s h er blood wa s
,
.

about to be s p ilt on th e altar however Artemis p ut a deer i n , ,

he r p lace a nd bore h er away u nseen to th e l a nd of t h e b a rb a

rous T au ri where sh e bec a me a p riestess i n h er s ervice Then
,
.

the seas b ecame calm a nd the fleet se t s ail ,

.

On thei r way th e Gree ks touched at Tenedos w h ere P h ilo ,

k t e t e s the p ossessor of the bow of Hera kles received on th e

, ,

foot a ser p ent s b ite wh ich developed i nto so loathsome a sore

’

th a t he h a d to be removed from Lemnos At lengt h th e a rmy .

came to the shores of Troy a nd fou nd thei r la nding d isputed

by the Troj a ns D es irou s to a cqu i re t h e fame of being th e
.

fi rst to land althoug h it meant certa i n de ath Protes il aos one

, , ,

of the y ou nger h eroes lea p ed a s h ore a nd fel l then a nd th ere

,

b efore th e spear of He ktor When t h e tidings of h is u ntimely .

de a th reac h ed h i s you ng b ride Lao dam e ia sh e b esoug h t th e ,

gods th at for th ree hou rs h er h u sb a nd be restored to h er .

They h ea rd h er p rayer b u t so great wa s h er grief at th e hou r

,

of h i s fi nal dep artu re to Hades th at i n d espa i r sh e made a n

image of h im a nd find i ng no comfort i n it took h er own
,

l ife Unable to a s s ail Troy d irectly wit h a ny ch a nces of suc

.

ces s th e G ree ks s ac ked many of t h e Troj a ns su p ply c ities a nd

,
’

c a p tu re d much booty After one of thes e raid s Ach illes r e

.

c e iv e d a s h is p rize a maiden B rise i s a nd Agamemnon a nother , ,

m aiden Ch rysei s a d augh ter of Ch ryses a p ries t of A p ollo ;

'

, , ,

a nd it wa s th rough th e p resence of thes e maidens i n th e c amp

th a t th e great wrath of Ach illes wa s kindled with s u c h momen
tous consequences for th e G ree ks .

The I l ia d T h e p oet of the Kyp r i a gat h ered u p the legends

.

desc ribing th e events of th e wa r p rior to th e a ction of t h e I li a d

of Homer The th eme of the I l i a d o n t h e contrary i s one e p i
.
, ,

sode a l one the Wrath of Ach illes t h oug h i t h as been so

, ,

tre a te d th a t by s ki l ful a llus ions it gives glim p ses of ea rlie r

h a p p enings of the wa r ; a n d i n th is way the rec ital of t h e poem
12 8 G REE K AND ROMAN M YT HO LOG Y
mingled deeds of b ravery a nd rec kles s nes s P a n da r o s
b a t a n t s to .

th e Troj a n l ightly wou nded Me n e l ao s a nd l ater th e vali a nt ,

D iomedes a s h e stormed a cros s th e pl ai n a nd D iomedes i n , ,

h is tu rn stung to rage by h i s p ai n s tru c k both Aph rodite a n d

, ,

Ares u ntil thei r d ivine b lood flowed from gapi ng wou nds ,

wh ile A p ollo resentful a t the i nsolence of a mortal rou s ed th e

, ,

Troj a ns to still greater resista nce T h i s climax of h u ma n

.

ferocity however wa s relieved by s cenes of tendernes s a n d

, ,

affection more ch aracteristic of peace t h a n of wa r for w h e n ,

Glau kos a nd D iomedes were abou t to j oi n i n comb at t h ey dis

covere d th at thei r fathers h ad b een a ssoci ated in friends h i p
years before Forthwith t h ey exch a nged a rmou r a nd vowed
.

to avoid one another thenceforth i n t h e fiel d of b attle a n d ,

though Glau kos gave gold armou r for b ronze for friends h ip s ,
’

s a ke h e kept h idden with i n h is h eart a ny regret h e mig h t h ave

felt Hektor retu rning to th e b attle took a b rave sol dier s
.
, ,
’

f a rewell of h is wife And romach e a nd of h i s c h ild Astya nax i n

“
words th at none c a n ever forget : D ear one I p ray t h ee b e not ,

of over sorrowful h eart ; no ma n aga i nst my fate s h all h u rl

-

me to H a des ; only desti ny I ween no m a n h at h es caped b e

, , ,
” 7
h e cow a r d or b e he valiant wh en onc e h e h at h b een born
, .

Books VI I XI I Even t h e god s grew wea ry of t h i s fru it

—
.
-

less rn 2lée a nd seeking to end it t h ey cau sed Hektor a n d Ai a s

to fight i n s ingle comb at u ntil a tru ce wa s estab l ish ed for th e
two a rmies D u ring th e a rmis tice t h e Troj ans u rged Pa ri s
.

to give Helen u p but h e wou l d consent only to a compromis e

, ,

th e su rrender of h er wealth with t h e a dd ition of some of h i s

own An o ff er to thi s effect th e G reeks s cornfully rej ected a nd
.

p re p a red to c a rry t h e wa r to t h e b itter end so t h at o n th e ,

next d ay th e b attle b ega n afresh a nd so t h reatening were t h e

,

ass aults of the Troj ans th at Ag a memnon fearful of h is c au s e , ,

sent a n emb assy to Ach illes bea ring a confes s ion of wrong a nd
p romises of amends B ut neither confessions nor p romises
.

moved th e wrath ful man who even h a rdened h i s h eart t h e

,

more Th e ho p es of th e G reeks fell onl y to b e revived th at

.
,
 P LAT E X XX I I
Ac H I L LEs AN D T H ERS I T Es

T he m o st i s fe at ure s o f t h i s rat he r de
c o n sp c uo u

tail e d c o m p o s iti o n de p i c t a sc e n e fro m t h e Ait hiop is .

Ac h ill e s ta un t e d by T h e rs it e s fo r b e i n g t o uc he d w ith
,

p yit fo r t h e f all e n Pe n t h e sil e a h a s draw n his s w o r d a n d

,

b e h e a de d his a n n o ye r w ho s e m utilat e d b o dy is s e e n
,

l yi n g in t he l o w e r fo re gro un d T he e l de r ly Pho in ix
.
,

r l e x e d at t h e o c c ur re n c e s ta n ds n e a r Ac h ill e s in
p pe ,

t h e fa a de A b o v e t h e i r h e a ds h a n g va r i o us a cc o ut re
c .

m e n t s o f w a r a n d b e fo re t h e m o n t h e g ro un d n e a r
,

T h e rs it e s b o dy a r e se v e ral o v e rt urn e d u t e n si l s e m
’

b l e m at ic o f a sc e n e o f vi o l e n c e F ro m a la rge So ut h
.

I talia n a mphor a o f t he fo urt h c e n t ury B C in t he . .

,

Muse um o f Fi n e Art s Bo st o n (p hotog r aph) S e e

, .

I O
p .
3 .
 T HE TA LE OF T RO Y 12 9

very nig h t by a su ccessfu l rai d of D iomedes a nd O dy sseu s withi n

th e T roj a n li nes On th e morrow howe v er fo r tu ne went onc e
.
, ,

more agains t them for Agamemnon Diomedes a nd Od y s seu s

, , ,

were al l wou nded a nd th e G reeks withou t t h ei r a id were force d

,

to retreat to th e l ine of th eir sh i p s .

Books XI I I XVI I I
—
Wh en Agamemnon wa s on the p oi nt
.
—

of orderi ng h is followers to lau nch t h e sh i p s a nd withd raw

h ome P oseidon c ame to h i s hel p a nd b reathed strength a nd
,

valou r i nto th e hearts of Ai as th e so n of Tel a mon a nd Ai a s

, , ,

th e so n of Oileu s At t h e h ea d O f t h e G reeks th ese two

.

wou nded He ktor a nd rou ted h i s fellow warriors ; bu t thei r -

glory w a s b rief for Hektor wa s revived by Apollo a nd led h i s

,

men i n a cou nter atta c k wh ich b rought th em once more to

-

th e s h i p s Thereu pon P a t ro k lo s tried to persu ad e Ach illes

.

to forego h i s anger a n d rally th e G reeks a nd failing i n thi s ,

’
h e borrowed Ach illes a rmou r a nd im p etuou sly ru shed i nto the
b attle h imself s catteri ng th e foe before h im u nti l h e fell a
,

victim to th e wea p ons of He ktor a n d t h e gu ile of A p ollo .

He ktor despoiled h im of h i s famou s a rmou r bu t t h e Greeks ,

’
after a long stru ggle obtained pos ses sion of h is body Ach illes .

grief ki ndled wit h i n h im a h atred of th e Troj ans great enough

to qu ench h i s wrat h at Aga memnon a nd u nbu r dening h i s ,

h eart to Th etis sh e b rou g h t h i m a m a rvellou s se t of armou r

newly ma de for h im i n t h e forges of Heph a istos at th e s ight of ,

w h ic h th e spi rit of vengeance c ame u pon h im .

Books XIX XXIV —

T h e next morning Ac h illes appeared
.
—

“
before t h e G reeks s aying : I will now stay my anger I t
,
.

b eseems me not ever implacab ly to b e wroth : bu t come rous e

speedily to th e fight t h e flo w in g h ai red Ach ai ans th at I may
,
-
,

go fo rt h a gai nst th e men of Troy a nd pu t them agai n to the

” 3
p roo f . With th es e word s h e s allied out to b attle sl aying ,

many of t h e Troj a n h eroes a n d pu rsu ing m any ot h ers i nto th e

waters of t h e river S k a m a n dro s wh ich wh en it tu rned on
, ,

h im h e qu elled wit h t h e fi r e s of He p h aistos T h e Troj an c au se

,
'
.

s eemed los t a n d to s ave it Hektor des p ite Pri am s entreaties

’

, , , ,
1 30 G REEK AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
ste p p ed forth from the c ity gates face to face wit h the v ic
t o r io us Ach i l les S truc k su ddenly with fea r h owever th e
.
, ,

Troj a n h ero tu rned a nd fled wh ile Ach illes pu rsu ed h im once

, , ,

twice a nd th rice a rou n d th e walls a nd th en b roug h t h i m to

, ,

th e grou n d dea d a fter wh ich h e mutilated t h e body a nd

, , ,

b i nd ing it to h is ch a riot d ragged i t i n th e d us t w h ile Pri a m

a nd Andromache looke d down from t h e wa lls of Troy On h i s .

return to t h e cam p h e d u ly b u rned th e body of P a t ro k lo s a nd

held funera l games a nd moved by th e tender a p p ea l of Th etis
, ,

h e yielded th e body of Hektor to Pri am b es ides a llowing t h e ,

Troj a ns a truce of twelve d ays i n w h i c h to perform t h e bu ria l

rites of th ei r noble defender .

The Ai thi op is; 9

The D ea th of Achilles Ar k t in o s of Mile
.

tos the oldes t G ree k epi c poet definitely known wrote t h e

, ,

Aithio p is a s a ch ronicle of th e events of th e war from th e deat h

of Hektor to th e death of Ach illes Ac h illes h imself b roadly .
,

treated a nd not one of h is moods was the t h eme of th e poem

, , ,

a nd consequently the scenes were rat h er mech a nica lly stru ng

together withou t es sentia l u nity .

At the begi nning of the e p ic th e Am azon Pent h es ilea wa s , ,

re p resented as coming to th e su p p ort of th e Troj ans Ac h illes .

b attled with her a s thou gh sh e h ad b een a ma n a nd killed h er ,

bu t th e sight of her b eau ty a s sh e lay f a lle n b e fo r e h im awa kened

h is remorse Thers ites ob served i t a nd moc ked h i m for h i s
.

wea knes s but wit h a t h rus t of h i s sword Ach illes s mote h i m

,

de a d wh ile th e G reeks d ivided a mong th emselves a s to the

, ,

j u stice of th e dee d became i nvolved i n a dissension t h at wa s

,

not hea l ed u ntil Ac hilles w a s ritu ally washed of h i s sin i n

Lesbos Another a lly now j oined th e defenders of Troy
.

Memnon a ne p hew of P ri am a nd t h e so n of EOS a nd T it ho n o s

, ,

who c ame from Ait hio p ia Li ke Ach illes h e wore a rmou r

.
,

cu riou s l y f a sh ione d by He p h ais tos b u t he wa s i nferior to th e

,

G ree k i n he a d a n d h a nd a nd fel l b efore h im al though at th e , ,

s u p p lic a tion of Eo s Zeu s grante d h im immortalit y Ach illes

, .
,

j u st a s he w a s about to fo l low up h is victory with t h e rou t of

1 32 G REEK AND RO MAN M Y THO LOGY
contest to decide the futu re owners h ip of t h e weapons W ith .

t h e h elp of Athene Odys seu s won t h em a nd so sore a wou n d ,

was th is to the p ride of Ai a s t h at h e b ecame a raving madma n

a nd s lew h imself B y mea ns of a n amb u sc ade Odys seus c a p
.

t ur e d Helenos a so n of Pria m who wa s gifted wit h p roph ecy

, ,

a nd obliged h im to foreca st th e outcome of t h e wa r When .

h is a nswer wa s th at Troy wou l d fall b efore t h e bow of Hera kles ,

D iomedes went to Lemnos a nd by b la nd ish ments a nd wiles

b rought b ac k wit h h i m P h ilo k t e t e s who h a d t h e bow a nd
, ,

after Ph ilo k t e t e s wou nd h a d been h ealed by Ma c h aon h e

’
,

strode out to th e b attle W it h a n arrow from t h e great bow

.

Pa ri s fell mortally wou nded Only Oin o n e h i s form er wife

.
, ,

wa s i n a pos ition to a id h im b ut sh e too k adva ntage of t h i s

,

op p ortu nity for revenge a nd let h im die ; a nd after Me n e l ao s

h ad spitefully abu sed t h e body t h e Troj ans gave i t b u ri al
, .

N e Op t o le m o s (or P yr r ho s) th e so n of Ac h illes wa s now

, ,

b rought from h i s h ome i n S kyros to b uttres s t h e G ree k c au se ,

a nd t h rough h i s valou r t h e enemy were s ealed wit h i n t h ei r

wa lls Craftily Odyss eu s m ade h i s way with i n t h e c ity a nd
.

a fter sl ayi ng severa l Troj an s retu rned s afely wit h t h e s ac red

p al la dion on w h ic h t h e Troj a ns fortu nes h u ng Now Epeios
’
.
,

i nstru cted by Athene h ad ma de a h uge h ollow h ors e of wood

, ,

in wh ic h were h idden fifty of th e most valia nt of t h e Gree k

wa rriors w h ile the res t were ordered to wit h d raw to Tenedos
, ,

leaving t h e h ors e before th e gates of Troy W h en t h ey were .

gone th e c itizens th i n king th at t h ei r troub les were ended

, , ,

emerged from thei r gates a nd gath ered abou t t h e h orse b u t ,

were mu ch puzzled by th e i nscri p tion w h ic h it bore : A th an k

o ff ering from t h e Hel lenes to Athene for t h ei r h ome retu rn -
.

Wa s th i s tru e or was i t only a rus e ? T h os e who believed i t to

,

b e a tric k spoke for destroying th e h orse Lao k o On a p riest .

, ,

th ru st a spea r i nto it s s ide a nd at t h e h ollow sou nd given b ac k

,

p ronou nce d i t G ree k guile b u t s hortly afte rwa rd two se r

,

p ents c a me out of the se a a nd c ru she d h i m a nd h is two sons

to de a th Helen wa l ked about the h ors e imitating t h e voices
.
 P L A T E XXX I I I
T HE D EAT H OF AI G I S T H OS

T he p e rs o n age s o f t h i s t ra g i c ep i s o de i dentifi e d
a re

b y t h e n a m e s i n sc r ib e d b e s i de t h e m O re s t e s t h e
.
,

y o un g m a n i n t h e c e n t re t h rus t s h is s w o rd i n t o t he
,

b o dy o f Aig ist ho s a n d l o o k s ba c k h al f fe a rfully hal f

-
,

de fi a n t ly at his m o t h e r K lyt aim e st ra w h o (i n a p a n e l

,

o n t h e o pp o s it e s i de o f t h e va s e e n de av o urs t o w r e s t
)
fro m T alt hyb io s a do ubl e axe w it h wh i ch t o de fe n d
-

he r p a ra m o ur . T h e t e rr i fi e d m ai de n is C h rys o t he m i s ,

a si s t e r o f O r e s t e s w h o is b ut littl e k n o w n in le ge n d
, .

F ro m a re d fig ure d p olihe o f t h e s tyl e o f Eut hym ide s

-

e a rl fi th c e n t ury i n V i e nn a rt w an le r
( y f ( F u g
Re ic hh o ld, G r iechische Va se n m a ler ei, N o . Se e
A 1
35
 T HE TA LE O F T ROY 1 33

of th e G reek leaders wives a nd An t ik le s one of t h e men wit h i n

’
, ,

i t woul d h ave a nswered h a d not Odys seu s sto p p ed h i s mouth

, .

Neverth eless thos e w h o a ccepted th e i nscri p tion as i nnocent

,

p revailed a nd t h e h ors e wa s d rawn i nto th e city th rou g h a

,

b reach i n th e walls after w h ic h t h e citizens gave themselves

,

over to revelry u nti l t h ey were overcome by the h eavy slee p

of ex h au stion Cree p i ng ou t from th ei r l ai r a nd led by S inon
.
, ,

a Troj a n traitor th e Greeks now too k t h e citadel by su rprise

, ,

a nd a fterwa rd p r o c eeded to ravage t h e city b utcheri ng th e ,

s leep i ng p opu l ace li ke h elples s c attle I n t h ei r fu ry they dis .

regarded all t h e restrai nts o f religion N e o p t o le m o s s lew Pri am

.
,

t h ou g h a su ppl i a nt at th e a ltar of Zeu s ; Ai as th e so n of Oileu s , ,

d ragged Kass a ndra from th e a ltar of Athene ; O dysseu s th rew

He k t o r s so n As tya nax from th e wall s for fea r th is b abe some
’

” 11
d ay mig h t raise agai n h is fal len land Toget h er the G reeks
.

se t fi re to th e c ity a n d i n th e sigh t of its fl ame and s moke

sac rificed P olyxena Pri am s youngest d au ghter at t h e tomb

,
’
,

of Ach illes N e o p t o le m o s ca rried o ff And rom ac h e a nd O dys

.
,

s eu s He k a b e a s p rizes of wa r ; Me n e l a o s slew Helen s new h us

,
’

b a nd D e ip h o b o s a nd conveyed Helen h erself to h is shi p s

'

.
, ,

Now t h at th e obj ect of th e war wa s attai ned th e Greeks with ,

th e utmost j oy prep ared to s ail away to thei r d istant homes .

B ut al as ! Th ey h a d not cou nted on th e wrath of Athene who , ,

rous ed by the o ffence of th e so n of Oileu s at her s h ri ne almost ,

“
impl acab ly condemned th em to a n h omecoming t h at striveth
” 12
ever more an d cometh to no home .

“
The N o sto i ( Re tur n s
”
I n a ddition to Homer s Odys ’

sey w h ic h describes th e deviou s retu rn of Odys seu s there were

, ,
“ ”
fiv e epi c books of Retu rns written by Agia s of Troizen ,

a nd dealing with t h e wa nderings of th e other h eroes es p eci ally ,

t h os e of the two son s of Atreu s Th es e books are now lost ou r

.
,

knowledge of thei r contents bei ng derived from a s ingle b rief

s ummary from a few c asu al references a nd from some of the
, ,

d rama s of t h e fifth centu r y .

Men ela os a n d Helen — N atu rally one s first i nterest is to

.
’
1 34 G REE K AND ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
lea rn th e fate of Me n e la o s a n d Helen As th e fleet wa s abou t .

to de p a rt for He l las Athene p rovoked a qu arrel b etween th e

,

sons of Atreus a nd to a p p eas e th e god des s Agamemnon r e

,

mained a t Troy for a s p ace wh ile Me n e l ao s s ailed away wit h

,

h is newly recovered wife th e firs t p oi nt O f G ree k soil o n

-
,

which they se t foot being S ou nion th e extremity of th e Attic ,

p eninsu la
. After a delay c au sed by t h e de a th of t h e p ilot th ey
se t forth again bu t ere t h ey coul d rou nd th e p oi nt of th e
,

P elo p onnesos th e vessel s were sc attered by a storm With .

on l y five s a il left Me n e l ao s m ade t h e isl and of Crete w h ence , ,

va inly attempting to steer homewa rd h e wa s d riven to Cyp ru s , ,

P h o in ik ia Ait h io p ia Libya a nd l ast of all Egypt Agai n

, , , , , .

h ead wind s long detained h im b ut th es e ceas ed when h eeding , ,

the a dvice of Proteu s h e s acrificed to th e god s of th e N ile

, ,

after wh ich he a nd Helen were c a rried swiftly to S p arta where ,

they lived toget h er for many years u ntil t h e time coming a t , ,

last for th em to end t h i s life t h ey were given immortality i n ,

th e I s la nd s of th e B lest by vi rtu e of thei r d ivi ne descent

, .

Many centu ries l ater th e tomb w h ic h h eld t h e body of Hele n

wa s s hown to vis itors i n S p arta a s one of t h e important s ig h ts
of th e city .

Ag a m ern n o n Wh ile Agamemnon was p res s ing towa rd Hella s

.
—

with Kass andra th e sh ade of Ac h illes ap p eared to h im a n d ,

w a rning h im of a n u n h appy h ome coming endeavou red to tu rn -

h i m a si de from h i s cou rse D u ring h is abs ence Aig ist h o s by rea

.
,

so n of the old family feu d h ad fomented trouble i n his kingdom

,

a n d h a d induced K l y t a im e st r a who wa s very u nl i ke t h e fa ith ,

fu l P enelo p e to l ive with h im in a dultery On Agamemnon s

, .
’

retu rn to M y ken a i (or to Argos ) Aig ist h o s with th e co n n iv

14
,

a nce of K ly t a im e st ra killed Kass a nd ra a nd t h en i nviting Aga

, , ,

mem non to a fea st treach erous ly mu rdered h im too althou gh

, ,

i n a noth er form of the n a rra tive i t wa s Agamemnon who fel l ,

fi rst sl a i n i n th e b ath by th e h a n d of h is wife ostens ibly to

, ,

p uni sh h im for th e s acrifice of I p h ig e n e ia te n yea rs befo re .

Aig ist ho s a nd Kly t a im e st r a now reigned a s king a nd queen .

1 36 G REE K AN D RO MAN MYTHO LOG Y
gods After escapi ng many d angers D iomedes reac h ed h is
.
,

home i n Argos but fi nding th at h i s wife wa s l iving i n adu l

, ,

t e r y h e i mmedi a tely de p a rted for Aitolia

,
W h en ma kin g a n .

attem p t some time afterwa rd to retu rn to h is h ome h e wa s

, , ,

s h ipwrec ked on th e s hores of I taly a nd be ing s aved l ived , , ,

there u ntil h is death D emop h on th e so n of T h eseus on h i s

.
, ,

way b ac k to Athens vis ited the Bisa lt ia n T h raci a ns a nd married

Phyllis a p ri nces s of th e la nd Wh en he exp res sed to h is wife
,
.

a wis h to retu rn to h i s n ative cou ntry sh e gave h i m a ches t ,

wh ic h h e wa s not to open u nti l h e s h ould desp a ir of s eei ng h er

a gai n b ut once ou t of h er s ig h t h e s a iled to Cyp ru s i nstea d of
,

At h ens a nd there took u p h i s perma nent abode Phyllis a t

,
.

l ast u tterl y weary of waiting longer i nvoked a cu rse on him

, ,

a nd killed h erself At about th e s a me time D emo p h on opened

.

t h e chest b ut someth ing h e sa w wit h i n it i nsp ired h i m wit h

,

fear a nd h astily mou nting to ride away h e was t h rown o n

,

th e p oi nt of h i s sword by t h e fa ll of h i s h ors e a nd i nsta ntly

killed .

The Odyssey I n o rder to recou nt t h e a dventu res of t h e

.

h omeward j ou rney of Odyss eu s i n th eir proper sequ ence one

must begi n with t h e h ero s own na rrative i n th e middle of t h e ’

Odyssey a nd later retu rn to t h e firs t a nd s ucceedi ng p arts .

Books IX XI I A fai r wi nd bore Odyss eu s from I lion to

—
.

I sm a ro s wh ich h e s ac ked a n d t h en h el d h is cou rs e for Cap e

, ,

M a lea alt h ou g h b efore h e cou ld rou nd it Zeu s swe p t h i m

, , ,

southward past K ythera to t h e l an d of the Lotos —Eaters ,

where men ate of t h e s p icy b loom of the lotu s a nd b eca me for

ever obliviou s of th ei r old h ome App re h ens ive lest h is co m .

p anions too b e mi nded, ,

In t he h o ll o w Lo t o s l a n d t o l iv e a n d li e re c l i ne d
-

t h e h ill s l i k e g o ds to g e t h e r c a r e l e ss o f m a n k i n d 1“
”
On , ,

O dysseu s led them to t h e s h i p s against t h eir will a nd s ailed

t o th e cou ntr y of th e Ky klo es a race of gia nts eac h with a
p ,

s ing l e e y e i n the mi ddle of h i s foreh ead One of them P oly .

,
 P L A T E XXX I V

O D Y S S EUS S L A Y I N G THE S uI T O Rs

T he g ro up s o n e it he r s i de o f t he c e nt ral o rn a m e nt
c o n s tit ut e a si n g l e s c e n e . O dyss e us sta n di n g w it h
,

draw n b o w i n f ro n t o f t w o f r i gh t e n e d m ai d s e rva n t s -
,

is ab o ut t o sh o o t at t he s uit o r s o pp o s ite him One or

.

t he m al re a dy p i e rc e d b y an a rro w is atte m pti n g t o

, ,

e sc a e by c li m bi n g o v e r a c o uc h o n w h i c h a c o m
p
p a n i o n is f r a n ti c al l y de f e n di n g h i m s e l f a g ai ns t t h e

m i ss il e s by m e a ns o f a g a rm e n t h ung o v e r his a r m ; a
t h i rd s uit o r c ro uc hi ng o n t he fl o o r ho l ds a tabl e b e
, ,

fo re him a s t h o u h it w e re a s h i e l d F ro m a r e d
g .

fi g ure d skyp hos o f t h e fi rs t p a rt O f t he fi ft h c e n t ury B C . .

,

in Be r li n (F urt w éi n g le r Re ic h ho ld G r iechische Va sen

-
,

m a ler ei , No Se e p
. . 1
39 .
 T HE TA LE OF T ROY 1 37

p h e m o s by n ame entra p ped Odyss eu s i n h is c ave b u t t h e c un

, ,

ni ng ma n of I t h a k e p ut ou t h is eye a nd es ca p e d wit h a remna nt

of h i s men He now made for th e is la nd of Aio lo s the maste r
.
,

of t h e wi nds a nd a s he se t s a il th ence after a soj ou rn of ma n y

,

d ays h i s hos t gave h i m a b ag i n wh ich were e nclosed al l th e

,

wi nds except th at one w h ich wou l d s p eed h i m on h is wa y to

I t h a k e His comp a nions h owever sus p ecti ng th at some treas
.
, ,

u res were co ncealed i n the b ag opened i t whi l e thei r lea der ,

s le p t a n d t h e wi nds rus h ing forth beat t h e vessel b ac k to th e

, , ,

i s la nd w h i c h t h ey h a d j u st left bu t w h ere Aio lo s refused them

,

fu rt h er h osp itality a nd sent t h em awa y from h is coasts .

They c a me next to th e lan d of th e cruel La ist r yg o n ia n s who ,

d estroye d a l l of th eir s h ip s b u t one on wh ic h they h a d th e go od ,

fortu ne to rea ch the i s la nd of th e sorceres s goddes s Kirke a -

,

d aug h ter of Helios B y mea ns of a c ha rm sh e ch anged Odys

.

s eu s s men i nto swi ne b ut t h e h ero h imself sh e took a s h er

’
,

lover i nto h er h ome Neverth eles s th e c al l of home wa s upon

.
,

h im a nd h e cou ld endu re th e sweet bondage for no longer

,

th a n a year so t h at at length h e p ersu aded K irke to a id h i m

,

i n a n attempt to retu rn to I t h a k e As a first step sh e cou n .

se lle d h i m to ma ke t h e des cent to Ha des w h ere h e saw th e ,

s h a des of h i s moth er a n d of many of t h e heroes a nd learned ,

from Tei res i as the Theb a n seer t h e route wh ic h h e shoul d

, ,

p ursu e to reac h h i s h ome L au nchi ng h is s h

. i p once more h e ,

s ailed s afely p a st th e S i rens h aving h i s men b i nd h im tightly

,

to th e mast a nd h ims elf sto p p ing thei r ea rs with wax On .

h e p ress ed t h rou g h t h e Clash ing Roc ks an d p as t S kyll a a nd ,

C h a ryb dis to th e isla nd O f T h r in a k ia where fu rth er dis aster

, ,

befel l h im for h i s men u nab le to be restrained s lew some of

, , ,

th e s acred c attle of th e S u n a nd cau sed a storm to b rea k upon

their sh i p so th a t al l were lost s ave Odysseu s h imself D u ring .

ten d ays h e wa s tos sed about on a raft a nd t h en left by th e

waves on th e s hore of th e i sla nd of th e goddes s Kaly p so with ,

w h om h e lived for th e s p ace of eight y ears .

Books I VI I I — Ar th e end of th i s time Zeu s h earkened to

—
.
1 38 G RE EK AND ROMAN M YTHO LOG Y
t h e request of Ath ene a nd gave permis s ion for Odys seu s to b e
restored to h is native soi l I n th e mea ntime Athene i n t h e
.
, ,

gu ise of Mentor h a d V is ited Telemachos Odys seu s s so n i n

, ,
’

,
’
I t h a k e and h a d bidden h im send h is mother s many wooers to
,

thei r homes an d to go i n s earch of h i s fath er ; b u t t h e su itors

’
wou l d not l isten to th e you th s words even thou gh th ey were ,

a ccom p anie d by a pro p h eti c wa rning of a d read fu l doom t h at

awaited them shou ld they p ers is t i n th ei r cou rs e Un known .

to th em Telemachos went to Nesto r i n P y los a n d t h ence to

, ,

th e cou rt of Me n e l ao s a nd Helen i n S p a rta and alt h ough t h e ,

only tid ings whic h h e cou ld glea n of h is fat h er were vagu e a nd

fa r from recent nevertheless th ey encou raged h i m to hop e
, , .

Th rough Hermes Zeu s comma nded Kaly p so to releas e Odys

s eus Relu cta ntly sh e h elped h im bu ild a raft a nd after twelve
.

d ays of labou r on it saw h im dep art from h er is la nd Twenty .

d ays l ater h e wa s washed up on t h e s h ore of S cheria th e ,

isl and cou ntry of t h e P h a ia k ia n s whos e king wa s Alk in o Os

-
,
.

T h e p ri nces s Nau s i ka a ch anced to fi nd h im i n h is dis tres s an d

led h im to t h e p alace w h ere h e told t h e long story of h i s s til l
,

longer wanderings a nd received from t h e king t h e p romis e of

,

a s afe convoy to I t h a k e .

Books XI I I XX IV —
—
Th e next d ay a magic s h ip of t h e
.

P h a ia k ia n s bore Odysseu s away a nd left h i m o n t h e s h ore of

h is home la nd i n a deep s leep b ut w h en h e awoke h e wa s
-
, ,

u nab le to recognize t h e pl ace u nti l Ath ene cleared h i s b ewi l

de red vis ion D isgu is ing h ims elf a s a b egga r i n ob edienc e to
.

h er word h e made h i s way to th e b ut of th e swi ne h erd Eu

,

m a ios who h a d rema i ned loyal to h i s long ab sent m aster a n d ,

withou t revealing h is i dentity h e lea rned from h is ol d serva nt

,

many th ings concerning th e su itors Jus t a t th i s time Tele .

m a chos ch a nced to retu rn from S pa rta s afely eluding a n a m ,

b usc a de p re p a red fo r h i m by h is enemies a nd on la ndi ng ,

h e went to th e b ut of Eum a io s and sent th e swi ne h erd to t h e

p a l ace with a mes sage for h i s mother I n th e i nterva l h e a n d .

Od y sseu s were left alone togeth er a nd at th i s s u p reme moment ,

149 G REEK AN D ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
After th e bu ri a l of t h e s u itors by thei r ki nsmen Odyss eu s ,

s a iled acros s to Elis to i nsp ect h is herds Retu rning to I t h a k e

.

for a b rief time only h e went to th e land of th e T h esproti a ns

,

a nd wedded th eir queen K a llidik e for some allege h e h a d d is

, , ,

m issed P enelo p e on accou nt of her wavering a ff ections On .

th e death of K a l lidik e t h eir so n took t h e c ro w n of Th esp rotia ,

a n d Odysseu s went b a c k to I t h a k e abou t the s ame time th at

T e le g o n o s th e so n whom Ki rke h a d borne to h im se t ou t to

, ,

fi n d h is father Ch a ncing to la nd on I t h a k e h e p roceeded to

.
,

p lu nder t h e cou ntry

,
a nd
, def y i ng a b and of I t h a k a n s whom

Odys seu s led a gai nst h im h e killed his father in the confl ict
, ,

i n u tter ignora nce of wh at h e w a s doing bu t wh en the import

,

of h is a ct was ma de known to h im accom p a nied by P enelope

,

a nd Telemachos h e bore t h e body of Odysseus b ac k to Kirke

,
.
 C H AP T E R I X

T H E AF T E RW O R L D

HE Gree k View f o the

f D h S o ul and o
To comp re ea t .
—

h end even i n p a rt t h e Gree k s tories of the a fte rworl d one

, ,

mus t keep before h i m th e fact th at they a re all b as ed on th e

conce p tion th at th e sou l h a s a life a p art from the body Th i s .

th e G ree ks h el d to b e a s certai n a s a nyth i ng cou ld be i n th e

realm of th e i ns crutab le a n d a ll th e ph enomen a of life seemed
,

to p oint to its truth Wh en however they came to s tate thei r

.
, ,

b elief a s to wh at th e sou l rea lly was they fra nkly a rgu ed from ,

p rob ab ility Th e sou l cou l d not well b e ve ry u nli ke th e l iving

.

ma n ; th erefore it wa s h is s h a de or a i ry doub le Th is sh ade

, ,
.

eith er comp rised or was i denti ca l with all th at was ch a racter

ist ic of t h e m a n h i s persona lity we sa y for th i s i s wh a t
,

va ni sh ed at d eat h wh ile th e i nert body remai ned Moreover

,
.
,

li ke t h e ma n h imself t h e s h ad e wa s able to th i n k feel th e d rive

, ,

of d es ire a nd move abou t from p la ce to place On the oth er

,
.

h a nd th e sou l cou l d not b e very l i ke th e man for th e cond i

, ,

tions of concrete existence coul d not su rrou nd it a nd more , ,

over it mu s t b e of a very tenuou s s ub sta nce for it seemed to

, ,

leave the body th rough a wou nd o r with th e p as si ng of th e

i nvisib le b reath a nd u ntrammelled b y th e body it wa s free to
,

go abou t as o n wings wh ithersoever i t wou ld li ke th e b irds of

, , ,

h eaven Yet all its thoughts a n d des ires were fa int a nd futile
.
,

for i t utterly lac ked th e materi al means of gratify ing them so ,

th at th e existence of th e d isembodied sou l was j oyles s and th e

end of al l t h at men esteem worth wh ile Th e words of He k a b e .

to Andromac h e well su m u p th e attitude of t h e G ree k toward

d eath
14 2 G RE E K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
D e at h c a nn o t b e wh a t l i fe is, C h il d, t h e c up
Of D e at h is e m p ty , a n d Li fe h at h alway s h o p e .

B u t th e G reeks strangely contradicted th emselves T h oug h .

a ffi rming the i mmateri ality of sou ls they were u n ab le to ,

conceive of thei r consciou s existence withou t at least some of

’
the a cces sories of th e materi al After d eath a man s s h ade p ur
.

s ued the s a me occu p ation s whi ch i t h a d followed i n l ife an d

cheris hed th e s ame c h aracteris tic p ass ions Orion s till h u nted .

th e wild beasts of th e woodl a nd ; Aia s s till h arbou red h is ange r

against Ach i l les ; Aia k o s a nd Rh adam ant h ys s ti ll sa t on th e
tribu nal s of j u dgement ; Tei resi a s still d is p ensed h i s p roph ecies .

Thi s bond a ge to the materi a l extended even to th e pu nis h

ments of the a rch crimi nal s : Ixion wa s bou n d to a rea l w h eel ,
-

a nd S isyp h o s struggled with a real s tone .

Wh en t h e Greeks c ame to loc alize t h e abode of t h e a s semb led

s h ades th ey not u nnatu rally li ke ma ny other peoples b elieved
, , ,

i t to b e u nder t h e ea rt h a n i dea w h ic h p rob ab ly sp rang from

,

th e p rimitive cu stom of b u rial ; a nd after t h e b el ief h a d onc e

b een estab lis h ed it was easy to t h i n k of t h ose sou ls t h at h a d
,

b een b anis h ed from t h eir bodies by c remation a s going to t h e

s ame p lace I n t h i s u nde rworl d were gat h ered th e sou l s O f all
.

excep t a s p eci a l few sou ls th at were t h encefort h li ke to

,

p al e fl o c k s f all en a s l e av es ,

F o l ds of de a d p eo p l e a n d ali en fro m the

,
sun .

It wa s a s p aciou s democrati c rea lm i n w h ic h t h ey abode a ,

real m i n w h ich t h ere wa s no fear of overc rowd ing I ts bou nd .

a ries were i m p as s able a nd rarely di d a sou l retu rn from i t

,

to th e u p p er light eve n for a b rief season I t wa s a kingdom

, .

org a nized li ke a kingdom of ea rth ; Hades a nd P erse p hone sa t

o n it s two th rones a s king a nd qu een ; a nd it h ad its severa l
benches of j udges He rmes mu stered th e i mmigra nts bou nd
.

fo r it s s hores and Ch a ron th e grim grey fe rryma n trans

, , , ,

p orted them a t th e establ ishe d t a ri ff of a n obol a h ea d wh ile

3
,

Ke rberos th e th ree he a de d hou nd stood gu a rd a t it s ma i n

,
1 ‘
-
,
 P L AT E X XXV
C H ARO N

T h i s de s i g n is sk e t c h e d w it h
y ll a rs e
o wi sh li n e s
co e

o f gla z e o n a w h it ba c k g ro un d C h a ro n a tall a n d
e .
,

r at h e r un gai n ly b e a r de d m an o f a n o t un k i n dly c o un t e

n a n c e sta n ds at t h e s t e rn o f h is b o at a n d l o o k s s t rai g ht
,

b e fo re him at a ti ny w i n ge d s o ul de sc e n di n g t o wa rd
him fro m t he r i g ht He is c la d in a s ho rt b e lt e d
.
,

c hi t o wit ho ut s l e e v e s a n d h a s h is p et a sos h a n gi n g by
n ,

a c o rd at t h e ba c k o f h is he a d He l e a n s w it h h is
.

l e ft ha n d o n a l o g p o l e t he l o w e r e n d o f w h i c h re s t s
n
,

in t he wat e r wh il e wit h h is ri g ht h a n d h e s t e a di e s
,

h i m se l f o n t h e up c urvi n g s t e r n o f h is b o at b e h i n d
-
,

w h i c h a c l um p o f r e e ds is gro wi ng F r o m a w h it e .

l hyt hos O f t he fi ft h c e n t ury B C

e i n K a rl s ruh e (A
. .
,
.

Fai rba n k s At h i W hit L kyt hoi ii Plat e X IV Fi g

,
en a n e e
, , ,
.

S e e p p 8 9 90
.
—
.
1 44 G REE K AN D ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y
virtu e of h i s being the wisest in deed a nd i n cou nsel among
mortals was given the p rinci p a l p lace among th e j u dges a n d
, ,

to h is c a re moreover were entrusted th e keys of Ha des h ou s e

, ,
’
.

To h i m the sou ls from Eu rope came to b e j u dged w h ile h i s ,

b rother Rh adama nthys seated at th e c rossways where one roa d

,

l e d to th e Hap p y I s les a n d th e other to Ta rtaros j u dged t h e ,

sou ls from Asi a S ou l s whose origi n wa s i n doub t ap p ea red

.

before Minos w h o wielding a golden s ceptre exercised bot h

, , ,

civi l a nd j udici al power a s h e h ad done on ea rt h

, .

The P un ishm e n ts of Ha des Only th at c las s of t h e i n h ab it

.

a nts o f Hades whom we h ave c alled th e s in ners extraordi nary

su ff ere d specia l p u nish ments Th ei r s ins h a d b een aga inst th e
.

go ds For dis closing to men t h e cou nsel of Zeu s a nd for h i s

.

horrib le ba nqu et T a n t a lo s wa s con demned to stand i n a pool

th at ever receded from h is th irsty li p s w h ile near h im h u ng
,

b ra nch es laden with fru it t h at always s p rang away from h i s

hu ngry gra sp a nd over h i s h ea d wa s poised a stone t h at co n
,

t in ua lly threatened to fal l b u t never d id T it yo s h a d i n h i s

.

lifetime attempted violence on Leto a nd for t h is h i s hu ge body

, ,

wa s stretched ou t supi ne on th e soil of Hades an d two vu ltu res

never ceased gnawing at h i s V itals Ixion forgot h i s debt of
.

gratitu de to Zeu s a nd m ade a fou l attac k on Hera so t h at i n ,

Hades h e wa s las hed to a w h eel a nd wh irled a rou nd forever ,

h i s fate b eing a p erpetu al warning to i ngrates For t h ei r .

s acrilegiou s attem p t to s cale h eaven by p iling u p mou ntain s

i nto a gran d staircas e Otos a nd Eph ialtes were bou nd by se r
p ents to two great colu mns Of t h e.pu nis h ments of S i sy p h o s

a nd of th e d au ghters of D a naos enough h a s already b een s aid .

Visits of the Livi n g to Ha des Cons i stent with t h e belief

.

i n road s leading to th e lower worl d i s t h e trad ition t h at c e r

tai n h u ma n beings of almos t d ivi nely rare endowments or ,

th rough some i nter p osition of th e gods h ad been able to ,

follow t h ese p ath s to th ei r end a nd agai n to se e t h e light o f

d a y Protesilaos retu rned to life for a few short h ou rs only
.
,

but Al k e st is and Gl au kos th e so n of Minos for ma ny years

, ,
.
 T HE AF T ERWO RLD 14 5

Hera kles descend ed b y T a in a r o n a nd came bac k by Troizen ,

b ringing Kerberos with h im a nd Theseu s a ccom p a nied P e i

,

r it h o Os below i n h is foolh ardy mis sion to rob Hades of P e r

se p h o n e although h is s afe retu rn wa s du e only to the su erior

, p
strength of Hera kles Th e most fa mou s d escents were those
.

of Odysseu s a nd Or p h eu s th at of th e former fu rnis h ing in

,

s p i ration to Vergi l a nd D a nte i n th ei r treatment of s imi l a r

th emes a nd to those modern poets who h ave de p icted Ch rist
,

i n Ha des .

At th e word of K irke Odyss eu s app roac h ed th e u nderworl d

by way of th e la nd o f t h e K im m e r ia n s a peopl e who dwelt ,

a mi d clou d s a n d gloom a nd neve r looked u p on th e face of th e

sun . Here h e du g a trenc h a nd pou red i nto it th e b lood of
b lac k vi cti ms a nd soon th e gibb ering ghosts bega n to gath er
,

abou t t h e trench cla mou ri ng for th e b lood wh ich for a time

, , , ,

Odyss eu s wou ld not permit the m to touch Fi rst there a p peared .

to h i m th e restles s sh a de of h is former s h ip mate El p enor b eg ,

ging h i m to a ccom p lis h th e d u e rite s over h is u nb u ried bo dy ,

a n d at length there ca me t h e ghost of Teires ias th e b lind seer ,

of Thebes W h en Odys seu s allowed h i m a nd t h e ot h er s h ades to

.

taste of the b lood memori es of th e u pper worl d a nd t h e powe r

,

of s p eech retu rned to t h em a nd from Tei res i a s h e lea rned

,

th e vicis s itu des t h at were to m ar k t h e remai nder of h is life

down to th e d ay of h i s deat h T h en h e sa w h is moth er Anti
.

k l e ia w h o thoug h now merely a ph a ntom h a d not los t th e

, , ,

tendernes s of a mot h er for h im recou nting to h i m wh at h a d,

h appened i n It h a k e du ri ng h is long ab s ence j u st thos e t h ings ,

th at o nly a moth er th i n ks of telling t h e little h appeni ngs about ,

t h e h ome t h at ma ke or mar t h e life wit h i n i t After h er h e .

sa w a h ost of t h e famou s wives a n d mot h ers of th e gods a nd

h eroes bot h t h e c h aste a nd th e u nch aste a nd wh en th e

, ,

sh ades of t h e women fol k were s cattered by P ers e p hone th e ,

ghosts of t h e men c rowded about a nd dri n king of th e blood ,

tol d Odys seu s one by one th e sorry tales of thei r last d ays
, , ,

a nd with grief or delig h t listened to t h e ti dings wh ich h e h a d

146 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
b rough t them of th e kinsfol k whom th ey h ad left be h ind .

Fi rst c ame Agamemnon su rrou nded by th e s h ades of thos e ,

who h ad die d with h i m at Aig ist h o s s fatal b anqu et ; and then ’

Ach illes p rou d to learn of th e ,

glory of N e o p t o le m o s among
the living ; Aias still b roodi ng ,

over h is imagined dishonou r ;

Mi nos wielding h i s go l den ,

sce p tre a n d dealing out dooms

to th e d ea d ; and Orion hu nt ,

i ng acros s the a s p hodel mead

o w s th e g h osts of th e a ni mal s

wh ich h e h a d slai n i n l ife Last .

of all Odys seus be h eld th e great

s u ff erers of Hades T a n t a lo s ,
—
,

6
T it yo s S isyp h o s Ixion a nd , , ,

the rest a nd wou l d h ave seen ,

more of th e renowned h eroes

h a d not the i ncreas ing th rong
and cl amou r of th e sh ades filled
h is b reast with fea r a nd c aus ed
F I G 6 T HE
. . O F AI As (AJA ) h im to fly to h i s s h ip a nd s a il X

T h i d ig d p i t
s es n u u u l v i t
e
away
c s an
down th e strea
n
m of
s a
O ke ar an

o f t h t y t h t t ll
e s or f t h d t h f Ai
a e s o e ea o a s,

th e so n o f T l m Ai
e a b di g von .a nos From th e account of th i s
a s, ro o n o er .

h i d f t b y Od y
s e ea u i th t t f vis it of Odys seu s to Ha des a s
sse s n e co n e s or

th e ar m f A h ill
s o h c tidi vi t e s, as r e n a n o ,

k ill h im l f seAt h . w pp b f
ene it sta nd s i n th e Odyssey itself
no a e a rs e o re
,
h im and p i t ut t
o n s h im vul b l
o o a n e ra e
more n b e learned of t h e pre
p t i w hi h t p lu g
s o n c h i o w d F m n e
c a s s or . ro

an i i d d ig
n c se es Et u n bon
va iling G reek conceptio n of
an r sc a n ro n z e

mi f t h th i d
r ro r o e tu y B r w i thce n r C .
, no n e
t h e s tate of t h e d ead t h a n from
.

Mu um f F i A t B t
se o ne r s, os on .

a ny ot h er s ingle sou rce .

T h e s tory of t h e descent of Orp h eu s i s of a very d i fferent

ch a racter E u r y d i ke th e you ng wife of Orp h eu s t h e sweet
.
, ,

singer of Th race was b itten b y a serpent a nd d y i ng h er

7
, , , ,

soul p assed with i n th e p a le of Hades rea lm Or p heu s resolved ’

.

to wi n h er bac k a nd a s h e e ntered th e a bode of the s h a des wit h

,
 P L A T E XX XV I
IX IO N ON T H E W H EEL
I x i o n is b o un d by s e v e ral t ho n gs t o a n e i gh t s p o k e d
-

w h e e l His run n i n g attit ude an d t he w i n gs o n

.
“ ”

t he w he e l ,
a ft e r t he m a n n e r o f a rc h ai c a rt de n o t e
r a i d r e v o l uti o n T h e fl o w e r b e s i de I xi o n s r i ght fo o t
’

p .

s e rv e s o n ly t o fi ll up t h e s p a c e b e t w e e n t h e s p o k e s .

F ro m a n E t r us c an b ro n z e m i rr o r o f t he fo urt h o r t h i rd
c e n t ury B C in t he Briti sh Mus e um (A B C o o k
. .
,
. .
,

Ze us i Plat e X V II ) Se e p 1 44
, ,
. . .
14 8 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LOGY
of the fai r h ai r where l ife is easies t for men N O s now i s
,
.

there nor y et great storm nor any rai n ; bu t a lways Ocea n

, ,

sendeth forth th e b reeze of t h e s h rill west to b low cool on

men : y ea for thou h a st Helen to wife a nd t h ereby t h ey d eem
, ,
” 9
th ee to b e th e so n of Zeu s
.
 P ART II

THE G REE K G O D S
 1 52 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
l i neaments a s it were of a grea t com p os ite Zeu s who wou l d b e
, ,

recognized at first gla nce by a ll Hellenes a s the ch ief god of

thei r cu lts a nd myth s .

The Or ig i n a l S ig n ifi c a n ce o f Z e us —
Zeu s wa s t h e great
.

aborigi nal god not only of a l l th e Helleni c stoc ks b ut of th e ,

so- c alle d I ndo —Eu ropea n race nor does th e p re domi nati ng im
,

porta nce of h is celesti al fu nctions i n ritu a l myth a nd e p ithet , ,

ermit of a ny oth er i nference th an th at he wa s a p e r so n ifi c a

p
tion of th e b right sk y Th e coi nci dence of t h es e activities
2
.

with thos e of th e great sk y god of cognate name of ot h er I ndo

-

Eu ro p ea n peoples p oi nts i n the s a me direction a nd more , ,

over h i s n ame alone i s a p roof of h i s origin for it i s a d evelop

, ,
“ ”
ment of the b ase deya to s h i ne p rob ab ly p as s ing t h roug h
"

, ,

th e stages of pronu nciation if not of orthogra p h y

Ai 7t5s At e u s Z eu s W h il e i n the i nvocation Z e i) 7r d7 ep
* * '

r , , ,

“
( Fath er Zeu s we c a n read ily perceive a p a rallel to th e
Lati n I up p it e r (D ie sp it e r ) a n d i n the I ndi a n Rig Ved a th e
,
”
p h ras e dya n p ita r Fath er S k y ) occu rs i n severa l pa s
s ages I n most i ns ta nces th e non celesti a l fu nction s of Ze u s
.
-

c a n be shown to be more or les s n atu ra l e flf o r e sc e n c e s so to ,

spe a k of h is celes tia l a ctivities although sometimes th ey may

, ,

b e su s p ected of b eing th e res u lts of contami nation wit h t h e

worsh i p of oth er d ivinities 3
.

I n deali ng with th e p ersonality of Zeu s one mu st avoi d b eing

misled by h i s mere n ame wh ich wa s occas ionally applied to
,

other beings th an th e ch ief Olympi a n T h u s Hades or Plou .

,

ton was sometimes spoken of a s Zeu s b ut it wa s t h roug h

, ,

metaphor for wa s not Hades t h e Zeu s of t h e u n derworld ?

,

Rai n ma king fetis h es i n variou s d istricts were at times a d

-

d res s ed a s Zeu s b y loca l votaries ; and th rou g h h aste a nd

i gnora nce Hellenic travellers wou ld often d es ignate a s Zeu s
th e lea di ng m ale d ivinity of a stra nge commu nity t h i s i de n ,

tit y being p resu med most frequently of al l w h en t h ey were

j ou rne y i ng i n distinctly b arba ria n cou ntries I t i s t h e genu i ne .

Zeus th e sk y god with whom we are concerned

,
-
, .
 P L AT E XX X V I I
Z EUS

T hi s b e a uti ful stat ue tte (o n ly 4 % i nch e s hi gh) o f

t h e s e at e d Z e us alt h o ugh o f Ro m a n e x e c uti o n is re
, ,

m a r k abl e fo r It s fi de lity t o t h e G r e e k typ e . I n his

r i gh t ha n d w h i c h re s t s o n his k n e e t he o d gra s p s a
, , g
t h un de rb o lt w h il e his l e ft h a nd rai s e d t o t h e h e i g ht
, ,

o f h is h e a d is sup p o rt e d by r at h e r t h a n s u p o rt s a
, , p ,

sc e pt re T h e t re at m e n t o f t h e fa c e b e a rd a n d h ai r
.
, ,

is si m ila r t o t h at o f t h e Z e us o f O t r i c o l i. T h e sli gh t
fo rwa rd t h rus t o f t h e he a d a n d t he m uch l e ss fo rm al
,

g ra s p o f t h e sc e p t re t o ge t he r w it h c e rtai n o t h e r fe at
,

ur e s di ff e re n tiat e t h i s ty p e fro m t h at o f t h e O l ym p ia n
,

Z e us o f Ph e idias F ro m a Ro m a n b ro n z e c o p y o f a
.

fo urt h c e n t ury G r e e k ty p e i n t h e Me t ro p o lita n Mu

,

se um o f Art , N e w Y o rk hot o r a h
(p g p ) .
 T HE G REAT ER GOD S — Z EUS 1 53

The Z e us of Ho m er I n t h e I l i a d a nd t h e Odyssey Zeu s

.

no longer appea rs a s th e sole d ivi ne arb iter of t h e sk y a nd th e

s u p reme lord of the weather for both Hera a nd P oseido n
,

s ti r u p wi nd a nd wave ag a i ns t those who h ave i ncu rred thei r

a nger a p p arently with onl y little les s freedom of i niti ative
,

th a n h a s Zeu s h imself Y et whe n th e G ree ks set s a i l home

4
.

ward fro m Troy we lea rn i n the Odyssey it wa s Zeu s who

, ,

s cattered t h e sh i p s ; a n d after O dys seu s s compa nion s p e rfi di

’

o usl y s lew th e Cattle of t h e S u n i n T h r in a k ia it wa s Zeu s who ,

b rought t h e d is a ster of sh ipwrec k u pon them Desp ite t h e .

encroac h ments u pon h i s power h e still rema ined th e u ndis

,

p ut e d ma s ter of t h e t h u n der a nd t h e lightning so th at when , ,

on th e m o rning b efore th e sl au g h ter of t h e su itors Odyss eu s ,

h ea rd th e roar of thu nder h e knew it to b e a s ign from Zeu s

,

th at h e wou ld not thwa rt his p l ans T h i s sort of omen cou ld

.
,

h owever b e i nterp reted as u nfavou rab le or even a s doubtful

, ,

a s wh en o n one occ as ion th u nder wh ic h l asted all night long

, ,

se t both th e G ree k a nd Troj a n armies to wonderi ng wh at

Zeu s h a d i n store for t h em a nd ma d e al l t h e wa rriors tu rn

,

p ale w it h fear .

Alt h ough i n Homer t h e original c h aracter of Zeu s h a d b e

come d im wh et h er i n rea lity or by contrast one s ide of h i s
, ,

n atu r e wa s very clearly illu mined : h e wa s potentially t h e ru ler

of t h e u n ivers e T h e ot h er god s h a d t h eir d ep artmental
.

fu nc t ions i n natu re b u t Zeu s cou ld u su r p t h em if only h e c h os e

,

to do so a n d i n th e l ast a nalys is his will wa s su preme b eing

, ,

l i m ite d by not h i ng for it was itself Fate He wa s not merely

,
.

a n Olymp ia n ; h e wa s the Olym p ia n ;

5
nor wa s h e th e petty god
o f a trib e or n ation for all th e p eo p les of whom Homer h a d
,

c ognizance ac knowledged his su p remacy a s Father of gods

” ”
a nd men a lthough th e title Fath er conve y ed not so muc h
,

t h e i dea th at h e wa s of neces s ity a p h y s ic a l fat h er or th e

c reator of men a n d th ings (on th e contr a ry Ok e a n o s was th e ,

great creative sou rce of all th ings i n Homer ) a s th at he e xe r

c ise d over th e great family of b ei ngs hu ma n a n d d ivine
, ,
1 54 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOG Y
th a t ki nd of ru l e w h ich we ca ll p aterna listic To men h e dis .

e n se d j oys or i lls a s h e p leased ; h e determined for them th e

p ,

i ssu es of thei r b attles i n a rm s u ntil they became mere p u p pets ;

a nd a ccording to h i s wh im h e warned or delu ded by omens .

Un l ike the other gods h e obs erved a s tri ct neu tral ity i n
,

th e Troj a n Wa r s ave whe n i t s u ited h is pu rposes to lea n

,

t oward th i s s ide or toward th at a nd h e b ecame gravely ,

eth i ca l on occas ion a s wh en h e reb u ked Ares a s a lover of

,

contention or wh en h e ordered concord among t h e I t h a k a n s;

,

though at oth er times open eyed h e flu ng eth ics to t h e winds

,
-
, ,

a s h e di d when h e devised mea ns for b rea ki ng t h e solemn

truce between th e Troj a ns an d th e Ach ai a ns He wielded .

,

Roma n li ke a p a tr i a p o testa s over t h e u niverse for h e weighed

-
, ,

th e Fates of Hektor a n d Ac h illes i n t h e s ca les an d as sented

to He k t o r s death Th is p aternalistic attitu de s howed most
’
.

cle a rly i n th e ci rcle of t h e gods whom h e convened i n th e dic

,

t a t o r ia l manner of a feu dal C h ieftain a nd who es p ou se d one or ,

th e ot h er c aus e before Troy s imply bec au s e h e s ai d th ey

might His ip se dixit conveyed by Hermes forced K alypso
.
, ,

to release Odys seu s against h er h eart a nd wi ll ; h e b es towed

boons u pon t h e oth er gods b u t only a s h e wa s convinced of t h e
,

real need for them i n each instance or a s h e wa s forced th rough ,

gu ile At ti mes h e stepped down from h i s t h rone to mingl e wit h

.

h is fellows on th e common floor of Olympos b u t h e neve r los t ,

consciou s nes s of h i s su p eriority I n all t h i s we a re to se e not

.

th e ab solute pol itica l ideal of the Homeri c period b u t rat h er , , ,

the refined portrayal of t h e cond ition s of state to w h i c h t h e

G ree ks of th at time h a d a dva nced .

The Bi r th a n d D ea th of Z e us W h en Pau s a n ia s fra n kl y

.
—

admits t h at h e foun d it h a rd to enu merate a l l t h e G ree k

localities wh ich cl aimed to b e t h e b i rthpl ace of Zeu s t h e di f ,

fi c ul t y a nd folly of ou r attem p ting at th is l ate d ate to d raw u p

a n y th ing li ke a complete c atalogu e of them i s very a p p a rent .

I n Messe ni a a nd Arkadi a alone h e record s no les s th a n five

s uch p laces among them Mou nt Ithome t h e ac ropolis o f t h e
, ,
1 56 G REEK AN D ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
pos ed the remain s of Zeu s : Here liet h i n death Zan w h om ,

men ca ll Zeus . Th is confl ict between i mmorta lity a nd death

i s easily explai ned if th e fa ct i s born e i n min d th at i n some
districts of Crete h e w a s li ke Hya k in t ho s i n La kon ia a god
, ,

of vegetation w h o altern ately lived a n d d ied ; wh ile i n P h rygi a

“ ”
h i s descri p tive title of S u mmer God ca rried s ub sta ntia lly
-

the s a me s ignific a nce .

The Ma rr i a g es of Z e us Zeu s is repres ented a s the mos t

.
-

uxoriou s of all th e gods Of h i s almost cou ntles s u nions with

.

goddesses a n d women ma ny were accepted by t h e Greeks with

th at abs ence of comment wh ich a s a ru le i s t h e s a nction of
, ,

legitimacy but t h ey lo oked a s ka nce at a nu mber of others i n a

,

way wh ich made t h em to say t h e least t h e _o b j e c t s of soci al

, ,

7
s uspicion .

I n th e Hes iodic tra dition t h e firs t m arriage of Zeu s wa s

wit h Metis a n d h i s la st with Hera w h ile i n th at of t h e older
,

e p ic Hera wa s h is fi rs t a nd onl y legitimate wife At all events .

,

Hera became h i s c a nonica l wife i n G reek a nd later a s In no, , ,

i n Roma n myt h ; b u t th e portrayal of th ei r conj uga l relation

sh ip we s h all postpone to ou r d is cu ss ion of th e p ersonality of
Hera His ma rri ages with Metis Th emis Mnemosyne a n d
.
, , ,

E u r y nome were p rob ab ly s im p ly poetical a nd th rou g h th e ,

i nflu ence of su gges tion added to t h e conce p tion of h i s d ignity

a nd p ower Th e symbolis m is evi dent i n itself On receiving
. .

“ ”
a warning th at a so n of Meti s ( Constructive T h ough t )
woul d be more powerfu l th a n h is fath er Zeu s h e swallowed ,

her a nd a ss imilated h er i nto h is own b eing ; Themi s

h e m a rried after th e d efeat of th e Ti tan s a nd incorporated h er
p ersonality i nto h is r eg i m e ; Mnemosyne h e
m a de h is wife a s a consta nt remi nder (to oth ers of cou rs e ) ,
“
of h i s great migh t ; a nd h is a ffili a tion with Eu rynome ( Wi de
”
Ru le ) em p h as ize d the extent of h is dominions B es ides th e .

foregoing th e mos t im p orta nt goddess es with w h om h e wa s

,

u nite d were Dione who may h ave been h is s p ous e i n P elasgic

,

times ; De m eter the mothe r of P erse p hone ; Leto t h e mother

, ,
 T HE G REAT ER GOD S —
Z EUS 1 57

of Apollo a nd Artemis ; a nd Mai a the mother of Hermes ; ,

wh ile P yrrh a a nd D ia who also b ecame h i s wives a re p rob abl y

, ,

two aspects of the ea rth god dess T h e c h ief nym p h s with whom .

h e wa s a ssoci ated were T a ygete of the La k e da im o n ia n mou n

ta in ; Aigina of the is lan d wh ich b ears h er name ; a n d P lo ut o
,

of Ly d ia Of h i s wives among women of p u rely hum a n or of

.

p a rtly d ivi ne d es cent we ca n mentio n only Io Leda D ana e , , ,

E u ro p e Iod ama Antio p e S emele a n d Al kmene

, , , , .

The Ofi sp r i n g of Z e us No c h ild re n of a ny ot h er god b ut

.

Zeu s ever att a i ned to p l aces i n th e d ivine ci rc le Posei don .

,

Hera a nd Ha des were of th e s ame Tita nic p a rentage a s Zeu s

,

h imself b u t Ath ene A p ollo Artem is Ares Aph rod ite He

, , , , , ,

p h a istos Hermes D ionysos Hera kles Persephone a nd th e

, , , , ,

D io sk o ur o i were a l l h is c h ild ren Of t h e race of t h e h eroes .

m a ny cla imed h im a s fat h er notab ly Hellen th e fou n der of th e

, ,

Helle ni c stoc k ; Minos a n d his b roth ers S a r p edon a nd Rh ada

,

m a n t h y s; D a r da n o s T a n t a lo s a n d Aia k o s h ea ds of the fami

, , ,

l ies c h ie fly concerne d in th e wa r of Troy ; La keda imon the ,

fi rs t of th e La k e da im o n ia n s tra i n ; Pers eu s th e demi god of ,

-

th e Argoli d ; a nd Am p h ion Z e t h o s a nd T h eb e w h o were , , ,

concerned with th e b egin nings of Th eb es .

The F un ct i o n s of Z e us; As S up r e m e G o d I n Zeu s s s p h ere ’

.

of a ction a s th e su p reme god we m u st d istingu is h th e Zeu s of

pu re myth from th e Zeu s of s eriou s religiou s import I n t h e .

former h i s s u p remacy i s very often encroach ed u p on b y th e

c a p rices of other divi nities with th e resu lt t h at it is logica lly
,

a nnu lled ; i t i s th e s ame th ing a s lim iting th e absolute I n .

s eriou s cu lt on th e contra r y Zeu s w a s th e o n e god ; not t h e

, ,

o nl y god b ut the one god a mong m any sub s ervient gods

,
.

Th i s i s h enoth eis m a s O p p os ed to monoth eism bu t s ince mu ch ,

of th i s asp ect h a s invaded th e fiel d of myth it i s p recisely ,

t h is whi c h we mu st endeavou r to note From Homer to th e .

“ ”
d ram ati c poets th e u n qu a l ified u s e of Oeo s god i nvariably ’

, ,
“ ”
refers to Zeu s who was th e Fa th er of god s a n d men chiefly
, ,

i n a S p i ritu al a n d mora l sens e i n wh i ch last cap a city it i s ,

1 58 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
natu ra l to se e i n h im th e u ltimate cou rt of a p p e a l for off ence s
ag a ins t th e gods a nd th e h igher l aw a nd th e final a rb iter of ,

p u nishments With. th e G reat F lood h e p u nish ed man ki nd for

’
their im p iety ; to Ly k ao n s son s h e meted ou t d eath for th ei r
wic ke dness a nd Ly k a o n h imself h e ch anged i nto a wolf for
,

h aving es s ayed to hoodwin k a deity After h e h a d condemned .

men to e a rn their b rea d by th e sweat of their b row none els e ,

cou ld alter th e dec ree B ec au se T a n t a lo s a nd S isyp h o s abus ed

.

thei r e ndowment of knowledge almost d ivi ne h e imposed o n

them terrib le penalties i n Ha des wh ile P rometheu s suffered ,

u ntold agonies for tres p ass ing on th e d ivi ne p rerogative to

fi re a nd for h is gratu itou s enlightenment of th e race of men .

For b razen i nsolence i n attem p ting to s cale t h e walls of Th eb es ,

wh ich h is so n Amph ion h ad b u ilt Zeu s l aid K a p a n e us low with

,

a bolt a nd h e s mote S a l m o n e us i n a li ke manner for i nvad ing

,

the d ivi ne righ t of rai n ma ki ng He retar ded th e home com

-
.
-

i ng of th e Argonau ts for t h eir p art i n th e mu rd er of Ap sy rt o s ,

th e b rother of Medei a a nd fi nally so com p rehens ive was h i s

, , ,

p ower h e lessened
,
the popu lation of t h e ea rt h by ma king men
s laughter one a noth er i n th e great Wa r of Troy On th e oth er .

h a nd a s th e spi ritu al h ea d of th e u niverse wh at b etter j u dge

, ,

cou ld there b e th a n Zeu s of th e righ t of h eroes o r of men to

i mmortality and allied b les si ngs ? S o it was h e w h o b estowed a
s peci a l form of immorta lity on P olydeu kes who s ent K a dm o s ,

a n d Harmoni a to Ely sio n a nd who u ttered th e word permit

,

ti ng P rometheu s an d Chei ron to exc h ange mortal ity a nd im

mort a l it y a s G l a u kos a nd D iomedes exch anged b ronze a nd
gol den a rmou r ; a n d it wa s he too w h o gra nted S ar p edon a
, ,

l ifetime th ree generation s long I n h is power to confer va riou s

.

form s u p on men as h e d id for i nsta nce i n ma king Ly k ao n a

, , ,

wolf P h il y ra a li n den and IO a h eifer a n d i n givi ng t h e p ro

, , ,

rection of i nvisib ility to h i s favou rites a s h e d id to th e wou nded ,

Her a kles i n Ko s h e i s not es p ecial ly difl e re n t ia t e d from th e

,

othe r Olympia ns ; s uch a cts p red icate no mora l or sp i ri tu a l

power .
 P L AT E XX XV I I I
Z EUS AN D T H E K O URET ES

T he c h i e f s i gn ifi c a n c e o f th i s sc e n e in lo w r e li e f is
t hat it is t h e e a rl i e st c e rtai n r e p re se n tati o n o f Z e us ,

a n d sc a rc e l l e ss i m p o rta n t is t he t ra ns p a re n t E up h r a
y
t e a n styl e o f it s c o m p o siti o n an d e x e c uti o n Fla n k e d .

by wi n ge d m al e fi gure s t h e g o d sta n ds li k e a n Ass yria n

,

divi n ity o n a b ull a n d a ft e r t h e m a n n e r o f t h e Ba b ylo

, ,

n ia n e p i c h e r o G il g a m e sh ,
a s de p i c t e d o n t h e se al

cyli n de rs wit h b o t h han ds s wi n gs a l i o n o v e r his he ad

,
.

T h i s c o n c e p ti o n o f Z e us a s a m a n in t h e p r i m e o f
li fe rat h e r t h a n as a n i n fa n t is t rue t o a n a n c i e n t
C re ta n m yt h r e c e n tly re c o v e re d T he wi n g e d fi g ure s
.
,

e a c h b e ati n g a ai r o f t m a n a a re e vi de n tl K o ure t e s
p y p , y .

F ro m a de s i g n o n a K o ure t ic b ro nz e tympa norz o f t h e

n i n t h o r e i ht h c e n t ur B c d i sc o v e re d i n t he s ac r e d
g y . .
,

c av e o f Z e us o n Mo unt I da in C re t e A B C ook
( . .
,

Ze us i Plat e XXX V) S e e p p 1 54 55
, , . .
— .
1 60 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
Kyklopes were th e wea p on s wit h wh ich h e overt h rew t h e
,

Ti ta n s wh ile P egasos d rew th e thu nder c a r fo r h i m from t h e

,
-

a nci ent stables of h eaven a nd with th e ligh tni ng h e se p ara te d

,

th e b attling Hera kles a nd Apollo a nd vis ited s u dden d eath

,

o n those who incu rred h i s d ispleasu re Zeu s w a s also h el d .

to be th e s ender of th e d ew wh ich i n times of d rough t wa s so

,

essenti al to th e welfa re of th e c rop s a nd p a stu rage .

Z e us as Go d of Fer til i ty . I t wa s b u t a n ea sy step for t h e

god of th e rai n an d th e d ew to become t h e god of th e ferti lity
p rodu ced by t h es e form s of moistu re I t s eemed to t h e G ree k .

th at with thes e some fertilizing sub stance or vital p ri ncipl e

fell u p on t h e receptive soil a nd w h o b u t Zeu s wa s t h e giver
,

of it ? I t entered i nto pl a nts from th e soil a nd i nto a nimal s a n d

m en from pl ants so th at t h e w h ole cycle of life wa s depend ent
,
“ ” 9
o n Zeu s w h o w a s t h e great B egetter
, T h e n ative Zeu s of
.

At t ik e was original ly a d eity of agricu ltu re a s i s clea rly s een ,

“
i n th e ritu al of t h e Bou p h oni a wh ile su c h ep it h ets a s I n
,
” “ ” “
c reaser of F ru its ,
G iver of F ru itage a nd Hu sb an dma n ”
,

reveal h i m a s a god of h a rves t .

Z eus i n his P o l i tica l a n d Ethica l Asp ects From t h e Aris .

t o t e l ia n poi nt of view thes e two a spects c a n not b e sca nned

s eparately for eth ic al sta nd a rd s a re not h ing else t h a n t h e

,

c rystallized experience of orga nized society I n bot h myt h .

a nd cu l t Zeu s wa s th e i dea l s tatesm a n of the G reeks h avi ng ,

h ad t h at s erenity of j u dgment wh ic h awa ken s th e confidence

of th e governed His lords h ip over h imself i nsp i red s elf co n
.
-

trol i n t h os e who looked u p to h im a nd t h e very sta in s u pon ,

h i s dignity wh ich t h e myth s O ften revealed gave th e legend s

a n a ir of convincing real ity Yet i n s p ite of h is generally a c
.

c e p t e d h igh politica l estate we ra rely meet wit h th e cu lt of

,

Zeu s Pa nh ellenios th e Zeu s of t h e United S tates of G reece ,

so to spea k for t h e G reeks keen s ens e of loca l i nde p endence

’

never allowe d th em to real ize th i s ideal i n politics He f re .

quentl y a p p ea red however a s t h e gu a rdi a n of th e family

, ,

p ro p erty of bou nd ari es of wealth of th e domestic a nd s tate

, , ,
 T HE G REAT ER G OD S —
Z EUS 16 1

h eart h s severally a nd of triba l a nd famil y ki n ; a nd h e was

,

also th e p atron of th e h igh er soci a l i nterests co l lectivel y a n d

s epa rately of freedom of th e centralize d u nion of t r ibes a nd
, ,

b roth erhoods a nd of concord a mong the p eo p le Wh ile h e

, .

“ ”
wa s sometimes qu alified by e p ith ets li ke Wa r Lord a n d -

“ ”
B ea rer of V i ctory yet h e wa s seldom known p u rely a s a
,

god of war a testimony to th e advanced ch a racter of the

G reek religion .

To su ch a n extent w a s Zeu s t h e most eth ic al of all t h e god s

of th e p anth eon th at h e a lmost s h ra n k th e G ree k p olytheis m
i nto monotheism a n d it wa s t h is fact wh ich en a bled th e
,

G ree ks to with s tan d th e i nroad s of Ch risti a nity for so long a

time even thou gh i t wa s th e very featu re wh ich i n th e end
,

fac il itated the a cce p ta nce of th e new faith Wh ile Zeu s wa s .

th e b ringer of evi l a s well a s of good i nto the life of men ,

occ as ion ally th e Gree ks rose to th e noble i dea th at h e wa s

“
above a l l t h at wa s evi l He wa s T l w r o s ( Most
"
'
. sr

a nd doubtles s l ater generations erroneou sly read th is s ame

"
eth ical mea ning i nto T 7rur o s B eing su ch a god h e wa s logi
'
.
,

c ally at enm ity with i ni qu ity and wa s d riven by a n i nevitable

,

n eces s ity to ch asti se it wh ence h i s p u nis h ments were not th e

,

resu lts of c a p rice alt h ough th eir su dden nes s might often lea d
,

o ne to t h in k th at t h ey were Hera kles mu rdered a fri end ;

.

h i s sl avery to Omph al e wa s a n atu ral retribution vis ited on

h i m by th e god of friends h ip T a n t a lo s took t h e life of h is own
.

so n Pelop s ; h i s pu nish ment i n Hades w a s a mea su re of h i s

c ri me aga i nst t h e gu ardi an of b lood ki nsh i p To viol ations of .

p ledges a n d of o ath s ta ken i n h i s n a me Zeu s cou ld give only

s hort s h rift B efore th e eyes of th e S p ectators at Olym p i a stoo d
.

a row of b ronze images of Zeu s called i n th e d i a lect of Elis , ,

Zanes which h ad b een made with the fines im

p osed o n thos e who h a d b roken th e ru les governing th e great
games an d wh ich i n thei r cons p icuou s p osition were n a
, , ,

t io n a l remi nders th at Zeu s wa s ever w a tchfu l of the fidelit y of

men i n th e works of org a nized society .

1 62 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
Z eus as P r op het Fa te He a le r a n d He lp er
, ,
At Dodona i n
,
.

Ep e iro s s tood the tal king oa k of Zeu s wh i c h delivered to ,

men mess ages concerning th e futu re a nd a p iece of wh ich we , ,

reca ll wa s bu ilt i nto the p row of t h e Argo a nd with h u ma n voic e

,

s p oke to th e h eroes I t wa s believed th at t h e tree gave u ttera nce

.

to th e though t of Zeu s th rough th e w h i s p eri ngs of its foliage ,

a nd th ese were i nterp reted by s killed p riests w h o made th e

meanings known to cons u lta nts by i nscrib ing t h em o n s mal l
p la ques of lead Just .why th e oa k of a l l th e trees wa s c h osen
as th e ve h icle of Zeu s s commu nic ation we m ay never know ;
’

bu t perh ap s S ir J G Frazer i s a s nea r to t h e tru t h a s i s

’

. .

a ny one when h e cla ims th e oa k a s th e s p eci al tree of Zeu s

b ecau s e it i s more ofte n s tru c k by l igh tning t h a n any ot h er
tree of th e forest Th e power of Zeu s to foretel l a t lea st t h e
.

immedi ate futu re by mea n s of t h e t h u nder a nd t h e lig h tning

we h ave al ready poi nted ou t i n ou r consideration of th e Zeu s
of Homer b u t h e cou ld a lso revea l h i s wil l t h roug h th e fl ight
,

of b i rd s a cros s th e S ky esp eci ally t h roug h t h at of th e eagle

, ,

wh ich wa s p re emi nently h is b i rd

-
.

I n a certa i n s ense Zeu s a s Fate exercised a p rop h etic fu nc

tion ; h e cou ld foretell b ec au s e h e predestined I n Homer it .

was h e a lone who foreord ai ned a nd Moira ,

was a s ,

it were a n im p ersonal decree i ssu i ng from h im ; b u t i n t h e fift h

,

centu ry th e idea ra p idly gai ned cu rrency that there wa s

a p ower preforming th e fu tu re to w h ich Zeu s h imself mu s t
bow I n Aischylos accord ingly i t i s th e th ree Fates w h o
.
, ,

limit h is dominion bu t i n Sp ite of th i s t h e Homeri c b elief never

,

wholly died out .

One need not s ee k far for t h e sou rce of t h e strengt h of Zeu s

a s a h ealer a n d h el p er of a wea k a nd feeb le h u ma nity for a ,

god of h is b road general powers cou ld do a nyt h ing i n p a rticu la r ,

so th at we a re not su rp rised to find attach ed to h i s n ame su ch

“ ” “
e p ith ets a s Defender from Ill B estower of Immu nity, ,
“ ” “
He a l er S avi o u r
,
”
a n d even
“ ”
Averter of Flies on e of h is
, ,

titles a t Ol y m p ia S ome s chola rs clai m t h at th e s tories of t h e

.
1 64 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y

sh e so implac able a foe of D ion y sos ? Why d id sh e dispense no

oracl es ? Why too h a d h er ch ild ren Ares a nd Heph aistos no
, , , ,

ch thonic fu nctions ? Th e h y p othes i s th at sh e wa s origi nally a

moon god des s m a y b e summarily dismissed on th e grou nd th at
-

i t dea l s with a n admitt edl y l ate conception Th e name Hera .

seems to h ave h a d some connexion with th at of Hera kles a nd

erh a s with 7 m bu t th e statement th at it sig n i
p p 2
p
“ ”
fies th e strong one is b ased without warrant o n as sumed re
l a t io n s of Hera with a goddes s of Ph o in ik ia .

Her a i n Ho m er As i n th e The o g o n y of Hesiod Hera i s th e

.
,

d au gh ter of Kronos an d Rhea a nd s ister s pous e of Zeu s

,
-
.

I ndeed sh e a nd Zeu s a re th e only married p a i r on Olym p os

, ,

b ut their conj u ga l life i s anyth ing bu t smooth for Hera i s fa r ,

from being a model wife li ke Andromach e or P enelope ; rather ,

sh e is a sort of d ivi ne Xa nthippe S h e often n ags her h u s

.

b a nd u nti l h is Olym p ia n p atience is ex h au sted an d fea r of ,

su ch nagging ma ny a time deters h im from pu rsu ing cou rses

wh ich h is j udgement h a s deci ded a re righ t a nd p ro p er ; a nd sh e
h as th e b a d h ab it of ta king th e off s ide of a ny question wh ich
h e m ay favou r S h e envelop s th e Troj an s i n a mis t to detai n
.

them when Zeu s h a s willed th at th ey a dva nce ; agai nst th e

wis h of Zeu s sh e h astens the sun wes twa rd ; a nd by her guile
th e b irth of Hera kles i s reta rded so th at h er favou rite Eury s
th eu s m a y gai n th e u p p er h and S o pers istent is her i nter
.

ference with the actions of Zeu s t h at hu manly spea ki ng there

, ,

i s no reason for su r p ris e when h e c ru elly p unis hes h er by

h anging her head down from th e h eights of heaven .

“
Y et des p ite all this sh e i s th e noblest of th e god desses
, , ,

a nd when she moves on her th rone tremors a re felt th rough,

out Olym p os wh ile sometimes sh e even wields t h e thu nder

,

bolt a n d l i ke h er hu sb a nd send s storm a nd clou d Sh e i s th e

, .

be a utiful divinity of the wh ite a rms (Aewcaflt e vo s) a nd l ives '

“ ”
i n a great luxu riou s calm a nd sh e i s too a h elpful goddes s
, , ,

of ch ild bi rth u nder whose di rection h er d aughte rs the Eile i

-
, ,

t h y ia i control th e birth s of Hera kles a n d Eu rys th eu s

, .
 P L AT E XX X I X
HER A

T hi s stat ue s q ue a n d m aj e s ti c fi gure re p re se n t s He r a
as t h e u e e n o f t h e i m m o rtal s O n h e r h e a d sh e w e a r s
q .

a c h a st e ly o rn a m e n t e d go l de n dia de m fro m b e n e at h
,

w h i c h h e r hai r fall s o v e r he r b re a s t a n d sho ul de rs in

l o ng f ull t re ss e s He r chit on o f a de li c at e ly p att e rn e d
.
, ,

ga uz y li n e n dro p s t o h e r a n k l e s w h i ch a re fai n tly

,

vi s ibl e t h ro ug h it a n d o v e r t h i s ha n gs a c l o a k o f s o m e
,

he avy c l o s e l y w o v e n fab ri c w it h a m i ddl e ba n d a n d

,

b o rde r s o f p urp l e He r ri ght ha n d is c o nc e al e d b ut in

.
,

h e r e x p o se d l e ft sh e h o l ds up r i gh t a l o n g s c e p t re s t udde d
wit h go l d fro m t o p t o b o tt o m F ro m a hylix wit h a
.

w h it e g ro un d (ab o ut 4 7 5 in Mun i ch (F urt

w an gl e r Re ic h ho ld G r iechische Va sen m a ler ei N o
-
, ,
.
 T HE G REAT E R G OD S —
HERA 165

He r a as the W if e of Z e us Th e [ sp as ya uo s or holy u nion '

.
r
, ,

of Zeu s a nd He ra wh ic h we h a ve desc r ibe d i n ou r ch a p te r

,

o n B eginnings wa s to a l l th e G reeks th e i de a l of ma rried

,

existence a n d a lthou gh the Homeric ch a racter of Her a a s

,

wife p ers isted i n mytho l ogy down to a l ate p e rio d y et her ma r ,

r ia g e wa s a lways p opu la rly hel d to h ave been a h a p p y one .

T h is s avou rs however more of cou rtes y th a n of truth i nas

, , ,

mu c h a s th e G ree ks mu s t h ave felt th at with a fau lt y mo del

before them th e stab ility of thei r socia l l ife was im p erille d .

Th e u nion its elf i s va riou sly ex p l a ine d S ome a re tem p ted to .

se e i n i t a n affili ation of n atu ra l forces so th at where meteoro ,

logic a l elements a re concerned th e domestic s trife of Zeu s ,

a nd Hera wou ld b e i nter p reted a s a n a llegorica l re p resentation

of th e confl icts of a ir cu rrents Y et th i s ca nnot hol d i f Hera
- .

derived h er few celes tia l fu nction s from h er long a nd i ntimate

contact with Zeu s One extremel y ingen iou s theory outlines
.
11

a very different o rigi n of th e u nion I t points Out th at a s th e .

lep bs yafuo s wa s most celeb rated i n th e ch ief P elasgic centres

f

li ke Eub o ia Bo io t ia Argolis a nd S amos it wa s p rob ably

, , , ,

general ly accepted i n P ela sgic times I n Dodona however .

, ,

th e oldes t P elasgic centre of th e cu lt of Zeu s th e wife of ,

Zeu s wa s not Hera b u t D ione whence h i s ma rriage with Hera

,

mu s t h ave origi nated i n th e s ame P el asgic period B u t how .

wa s it b rou ght abou t wit h out a fata l wrenc h of religiou s senti

ment ? Th e myth -ma kers h a d a way I f by mea ns of a myt h .
, ,

D ionysos cou ld b e foisted on Zeu s a s a so n it wa s su rely j ust ,

a s ea sy to ex p l a i n awa y one wife a nd give h im a not h er Th e .

n ecess ity fo r so doi ng a ros e th i s theory holds with th e inter

, ,

mingli ng of two raci al stoc ks one of wh ich wa s matrilinear an d

wors h i p p ed Hera a s its ch ief divi nity a n d the other of wh ich ,

wa s p atril inea r a nd followed th e cult of Zeus To u nite th e .

two divi nities i n a s acred wedloc k wou ld be to secu re a religiou s

s a nction for th e connub ia l a nd p ol itic a l fu sion of the two
s trai n s of b lood a n d accord ingly Hera wa s torn from the
, , ,

embrace of h er lawfu l hu sb a nd Hera kles a n d t h rown i nto , ,

1 66 G REE K AN D RO MAN M YT HO LO G Y
th e a rms of a d ivorced Zeus th e se p aration b eing so c a refully ,

h u s hed up however th at onl y s c a nty traces of it a re left

, ,
.

T h e ch ild re n of Hera a n d Zeu s were He p h aistos Ares Heb e , , ,

a n d th e Eile it h yia i b u t th ey exh ib it few tra its wh ich reve a l

,

thei r m aternity Heph a istos ta kes h is mother s p art wh e n

.
’

Zeu s pu nis h es her for h er i nterference a nd Zeu s h imself a p olo ,

’
gize s for Ares wa rli ke d is p os ition i n th at h e i nh erits it from
h is mother Heb e i s a sort of personific atio n of th e well p re
.
-

s e rved b eauty o f h er mother and i n one legen d sh e h a s no ,

rel ationsh ip a t al l with Zeu s Hera b ea ring h er after a mos t ,

mys teriou s im p regn ation by a leaf of lettu ce Th e Eile it h y ia i .

’
reflect thei r moth er s c are for women i n ch ildb ed .

The Fun cti o n s of Her a Wh ether o r not Hera wa s origi

.

n ally a god des s of th e weath er a nd fe rti lity sh e occ as iona lly ,

a p p ears a s s u ch i n th e myth s a nd les s often i n h er cu lts , , ,

.

Th e gale wh ich bore Agamemnon to h i s home S hores after th e

fall of I lion wa s of Hera s m a king a n d sh e it w a s too who ’
, , ,

c au s ed th e mist to e ns h rou d th e Troj a ns Th e cu c koo often .

,

regarded a s a ra i n b i rd wa s s acred to h er a nd P o ly k le it o s
-
, ,

represented it perch ed on h er s ce p tre wh ile i n one b rief legen d ,

Zeu s assu med t h e form of th e cu c koo to wi n h er love I n .

times of d rough t p roces sions of h er worsh i p pe rs wou ld m a rch

to th e mou nta i n top s a nd there i nvo ke h er a id a n d th e l uxu
-
,

ri ant growth of b loom wh ich app ea red after a d ry period h a d

b een b roken sp rang people s aid from Hera s b rid a l b ed S h e
, ,
’
.

w a s moreover p rotectres s of su ch s tapl e pl a nts a s th e p ome

, ,

gra nate a nd t h e vi ne th e fu ll development of wh ich d epend s

,

so d irectly u po n t h e volume of ra infall .

Hera s p ower to c au se i ns a nity wa s notoriou s Hera kles

’
.

a nd Ath ama s a nd I no sh e im p elled i n t h ei r ma d nes s to ta ke

th e l ives O f thei r own offs p ring ; Io S h e d rove ma d wi th a gad
fly ; a nd S h e mad e th e d au gh ters of P ro it o s roam wildly ove r
the P elo p onnesos Nor d id th e gods enti rely es ca p e for sh e
.
,

cas t a s p ell of frenzy on D ion y sos for h is i ntrodu ction of th e

vi ne a nd u nder its i nfluence h e wa ndered h ith er a nd th ithe r
,
168 G REE K AND ROMAN M YTHO LOGY
c a rt to th e He r a io n some forty fu rlongs d is ta nt a nd w h en th e
,
‘

oxen d id not appea r h er sons Kle o b is a nd B iton p ut th e yoke

,

acros s their nec ks a n d d rew h er to t h e temple Filled with .

p ride at the ma ny felicitations wh ic h sh e received o n h aving

s u c h sons the moth er s tood before the image of Hera a n d

,

rayed th at sh e wou ld b es tow u pon K le o b is a nd B iton th e

p
greates t boon th at men cou ld h ave After s ac rific ing a nd feast
.

i ng th e you ng men l ay down a nd s lep t i n t h e p reci nct of th e

,

go ddess a n d never wo ke
,
.

I t i s not a p leas antry b ased on h er m atrimonia l qu a rrels

when we state th at there a re some evi dences th at Hera wa s
rega rded a s a goddes s of wa r Trad itions to th at e ff ect seem to
.

u nderlie some of the cu lts a lt h ough the only ta ngible h i nt of

,

thi s i n myth i s fou nd i n th e story of Hera kles s ince Al k m e n e s

,
’

name indicates th at sh e wa s p rimitively a d ivi nity of wa r a n d ,

h er close associ ation with Hera th roug h h er so n may mea n

th at sh e wa s actu ally Hera h erself .

He r a i n Ar t — T h e Hera of art l ac ks t h e c lear cut a t t r i

.
-

b utes of person ality b elonging to th e Hera of myt h a nd cu lt .

S h e h as no s u re tag of identification abou t h er rep resentations ,

s u ch as Artemi s h a s i n her bow a nd At h ene i n h er aegis a l ,

thou g h at a l ate period sh e occ a s ionally h a d a pea coc k b es ide

her I n her great statu e i n the Argive He r a io n t h e work of
.
,

P o lyk le it o s S h e wa s S h own h oldi ng a p omegra nate i n one h a nd

, ,

a nd on th e top of h er staff h eld i n th e oth er h and perch ed a

, ,

cu c koo S h e generally a p p ea red a s a b eau tifu l matu re wom an

.
,

with or wit h ou t a veil s eated o n a th rone

,
.
 C H AP T E R I I

T H E G REAT E R G O D S — AT H EN E

HE Or ig i n and the N ame

Th e most t h at on e
o f At hen e .
—

c a n sa y of th e origi n of Athene i s th at sh e belonge d to th e

so ca lled Ac h aia n p eriod a nd wa s worsh i
p p ed by Dori a n and
-

Ioni a n a li ke wh ile h er cu lt wa s d iffu sed u niformly over th e

,

e nti re G ree k world No ob servab le traces of a P e l asgic d es cent

.

c ling to her person a lthough sh e may h ave been P elasgic

, .

E qu a lly l ac king a re marks of h er importation from th e Orient ;

th i s we confidently as sert i n t h e face of a p p a rent l y well sup —

p orted statements th at sh e a long wit h Hera wa s a n o ff s hoot, ,

of th e P h ilisti ne goddes s Assa h of G aza ; a nd her identification

c

at Corinth with th e S yro Arab ia n goddes s All é t w a s a mere

-

a ccident Th e ma i n li nes of h er ch a ra cter a n d th e forms of

.

h e r wors h i p O b served for insta nce i n Tegea Sp a rta Kyrene

, , , , ,

Rh odes a nd Athens were al l develop ed p rimarily i n Argos

, ,

b u t of a ll t h es e p l ace s Athen s a lone a dded new tra its a nd

s timu l ated th e logic a l u nfolding of ol d ones so th at for th i s , ,

reason it i s i n Ath ens th at we c a n stu dy Athene to th e greatest

,

a dva ntage AS for th e mea ning of h er n ame h ere a g a i n we

.
,

mu st confes s to ignora nce a lthou gh one su ggested et y mology

,

i s at least worth cons ideration T h i s derives her a p p ell a tion .

“ ”
from ct Hsj vi o v ( withou t moth er s mil k ) a nd i nterp rets i t either
’
-
’

p ass ively o r a ctively th e reference i n

,
th e former sens e being
to Ath ene s u nmoth ered b irth from Zeu s a n d i n th e latter to h er
’

sexles s c h a ra cter wh ich i s muc h li ke th at of th e Amazons

1
.
,

Athen e i n Ho m er Homer consta ntly de p icts Ath ene a s

.
—

the beloved d a u ghter of Zeu s bu t nowh ere does he a l l u de to ,

h er b irt h from h i s h ead S h e i s more li ke th e ch ief Ol y m p ia n

.
179 G RE E K AN D ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y
th a n i s a n y one of th e other divi nities mal e or female not , ,

only resembling h im i n the wide range a nd d irectnes s of her

a ctivities a s we l l a s i n th e h igh t y p e of h er mentality bu t a lso ,

p osses s ing a l arge measu re of her fathe r s s p onta neou s re

’

sou rcefu lnes s i n c rises B y rea son of her read y wit sh e h a s a

.

“
n atu ral affinit y for O dysseu s a nd on th e p rinci p le th at God
,

h el p s those who h el p th emselves sta nd s rea dy at a ll times to

,

a s s ist h im S h e is th e p atrones s a n d mod el worker of a ll t h os e

.

a rts of l ife wh ic h d emand ingenu ity a nd d exterity ; sh e i s

s killed i n th e smith ing of gold i n weaving a nd oth er domestic
,

a ccom p lish ments S h e endowed P enelop e a nd th e d aughters of

.

P a n da r e o s with th ei r s kill i n all h andiwork a nd sh e it wa s , ,

too who gave deftnes s to th e thou g h t a n d h an d of Ep eios i n

,

fash ioni ng th e wooden horse th e i ns trument of Tro y s fall

,
’
.

Wh ile sh e frequ ently ta kes si de s i n th e a ctu a l strife b efore

Troy sh e doe s so rather a s a great s trategis t t h a n a s one w h o
,

d elights i n c a rn age an d h avoc .

The Bi r th of Athen e I n th e The o g o n y of Hes iod we are

.

tol d th at Ou ranos an d Gai a warned Zeu s th at h i s wife Metis , ,

th en p regnant with P allas wou ld b ea r a so n who wou ld b e

,

come th e king of god s a nd m en Kee p ing h is cou nsel to h im

.

s elf Zeu s a p p roached Metis a nd craftily persu a ded h er to

,

a ssu me th e form of some very s ma ll a nima l (a l ate legend s ays

th at sh e b ecame a fly ) whereu p on h e p romptly swallowed h er
, ,

a n d after a time P a lla s Ath ene leaped forth from h i s h ead i n a

, ,
“
p ano p ly of gold . And mig h ty Ol y mpos s h ook d rea dful ly
b eneath the fea rfu l b righ t eyed goddess a nd rou nd abou t
-
,

ea rth loud l y r e echoe d ; th e se a wa s moved being s ti rred with

-
,

p u r p le waves ; su ddenly th e s pray wa s th rown a loft a nd th e

gloriou s so n of Hy p erion h alted h i s swift steed s till su ch time
a s th e maiden P a l la s Ath ene h a d removed h e r d ivi ne a rmou r
from h er i mmort a l shou l ders And all cou ns elling Zeu s re
.
-

” 2
j oiced . I n a v a ri a nt form of th is m y th B rontes one of th e ,

K y klo p es beg a t Athene b y Metis who w a s swallowed by

, ,

Zeu s b efore sh e cou l d b ri ng her o ff s p ring i nto the world ; a nd

 P L AT E X L

AT H E N E

T o un de r sta n d t h i s s tat ue fully o n e m ust re st o re t o

t h e r i ht o f it t he r e m ai n de r o f t h e g r o up t o w h i c h it
g
se e m s t o h av e b e l o n ge d ; i e . Ma rsya s drawi ng ba c k
.

fro m a p ai r o f fl ut e s lyi n g o n t he g ro un d b e f o re h im .

T he go dde ss a s e l f p o ss e ss e d a n d t ho ro ugh ly m ai de n l y
,
-

fi gure gla n c i n g i n di ffe re ntly t o wa rd t h e i n st rum e n t s

, ,

i s ab o ut t o t ur n away t o t h e l e ft a s t ho ug h i n s ti n c tiv e ly
awa re o f h e r n ativ e s up e ri o rity t o t h e h al f b e sti al-

c re at ur e n e a r h e r . T h e C o r i n t h ia n h e l m e t t h e c r e st
,

o f w h i c h is l o s t h ére s e rv e s o n ly a s a m e a n s o f i de n
,

t ifi c a t io n
. T h i s stat ue is a p p a re n tl y a re p l i c a o f t he
fi rst c e n t ury B C o r A D o f a b ro n z e o ri gi n al by
. . . .

Myro n (latt e r p a rt o f t h e fi ft h c e n t ury a n d is

n o w i n F ra n k fo rt
(7 H A I x ii P ,
lat e II
).
172 G RE E K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
a nd for t h ei r control devis ed t h e b it a n d b ridle wh ile from ,

her h ands B ellero p hon received th e b ridle wi th wh ich h e gu ided

Pegasos I t wa s a s a d ivinity of s ki ll rat h er th a n of th e se a
.

th at sh e exercised a p atronage over s eamansh i p a nd gave

su cces s to the Atheni a n mari ne a nd sh e it w as who s afely
,

steered th e Argo p as t th e perilou s S ymplegades .

I n At t ik e Athene wa s a ctive i n a nother p ractica l fi e l d

,

th at of agricu ltu re S h e wa s especi ally associ ated wit h t h e

.

ol ive and i t wa s i n S a l ami s

,

wh e re fi r st fro m t h e e a r t h
Th e g re y—g l e a m i n g fru i t o f t he m ai de n
At h e n a h a d b i r t h
” 3
.

After c reating th e olive S h e revealed its u ses to ma n ki nd

, .

S h e a nd P oseidon contested the owners h i p of At t ik e a nd a ,

d ecis ion wa s p romised by a rb iters to th at one of th e two w h o

would confer the greates t b enefit u pon th e c itizens whereu pon ,

Poseidon with a stroke of h i s trident p rod uced the s a lt sp ring

, ,

a nd Ath ene pla nted th e olive tree both o n th e Ac ro p olis

-
, .

The la nd wa s awa rded to Athene a nd from h er gift were grown

,

t h e olive orch a rd s of th e Atti c pl a in He r associa tions wit h .

agricu ltu re in general s eem not to h ave b een origin a l b u t a s

, , , ,

i t were a legacy of a n ea rlier agricu ltu ra l d ivini ty whom sh e

,

d ispl aced Th e serpent i n th e Ere c h t h e io n a nd the ob scene

.

fertility rites h i nted at i n the s tory of Er ic h t ho n io s s b i rt h ’

from Athene a p parently go b ac k to su c h a d ivi nity .

As a war god dess Ath ene wa s mu ch t h e s ame ou ts ide of

-

Homer a s with in a n d h er attitu de wa s th at of a defender

,

rather th a n th at of a p ro voker of wa r S h e took her pa rt i n .

th e j u st d efence of Zeu s from th e attac k of th e Tita ns h er ,

s p eci a l a ntagonis t i n th is confl ict bei ng En k e la do s; a nd Sh e

d i rected p articul a r attention to th e development of effi ciency
i n the c av a l ry and to difficul t s iege O p era tions A b ra nch of h e r .

olive w a s a n emb l em of peace won by a rms .

Although Athene p rovoked th e s torm t h at scattered t h e

 T HE G REAT ER GOD S —
AT HEN E 17 3

Ach a ia n s depa rting from I lion although sh e sh attered the

,

s hi p of Ai a s with a lightning bolt a n d a ided O dysseu s time

-

a nd a ga i n wit h favou r a b le c h a nges of wind a nd weather ,

sh e ca nnot b e rega rde d a s decide dly a weathe r god des s h er

-
,

a ctivities i n th i s sp h ere doubtles s coming from her i ntimate

rel ationsh i p to Zeu s .

Mos t of Athene s soci a l as p ects h ave b een b roug h t out in

’

c ide n t a lly i n th e foregoing d iscu s s io n of her attribu tes Oc .

c a sio n a l ly however S h e a p pea red a s the p atrones s of the d e

, ,

l iberative a nd executive b ra nch es of th e state a nd a s Athene ,

Poli a s i n Ath en s sh e wa s the d ivi ne m a i nstay of th e enti re

body politic He r outstan ding mora l ch a racteris tic i s h er un
.

i m p eac h ab le ch astity so th at on Tegea sh e b rought a p l a gu e

,
’
b eca us e Auge s b ab e born ou t of we dloc k h ad been concea led
, ,

i n her p reci nct wh ile h er a nger a ga i ns t the so n of Oileu s wa s

,

a rou sed more by h i s o ff ence aga i ns t a genera l mora l l aw p ro

t e c t in g su ppl i ants t h a n b y th e d esecration of h er sh rine i n

p a rticul a r
.

Athe n e i n Ar t T h ere are two ou tsta nding ty p es of r e p r e

.

se n t a t io n s of Ath ene I n th e fi rs t wh ich i s the more common

.
, ,

sh e i s s hown s ta nding with l ance a n d s h ield wea ri ng a helmet

, ,

a nd c a rr y i ng the aegi s with th e Gorgoneion or Gorgon s h ea d ;

,
’

i n th e other ty p e Sh e i s s eated a nd u n a rmed ; i n both the owl

a nd t h e s na ke sometimes appea r a s d istinctive attribu tes .
 C H AP T E R I I I

T H E G REAT E R G O D S — L ET O , AP O L L O ,

ART E M I S ,
H EK AT E

LE T O

ET O (Lati n Latona ) wa s th e d au gh ter of th e Tita ns Ko io s

a nd P h o ib e I n Homer S h e wa s a lrea dy held to be th e
.

mother of Apollo a nd Artemis a nd i n more th a n a tra ns ient

, ,

s ense th e s p ou se of Zeu s W h en Ain e ia s wa s wou nded sh e

,
.
,

a ssisted i n ca ring for h im bu t h er a c t i s not to b e regarded a s

,

s ignifica nt of a religiou s fu nction for h er ch ief importa nce lies

,

i n her motherhood of Apollo a nd Artemi s .

The Bi r th of Ap o ll o a n d Ar tem is Th e story of t h e b irt h

.
—

of A p ollo a nd Artemi s c a n b e m ade complete by p iecing t o

gether a portion of a Ho m er i c Hym n to A p ollo a nd s evera l
1

su p p lementary myth s T h e s tatement i n o ne of the latte r

.

th a t Artemi s wa s born th e d ay b efore Apollo mu st b e h eld i n

mi nd a s a n expla nation of h er presence at h er b rother s b i rt h ’
.

B eing great with ch ild by Zeu s Leto wa ndered from l a nd

,

to la n d abou t th e Aegea n searc h ing for a place i n wh ich to

b ring her so n to t h e light ; bu t everyw h ere th e peo p le fea red
h i s p redestined power a nd sh e wa s tu rned c ru elly away
, .

At last she reached th e isl and of Rh e n e ia a nd a t h e r own re ,

qu est w a s t a ken from there to Delos wh ich sh e ea rnes tl y begged

,

to afford her th e refuge t h at sh e so mu ch n eeded Afte r long .

h esita tion th e i s l a n d consente d to receive h er o n cond ition

th at sh e wou l d swea r a solem n oath th at h er son s fi rst s h rine ’

wou l d be erected th ere a nd th at h e wou ld abu nda ntly h onou r

,

a n d not des p i se th i s u n rodu ctive tract of roc k L eto swore

p .

b y the S t y x (th e most awfu l of a l l oath s ) a nd wa s fort h wit h

,
176 G REEK AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
b eing a p parently reflected i n th e fixed rou tes followed by t h e
s acred p rocessions to h is two ch ief s h ri nes Th e one way .
,

wh ich we may note A p ol lo h imself followed a ccording to t h e

, , ,

longer Ho m e r i c Hym n i n h i s honou r ra n sout h wa rd from ,

Tem p e th rough Io l k o s a nd Thebes to D e lp h o i ; a nd th e ot h er

led the p ilgrims bea ri ng th e Hyp e r b o re ia n fru its overl and

FIG .
7 . AP OLLO AN D T I TYOS

Ap o ll o , h
s ow n t y ut h w it h l g h i i t id i g f w d w it h
a s an e ff e m in a e o on a r, s s r n or ar a

d ub l
o i hi ig h t h d T h b k w d l k t h b t k
e a xe n s r an . d th
e w i gi g
ac ar oo , e en n e e s, a n e s n n

ar m f T it y
s o t g th i d i t t h g i t g t f
os o e er n d p id fl igh t F m
ca e e d an
’
s re a e ar an ra . ro a re

f g u d Atti
i re mp h f th N l
c a ty p f u d t G l (M um ti A ti hi xviii
or a o e o an e o n a e a on en n c , ,

P l t X)a e .

a long th e coa st of the Ad ri atic to Dodona t h ence eastwa rd ,

to th e G ulf of Eub o ia a nd from t h at poi nt by Shi p to Delos

, .

’
A p ollo s i nitia l fu nction i s by no mea n s certa i n nor h a s a ny ,

s ati sfacto ry ex p la nation of th e sou rce a nd mea ni ng of h is

n ame yet been offered .

Ap o llo i n Ho m e r I n Homer Apollo i s al ready t h e so n of

.

Zeu s a nd th e b roth er of Artemi s b ut a lthou g h h i s c h ief p h ys i , ,

c a l tr a i ts a nd the leading featu res of h i s ch a racter a re fixed

,
 PLA TE X LI

T H E AP O L L O BEL V E D ER E

T he p o s iti o n o f t he
g s
o d, ta n di n g as h e is wit h his

fe e t w e ll a p a rt an d e xt e n di n g o n e h a n d fo rwa rd w h il e
t h e o t h e r dro p s al m o s t t o h is s i de s ugg e s t s t h at h e h a s
,

j us t s ho t a n a r ro w fr o m his b o w an d wit h h is e ye is
fo l l o wi n g it s di sta n t fli g ht .T h i s i n t e rp re tati o n is
c e rtai n ly in ha r m o ny w it h o t h e r re p re s e n tati o n s o f
h im alt h o ug h h e re he s e e m s t o b e p layi n g t h e r ble o f
,

a rc he r b e fo re a t h ro n g o f a dm i re rs rath e r t ha n t o b e
e ng a g e d in t he s e r i o us b us i n e ss o f h itti n g a l ivi n g

m a r k a n d alt h o ug h t o o al m o s t all o f h is i n divi dual

, , ,

c h a ra c t e ri sti cs h av e b e e n i de al i z e d a w ay F ro m a
.

m a rbl e (a c o p y o f a He ll e n i sti c b ro n z e ) in t he Be lv e
de re o f t he V ati c a n (Br un n Br uc k m a n n D en hm aler
-
,

g r iechischer a rt d r om isc her Sculp t ur , N o .

 T HE G REAT ER GOD S — A P O LLO 177

h e h a s yet to evolve th e com p lex p ersonality by wh ich h e i s to

b e known to th e G reeks after th e fifth centu ry He h a s to
do with light bu t i s not convi nci ngl y identified with Helios
, .

He i s a god of h ealing b u t not yet the god of h ealing so

, ,

th at h e revives Hektor after h e h a s b een wou nded i n conflict .

W ith th e p ower of h ealing mu s t b e as su me d i ts o p p os ite th e ,

ab ility to i nfl ict h arm wh ence it wa s A p ollo who i n consequence

, ,

of a sligh t s ent th e pestilence u pon th e men a n d bea sts of th e

,

Ac h a i a n c am p He i s h imself the ex p ert a rch er of th e Olym

.

p i an s a nd confers o n P a n da ro s and T e uk ro s s ki l l i n th e u se of
th e bow bu t thou gh h e wield s th e bow a nd occasionally takes
, ,

p a rt i n th e strife a s a violent p artis a n of th e Troj ans h e i s ,

only a cci dentally a go d of wa r He i s associ ated with p roph ecy

.

i n th at seers li ke K alch a s d raw th ei r ins p i ration from h im

, , .

D escri p tion s of h i m a lways re p resent h im a s i n t h e p rime of

you ng manhood wi th flowi ng loc ks of golden h ai r
,
.

Ap o llo i n D e lp ho i P ython the huge d ragon O ffs p ring of

.
,
-

E arth learned th a t h e wa s doomed to d ie at th e h a nd s of a

,

so n whom Leto shou l d b ear a nd to forestall th e f utu re h e

,

sou gh t to kill h er b u t wa s fru stra ted by Zeu s w h o removed

, ,

h er to a p l ace of s afety u nti l h er ch ildren were born S oon .

a fter h i s b irth A p ollo too k from Heph aistos a qu iver of a rrows

a nd with them slew h i s moth er s foe at D e l p ho i t h ereby earn ’
,

i n g for h imself t h e title P yth ios a nd bu rying th e body of , ,

th e P ython i n th e temple h e i nstitu ted over it f unera l games

,

wh ich were th ereafter known a s th e Pyt h i an G ames Closely .

allied with t hi s legen d i s t h e a ccou nt w h ic h i n th e Ho m er i c ,

Hym n d edic ated to th e god tells of h i s fou nding of h i s own

,

s h ri ne Le aving Olym pos A p ollo p ressed sout h ward p as s

.
, ,

ing t h rou gh Io lk o s Eub o ia a nd T h ebes and at last came

, , ,

to D e lp ho i on th e S lopes of Mou nt Pa rna ssos overlooking

,

th e Gu lf of Cori nth wh ere he b u ilt a beau tifu l tem p le from

,

wh ic h to deliver oracles h e h imself layi ng the fou ndation

,

b u t entrusti ng th e rest of th e work to hu ma n h ands Hard by .

t h e fa ne was a Sp ri ng wh ere lu rked Ty p hon a destru ctive ,

178 G REE K AND ROMAN M Y THO LO G Y
monster u nl i ke both god s a nd men wh ic h Hera b egot wit h ou t
, ,

Zeu s in a nswer to h er p rayer th at E a rth gra nt h er a so n who

wou l d overth row h er h u sb a nd With one of h i s sh a r p Sh afts .

A p o l l o l a id Typhon low a nd b ec a u se h e left th e ca rcas s u p on

,

th e grou nd to rot t h e deity wa s called P yth ios if a p l ay u p on

,
2
,

word s ca n convin ce a ny o ne I n th ese two n arratives we may .

p erceive i n dication s th at th e E art h God des s h ad a ma ntic

s e a t at D e lp h o i b efore t h e cu lt a nd ora cle of Apollo were es
t a b lish e d th ere th i s b eing p arti ally verified by t h e story th at
,
’
E arth j ealou s of Apollo s u su rp ation s ent d ream orac les
, ,
-

to vis itors a t t h e fane to t h wa rt the Apolline method of r e

vealing t h e futu re w h ereu pon t h e god a p pealed to Zeu s who
, ,

ordered th at no more p rop h eci es of th i s ty p e b e d is p ensed

i n the s h ri ne W h en A p o l lo h ad comp leted h is temp le th e
.
,

Ho m er i c Hym n conti nu es h e c a st abou t for su itab le p riests

,

to serve h im a nd Spyi ng a compa ny of Creta n s i n a sh i p

, ,

bou nd for Pylos h e leaped i nto t h e se a i n th e form of a dol

,

ph i n a nd th ence i nto th e h ollow of th e ves sel None du rst .

tou c h or d istu rb h im a nd a s long a s h e lay th ere t h e s a ilors

, , ,

lost al l control of th ei r h elm so t h at i n sp ite of themselves , , ,

they were c a rried p a st t h ei r go a l a nd eastwa rd u p t h e Gu lf of

Cori nth u nti l t h ey c ame to Kri s a t h e port of D e lp ho i There , .

A p ollo i n th e form of a b eau tifu l you t h revealed h imself to

, ,

them a nd a p p oi nting th em th e h oly servitors of h i s tem p le

, , ,

b a de them worsh ip h im thenceforth u nder th e title D e lp hin io s

“
( Dol p h i n th e S ite of t h e sh rine formerly ca lled ,

P y tho being now given th e n ame of D e lp h o i Th i s legen d a p

,
.

p a re n t l y record s a h i storica l fa ct th at th e D el p h inia n A p ollo ,

who wa s widely regarded a s a s aviou r from s h ipwrec k wa s of ,

Creta n p rovenance 3
.

The F un ct i o n s of Ap o llo — U ndoubted ly t h e b es t known

p ower of Apollo wa s t h at of prop h ecy As h a s a lready been .

cle a rly i ntimated h i s ch ief p rop h eti c s h ri ne wa s D e lp h o i

, ,

a l though oth er centres p rob a bly o ff s hoots of D e lp h o i li ke

, ,

Br a n c h ida i were fou nd i n va riou s p laces His foreknowledge

, .
180 G REE K AND RO MAN MYTHO LOGY
h is supervision wa s natu rally extended to th e h ig h ways of t h e
l and a nd h e became th e p rotector of wayfa rers whence th e
, ,

p resence of hi s images i n th e streets before ho use do o r s .

Th e r éle of A p ollo a s th e d ivi ne fou nder of colonies i s doubt

less a s early a s the p eriod o f the immigration wh ic h b rou gh t
h im i nto th e Hellenic worl d As th e years went by t h i s p art
.
,

wa s greatly enlarged th rou g h th e frequ ency wit h wh ic h p ro

sp e c t iv e colonists ap p ea led to h i s oracle to t h row lig h t o n
th e destiny of t h ei r settlements ab roa d a n d ep ith ets li ke ,
“
Fou nder poi nt to t h is He wa s even s ai d to gu id e emigra nts
”
.

to their new h ome s i n th e form of some b ird especi a lly of a ,

se a b ird su c h a s t h e diver or th e gu ll a nd h e c ame h imself i n

-
, , ,

one accou nt to D e lp h o i from th e la nd of t h e Hyp e rb o r e ia n s

,

i n a c h ariot d rawn by swa ns I n j u st su c h a c a r h e conveyed

.

K yrene to Africa an d we h ave a lready noted how a s a dolph in

, , ,

h e led h is mini sters to h i s s h rine i n D e lp ho i Owi ng to th i s .

i ntimate connexion with t h e estab li sh ing of new states h i s

n ame ea sily became woven into t h e genealogies of t h ei r h u ma n
fou nders so t h at for i nsta nce a s P a t ro Os h e wa s litera lly
, , ,

known i n Athen s a s th e fle sh a nd—b lood fat h er of Ion by t h e

-

Ath eni an maiden K reo usa Now it wa s logical to expect t h e

.

fou nder to continu e h i s favou r p a st t h e i niti al stages o f se t

t l e m e n t a nd to e nsu re t h e wel l bei ng of t h e estab lis h ed co m
-

mu nity wh ence we find Apollo a s t h e p rotector a nd i deal of

,

youth i e of t h e c itizens to b e i n w h ic h con nexion it will

,
. .
,

b e remembered th at Hera kles dedicated to h im a loc k of h i s

h ai r on att a ining to manhood We see h im too p rotecting al l
.
, ,

u sefu l p lants a s well a s h erd s As S mi ntheu s h e s aves th e c ro p s

.
,

from t h e ravages of mice ; th e K a r n e ia n Apollo of La ked aimon

wa s a god of horned c attle ; a n d Apollo h i mself h erded th e
floc ks of Adm e t o s for a season Of t h e trees th e lau rel app le
.
, ,

a nd tamaris k were s acred to h im His relation to t h e l au re l .

i s dimly p ictu red i n th e story t h at A p ollo loved D ap h ne t h e ,

dau gh te r of th e river P eneios a nd E a rth b ut eva ding h i s em , ,

b r a ce th e m a iden besou gh t h er moth er to s ave h er Ea rt h

, .
,
 T HE G REAT ER GOD S — A PO LLO 18 1

h earkening to t h e p rayer allowed h er to s i n k p a rtly from sigh t

,

a nd ch anged h er i nto th e l au rel —tree whereu pon b rea king o ff a , ,

b ra nch A p ollo c rowned h i s h ea d with i t

, .

Althou gh Hermes wa s c red ite d wi th th e i nvention of th e

lyre Apollo wa s th e s ki l le d p erformer u p on it I n m y th h e i s
, .

b ut ra rely re p resented a s em p lo y ing th e fl ute a p ictori a l manner ,

of s aying t h at th e wa ili ng notes of th i s i nst ru ment were not i n

h armony with th e A p ol li ne ritu al a n d th e su p eriorit y of th e
,

lyre i s t h e sub sta nce of the stor y of th e contest between A p ollo

a nd Marsya s Athene it i s s a id i nvented th e flu te ou t of a
.
, ,
’
d eer s horn a nd pl ayed before th e god s b ut h er gri maces c reated ,

su ch ridi cu le th at i n d i sgu st s h e th rew th e instru ment awa y a nd

cu rsed with tortu re w h osoever wou ld p ic k i t u p Mars ya s th e .

s atyr fou nd it a nd h aving by di nt of much p racti ce attained

, ,

great p roficiency h e boa stf ully ch allenged Apollo to a contest

,

i n wh ic h th e mu ses a s j u dges awa rded the p a lm to the god

, , ,
’
who i n fu lfilment of Ath ene s cu rse p roceeded to fl ay h i s de
, ,

feated a dvers ary alive B esi des b eing a p erformer on th e lyre

.

a nd t h e flu te A p ollo wa s a singer and i n short h e was th e

, , , ,

god of a ll mu s ic a n d of th e a llied art of p oetry B a rd s drew their .

ifi Sfi T EHOH from h im a nd it wa s h e who impelled th e p riests

,

a n d p riestes ses of th e ora cles to ca st their u tterances i nto

mea su red l angu age h avi ng the form if not a lways th e s p i rit , ,

of poetry B efore the a ssemb lies of th e god s he led th e choru s

.

of th e Mu ses an d i n certai n l ate p h ilosoph ical beliefs the h a r

,

mony not only of th e movements of the su n bu t also of th e

u niverse wa s attribu ted to h im No straining of t h e fancy i s
.

requ ired to follow h im a s h e a dvances from th i s ex a lted p osi

tion of ab stract thou gh t to th e lord sh i p of a ll soci a l h armon y .

T h e recognition of A p ollo a s Helios wa s ea rly bu t not origin a l ,

a nd may h ave a ri sen from Oriental i nflu ences ; and from thi s
5
,

p erh ap s c ame th e conce p tion of h i s long fai r h air wh ile either

, ,

h ere or i n h i s a ffi li ation with Artemi s lies th e origi n of h i s

a rrows .

I n spite of h i s d exterity with th e bow he wa s never tech ,

18 2 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY

n ic a l lya god of wa r b eing on th e contra ry consi stently j u st

, , ,

a s h e wa s re p resented o n th e weste rn p ediment of th e temp le

of Zeu s a t Olympi a the ex p onent of peace a nd c ivilization a s
,

O p p osed to the cea seles s strife of b a rb a rism .

Ap o llo i n Ar t I n re p resenti ng A p ollo a rch ai c a rt borrowed

.

from the e p i c the featu re of t h e u nshorn h a ir a nd added i t ,

to th e rough feti sh i sti c i mages of th e god i n order to p rodu c e

bodily rea lity From th i s wa s ea sily evolved th e type of th e
.

b est p eriod a type wh ich we mu st forb ea r from rea ding i nto

,

the e p ic Here A p ollo wa s dep icted a s a you ng m a n i n h i s

.

p rime nu de or lightly clad sta nd ing or stridi ng S ometimes

, ,
.

he wea rs a long flowing cloa k or a tu nic a nd the bow th e zither , ,

and the twig of lau rel i n th e h ai r are a lmost consta nt attrib utes ,

si ngly or j o i ntly .

ART E MI S

The Or ig i n a n d the N a m e Artemi s may h ave f

o Ar t e m i s .
—

origi nated among th e Greeks or o n the other h a nd among , , ,

Ph rygi a ns or othe r b a rb a ri a ns a nd l ater h ave received a ,

G reek n ame Conj ectu re s a s to h er p rimeva l fu nctions a re

.

s h ar p l y d ivi ded th e two a spects selected by opposing schools

,

a s th e oldest bei ng firs t th at i n wh ich sh e i nterests h erself

, ,

i n th e life of th e wild a nd secondly t h a t in w h ic h S h e appea rs

, , ,

a s a destroyer of l ife He r cu lt title Me le a g ro s ( Hu nter of

.
“ -

”
Members ) i s thou ght to d escribe he r a s t h e demon of a d is
ease p erh ap s of le p rosy wh ich s lowly devou rs th e memb ers of
, ,

the body By a very na tu ral converse m a nner of reasoni ng

.

the one who cou l d destroy cou l d al so a rrest th e p roces s of

dest r uction a nd could heal Yet fo r Artemi s to a cqu i re from .

th es e fu nctions h er domi nion over th e wild we mu s t a dmit , ,

t a xes the fa nc y a nd reason so th at it seems mu ch more p rob ,

able th at a divi nit y who h a s oversight among oth er th ings of , ,

wi l d p l a nts wit h medici nal p ro p erties wou ld become a d ivi nity ,

of he a l i ng a nd th a t once th e c a p ac ity of cu ri ng d isease w a s

, ,

est a b l i sh e d th e converse p rocess of a rgument wou ld expla i n

,
 P L AT E X L I I
AR T E M I S

No i n sc ri pti o n is n e e de d t o m a rk t hi s s tat ue a s t h at
L a dy o f t h e Be a st s O n he r h e ad r e s t s a n
”
o f t he .

e lab o r at e c r o w n o n t h e t o o f w h i c h is a e r fo r at e d
p p
b o rde r o f a n i m al fi gure s w h il e t he ba n d p a ss i n g o b
,

l iq ue ly o v e r h e r b re a st is o rn a m e nt e d wit h a s o m e
w hat s i m ila r de s i gn in re li e f As t h e go dde ss ste p s
.

s l o wl y fo rwa rd sh e all o w s a p layful f aw n t o suc k t he

fi n ge rs o f h e r ri gh t ha n d F ro m a Ro m an c o p y o f a
.

G re e k ty p e o f t h e fi ft h c e n t ury B c . .in Mun i c h

,

B r un n Br uc k m a n n er g r ie hi scher un l r bm
( D h l
'

a
’

-
,
en m c a

ischer Sc ulp t ur , N o .
1 84 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LO G Y
a lmost certai n i dentity wit h Kallisto Atal ante t h e mou ntai n , ,

nym p h Ta ygete a nd Kyrene u nder w h ose n ame S h e b ecam e

, ,

the mother of Ar ist a io s by Apollo T h e Ke r y n e ian doe wh ic h .

,

Hera kles captu red al ive wa s s acred to her a nd for killing

, ,

a nother of h er s acred h i nd s Agamemnon wa s sorely pu nished

a nd h i s fleet wa s detai ned at Au li s by hea d wi nd s w h i le i t ,

wa s sh e who p laced a h i nd on t h e Aulid a ltar i n lieu of th e in

nocent Ip h ig e n e ia Kalli sto i n th e form of a bear fel l b efore
.

h er bow and the u nerring spear a nd dog were given to P ro k r is

,

th rou gh her good will if we follow a p articu l ar versio n of th e

,

legend One of her s h ri nes we a re told wa s su rrou nded by a

.
, ,

veritable zoologica l garden a nd i n h er ca p acity a s p rotectress

,

of su ch collections may p erh a p s b e fou nd the origi n of h er

“
common e p ithet Lady of the B ea sts Of th e b irds th e qu a il .
,

th e p artridge th e gu i nea fowl a nd t h e swa llow were i ntimately

,
-
,

related to her cu lt b u t only ra rely d i d domestic a nimals li ke

, ,

th e horse the ox a nd th e sheep come wit h i n t h e s cope of

, , ,

h er su pe rvision a lthou gh i n t h i s connexion we may c all to

,

mind th e failu re of Atreu s to keep h i s p romi se to sac rific e to

h er t h e golden lamb With all b ea sts h er p rotecting fu nc
.

tions come first a nd th e d estroyi ng second As a h u ntress a nd .

i n h er genera l oversight of wild n atu re s h e contracted a ffi lia

tions with Dionysos and th e Maenad s a nd wa s though t to be
th e s ame a s t h e Creta n D ik t y n n a w h i le in t h e old Bo io t ia n
,

cu ltu re sh e wa s h eld to b e t h e h u nting p a rtner of Orion ,

togeth er wit h w h om S he shot her sh a rp a rrows at ma n a nd

b east a li ke Not u nn atu ra lly sh e wa s a goddes s of pla nt life
.
,

p rimarily t h at of t h e u ntilled la nds th e trees of th e forest for , ,

i nstance being sac red to h er ; yet she mu st also h ave h a d a n

,

i nterest in th e pla nts of tillage else t h e stories of her p i qu e at

,

the h a rvest home s acrifices of Oin e us a nd Adm e t o s h ave no

-

p oi nt.

As the god des s phys ici an Artemi s h a d b roa d function s a nd

-
, ,

no h a rd a nd fast li ne ca n be d rawn abou t the ki nds of a ilments

u n der h er control M a la ri a ] ch ills le p rosy rab ies gou t ep i
.
, , , ,
 T HE G REATER GOD S — A RT EMI S 18 5

le p sy p h t h is i s a nd menta l d iseases a re a l l mentioned a s com

, ,

i ng with i n th e ra nge of h er activities a n d she even u nde rtoo k ,

to hea l s n a ke b ites He r methods of treatment s avou r str a ngel y

.

of m a gi c p articu larly of th a t b ranch known a s homoeopath i c

, ,

a c i rcu msta nce wh i ch may b e cou nted a s good p roof of her

a nti qu ity a s a hea ler The qu a il p a rtridge gu inea fowl go a t
.
, ,
-
, ,

swi ne a nd th e fabu lou s h i p p oc am p were i nclu ded i n h er m a ter i a

,

m edi ca ; a nd among p la nts th e j u ni p er a n d th e w h ite a n d

, , ,

th e b la c k h ellebore th e healing p ropert y i n al l t h ese b eing

,

Artemi s h erself who cou nteracting th e p ower of Artemi s

, ,

th e cau se of th e d iseas e e ff ected a cu re by virtu e of the

,

f a mou s pri nciple (here to b e i nterp reted of cou rse i n a , ,

“
magic a l s ense ) of sim il i a si m il ib us cur a n tur ( li ke i s cu red by
B ath ing i n cert a i n la kes a nd streams nea r her sh rines ,

a s i n the Alp h e io s of Elis w a s su p p osed to remove some d is

,

ea ses th e p roces s to b e u nderstood obviou s l y being th at of

,

magica l ab lution It wa s app a rently th rough her contact wit h

.

m agi c th at sh e entered i nto connexion with Hekate .

One of th e oldest powers of Artemi s w a s th a t of ex p editing

th e delivery of women i n ch i l d b i rt h a n d by a contr a dictor y
-
,

man ner of reasoning no longer str a nge to u s she wa s also ,

reg a rded a s both b ri nging a nd healing p u er p era l fever I n .

h er exerci s e of th ese fu nction s one c a n se e w h y sh e wa s so

closely bou nd to Leto .

Th e ic y ch a stity of Artemi s h a s long b een p roverb i al yet ,

it i s a fact th at onl y i n myth wa s sh e endowed with th i s tra it ,

for no traces of it a re to b e fou nd i n h er p ublic cu lts Th e .

myth s wh i c h record her p u rita nic al rej ection of th e a lmost

i nnocently u nch a ste P r o k r is h er i nor di n a te p u nis hment of th e
,

p ee p ing Akta ion a nd her well nigh P h a risa ic p atronage of th e

-
,

p recociou s Hip p olytos h ave th e a i r of bei ng com p aratively

l ate attem p ts to cloa k a n origi nally u nmora l ch aracter with
mora l attrib utes to ma ke a vi rtu e ou t of a n a ccident ; bu t
h er ch astity i s i ncons istent with h er great i nterest i n maternity
a nd with h er im p ersonation by At a l ante a nd others .
1 86 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOG Y
Artemi s h a d a nu mber of miscella neou s attributes w h ic h
we c a n only mention h ere On rare occ as ion s Sh e a p pea rs a s a
.

water go ddess being i nvo ked for instance i n th e sea rch for
-
, , ,

S pri ngs wh ile a s a p rotectres s of travellers a nd emigra nts

,

sh e s eems to h ave ab sorb ed some of the d uties of A p ollo .

I n th e stor y of I p h ig e n e ia at Au li s S h e exerc ised control over

th e cond itions of th e weather a nd although sh e wa s not equ ated
,

with th e moon u nti l a com p a ratively l ate p eriod thi s ide n t i ,

fi c a t io n h a s b ecome one of h er i nerad icab le marks i n poetr y .

Th e li n ks b inding h er to t h e higher i ntellectu a l a nd soci al life

a re slender yet they exi st
,
6
.

Ar tem is i n Ar t One of t h e two ol dest types of Artemi s

.

d eli neates h er with s p rea di ng wings a nd a s holdi ng a lion i n h er

h and wh ile th e oth er Shows h er between two l ions both of
, ,

t h ese fo rms exh ib iting Asi atic i nflu ence Th e fu l ly d evelo p ed .

Artemis of a rt i s a h u ntres s j u st emerging from ma iden ,

h ood i nto woma n h ood equ ipped wit h bow a n d qu iver a nd

, ,

followed by one or more dogs .

HE KAT E

Th e greater p reva lence o f t h e cu lts of Hekate i n t h e nort h ern

d istricts of Greece h er resemb l a nce to t h e goddes s B endi s of
,

Th race a nd certai n other featu res poi nt convergently towa rd

,

some northern la nd a s h er fi rs t h ome I f sh e were a ctu a lly of

.

Hellenic origin h er cu lt mu st h ave died ou t a nd after a long

,

p eriod h ave been revived at t h e very t h res h old of t h e h i st o r

i ca l e ra He r n ame m ay b e a G reek equ iva lent of some title

.

borne by her i n her n ative h ab itat ; it appears to b e connected

with en d? a nd may b e a s ho rt form of erca m Bo Ao s '
'

” “
designating h er a s t h e Fa r Sh ooter or a s th e one who comes
-

from a fa r .

Heka te wa s gru dged free entry i nto t h e domai n of myth

a n d wa s d enied a n e stab lished
p ed igree facts w h ic h ca
—
st
sus p icion on h er al leged G reek n ativity I n Hesiod sh e wa s t h e
.
18 8 G REEK AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
T h e most widely d i sseminated type of He kate i n a rt i s one
th at goes b a c k to the image made for her sh ri ne at the entra nce
to th e Atheni a n Acro p oli s over w h ich sh e h ad su rveilla nce
, .

Thi s p ortrays h er a s h avi ng th ree bodies all b ac k to b ac k

, ,

one facing forwa rd a nd th e oth er two to th e left a nd right

res p ectively I n th e ou ter h a nd s of t h e s ide figu res a re held a
.

p itcher and a deep sacrifici a l s au cer

,
wh ile each of th e remain
i ng fou r ha nd s gras ps a torch I t wa s p rob ably i n t h i s form
.
,

ca p ab le of looking th ree ways at once th at Sh e wa s popu la rly

,

conceived a s t h e d ivi ne p rotectres s of cros s roads

-
.
 P L AT E X L I I I
AN ATT I C HE K AT AI O N

T he t al fe at ure o f t h i s att ra c tiv e g ro up is t he

cen r

tall p lai n c o l um n a p r i m itiv e sym b o l o f Art e m i s

,

He k at e . W it h t h e i r ba c k s t o t h i s a s at t he t hre e
o i n t s o f a n e uil at e r al t r ia ng l e s ta n d t h r e e si m ila r
p q
fi g ure s sti ffl y a rc h it e c t ural i n c ha ra c t e r o f He k at e
, ,

PhO S p ho ro s .E a c h is c ro w n e d wit h a l o fty polos a n d

h o l ds t w o t o r c h e s b o lt up ri g ht at h e r s i de s . Ar o un d
t h i s g ro up i n m a rk e d c o n t ra st i n s ty l e as we l l as in
,

s tat ure is a r i n g o f t h re e C ha rit e s all ali k e da n c i n g

, , ,

li ghtly a n d g ra c e fully h a n d i n h a n d F ro m a s m al l
.

m a r bl e o f t h e lat e fi ft h o r e a r ly fo urt h c e n t ury B c . .

,

i n t he c o ll e c ti o n o f He i n ri c h G r a f L e m b e rg o f Aus t r ia
Hun ga ry (7 H AI x iii Plat e I V)
, .
 C H APT ER I V

T H E G REAT E R G O D S ARES

HE Or ig i n A
T
an d the N ame f
obs cu re i s the origi n
o r e s . SO
of Ares th at we a re sc arcely i n a p osition even to entert a i n
a s u sp icion a s to wheth er h e c ame from with i n or from without
H ella s Ce rtai nly h is cu lt wa s most deeply rooted i n Bo io t ia
.

a n d farther north yet th i s c a nnot b e ta ken a s a n i nd ication of

,

o rigi n si nce we c annot p rove th at h e h a d been establi sh ed h ere

,

longer th a n elsewh ere His n ame h a s a Helleni c ca st b u t it

.
,

c annot b e s ati sfactorily d erived a lthou gh it a p pea ls Strongly ,

“ ”
to th e imagin ation to connect it with ap a a cu rse By '

,
.

th at token wa r th e p rovi nce of Ares wou ld be th e cu rse p a r

, ,

e x ce l l e n ce .

Ar es i n Ho m er Th roughou t Homer Ares i s th e only god

.
—

w hose one thou g h t a nd tas k it i s to wage wa r yet it i s not ,

th e strategi c element for wh ich h e sta nds b u t rath er a s one , ,

w riter a p tly p uts it t h e b li nd berserker rage of b attle

,
B eat -
.

i ng wildl y abou t h im wit h h i s b lade h e ach ieves but little glory ,

before Troy although u nli ke a ny other god h e does su cceed

, , ,

i n Sl ayi ng some mortal s wit h h i s own h and He i s sorely .

wou nded by th e h ero D iomedes a n d in h i s great p ai n bellows ,

l i ke a n a rmy ten t h ou sa nd strong wh ile Homer s ays th at Otos ,

a n d Eph i altes th e stalwart sons of Aloeu s once bou nd h im i n

, ,

a b ronze vessel for th i rteen mont h s ! a nd i n a conflict among

t h e god s h e i s overth rown by Athene He i s a s fic kle a s h e is .

b lu steri ng one moment favou ring th e Greeks and th e next in

,

sta nt lending ai d to the Troj a ns He i s th e son of Zeu s an d .

H era a n d h i s father ta kes p ai ns p erh ap s facetiou sly to let

, , ,

i t b e known t h at h i s love of b rawling i s p u rely a m aterna l

i nherita nce His b roth er i s Eri s
. and D eimos
1 90 G REE K AND ROMAN M YT HO LOG Y

P a nic a nd P hobos Fea r a re h i s steed s S old iers a re .

known a s h i s s erva nts and th e h o lde r h eroes a s h i s son s ; a n d

by meton y my h is name often sta nd s for wa r or t h e sp irit of
strife i n a rms Homer record s th a t h e wa s d etected i n a n in
.

trigu e with Aph rod ite .

Ar es o utsi de of Ho m er Alt h oug h Ares generally p a ssed a s

.

th e son of Zeu s a nd Hera one a ccou nt app arently of a nc ient

, ,

origin mad e h im th e u nfath ered off sp ring of Hera a lone after

,

sh e h a d b ecome imp regnated by plu c ki ng a certai n flowe r

(th e p a rallel i nsta nce of th e conception of H eb e wil l n atu rally
occu r to u s h ere ) We h ave al ready s een h ow i n t h e Atti c cycle
.
,

of myth s Ares b ec ame a ssoci ated wit h Ar eo p a g o s th rou gh

,

Al k ip p e h i s d au g h ter b y Aglau ros a nd t h rou g h t h e grou p of

, ,

h i s p rofess ionally belligerent d augh ters th e Amazons All of , .

h i s ch ild ren reflect h i s C h a racter i n some way : Enyeu s t h e ,

king of S kyros wa s h i s so n by Ari adne ; Ly k o urg o s w h o d rove

, ,

th e votaries of D ionyso s i nto th e se a Ky k n o s th e wrestler , ,

and th e Bist o n ia n D iomed es were oth er off sp ring ; Harmoni a ,

th e u nh appy moth er of a s trife rent family wa s borne to h im

-
,

by Aph rod ite ; a n d t h e T h eb a n d ragon Sl ai n by K a dm o s wa s

a lso h i s i s su e Prior to th e grea t as s au lt again st t h e c ity of
.

Thebes th e S even General s of t h e Argive h ost took t h e oath

,

b i ndi ng th em to a u nited c au s e by d ipp ing th eir h a nd s i n bu ll s ’

b lood c augh t i n th e h ollow of a S h ield a s t h ey p ronou nced th e

names of Ares Enyo a nd Ph obos Th e eth ic al influ ence of
, ,
.

Ares wa s negative a nd t h erefore Slight a nd depended entirely ,

on th e i nference th at h i s s ca nt popu la rity mu s t i nd icate genera l

d isa p prova l of h i s works a nd C h a racter .

Ar es i n Ar t An idea l type of Ares i n a rt wa s app a rently

.

never d efinitely estab l ish ed I n t h e ea rlier period h e i s general ly

.

shown on va ses a s a fully a rmed a nd b ea rded wa rrior ; th ere

a re several types i n exta nt statu a ry b ea ri ng the infl u ence of
th e l ate r p eriod t h e b est known b ei ng t h e so m l le d Borgh es e
,
-

Ares of th e Louvre wh ere h e is a nu de you th wea ring a h elmet

,

a n d g a zing d re a mingly before h im .

192 G REEK AN D ROMAN M YT HO LOGY

Aut o ly k o s th e matern al gr a ndfath er of Od y s seu s t h e alli ed

, ,

gifts of th ievery and falsehoo d a nd h e i s moreover t h e spec i a l

, , ,

d ivi nity of serva nts a nd th e giver of wealth .

Myths of the Bir th a n d Boyho od of Her m es A su mmary of .

t h e Homeric Hym n to Her m es will give u s t h e b est cons p ectu s

of the l ater G reek i dea s of Hermes After d alli ance wit h Zeu s .

”
“
i n love not qu ite legitimate th e nymp h Mai a bore Hermes
,

i n a c avern on Mou nt Kyl lene i n Arkad i a Even for a god th e .

ch ild wa s extraord ina rily p recociou s for du ri ng t h e morni n g , ,

of th e very d ay of h i s b i rt h h e wal ked u n ai ded ou t of t h e grotto

, ,

i nqu i sitive to see wh at t h e world wa s li ke I mmedi ately h e .

espied a tortoi se a nd wit h d ivi ne i ntu ition perceivi ng i n i t

, , ,

p os sib ilities a s yet u nd reamed of h e ki lled t h e creatu

,
re r e ,

moved its s h ell a nd fitted it wit h a b ridge a nd seven tau t

,

s trings of Sheep gut T h u s h e created t h e lyre

-
. .

W hen h e h a d wro ug ht the l o v e ly i n st ru m e n t ,

He t r i e d t he c h o rds an d m a de div e r s i o n m e e t
,

P r e l u di ng w i th the p l e c t ru m a n d t he r e we n t
,

Up fro m b eneath h is h a n d a tu m u l t s w e e t
Of m i g hty s o un ds a s fr o m his li p s he sent
,

A s t r ai n o f un p r e m e di t a te d w it
J o yo us a n d wil d a n d w a n t o n such yo u m ay
He a r a m o ng re v e ll e r s o n a h o li day ” 2
.

At th e end of h i s song a strange d esi re for fres h meat tic kled

h i s i nfa nt p al ate a n d d escending qu ic kly from K yl lene h e
,

c ame to th e l and s w h ere t h e c attle of Apollo were grazi ng .

P ic ki ng ou t fifty h eifers h e cu nni ngly reversed t h ei r h oofs

, ,

a nd h imself wal ki ng b ac kward d rove t h em away t h rou gh th e

, ,

night to th e b an ks of th e river Alp h e io s w h ere h e i nvented th e ,

a rt of ma king fire by ru bb i ng two sticks of l au rel wood toget h er -

,

a fter wh i ch h e slew two of t h e h eifers a nd off ered a bu rnt s acri

fi ce. At d awn h e stealth ily retu rned h ome a n d wrapp ing ,

h i s swadd ling cloth es abou t h im l ay down i n h i s c radle l ike a

-

b a be u tterly i nnocent of all gu ile Nevertheles s h e c o u ld .

,

not deceive Ma i a w h o wa s a s watc h fu l a s a ny hu man moth er

, ,

a nd at h er word s of reb u ke h e confessed h i s wrong doing b u t -

,
 T HE G REAT ER GOD S — HERMES 1 93

a n nou nced th at it wa s only th e first of a p rogramme of a cts

wh ich h e h ad p la nned to c a rry ou t i n o rder to ach ieve a p l a ce
of d i stinction among th e immorta ls S oon afterwa r d A p o l l o .

a p p ea red h avi ng traced though with difficu l t y th e reverse d

, , ,

footste p s to th e c avern ; bu t wh en h e ch arge d Hermes with the

theft of t h e c attle th e i nfa nt b landly denie d it
, .

“
An o x-st e al e r sh o u l d b e b o t h t all a n d s t ro n g ,

An d I a m b u t a li ttl e n e wb o r n t h i n g ,

W h o y e t a t l e a st c a n t h i n k o f n o t h i n g wro n g
, ,

My b u si n e ss is t o suc k a n d s l e e p a n d fl i n g
, ,

T h e c r a dl e Cl o thes ab o u t m e all da y l o n g
-
,

Or h al f a sl e e p h e a r m y s w e e t m o t h e r si n g
, , ,

An d t o b e wa sh e d i n wat e r c l e a n a n d wa rm ,

An d hushe d a n d k i sse d a n d k e p t s e cu re f ro m h a rm .

His deni a l availed h im noth ing h owever for A p ollo h aled h im , ,

awa y to the j udg e m e n t seat of Zeu s on Ol y m p os where the king

-
,

of th e go ds p atientl y listened to th ei r statements a nd h igh l y ,

a mu sed at Hermes tra ns p a rent l ies d ismi ssed them both with
’

“ ”
th e a dvi ce to com p ose th e affai r by arb itration D e p a rting .

from Olympos the y c ame to th e s cene of Hermes s acrifice

,
’
.

Th e evi dences of the slaugh ter of h i s beasts enraged A p ol l o ,

b u t h e wa s soon a p p eased by the u nwonted stra ins of mu sic

wh ich Hermes d rew from th e lyre Th ereu pon th ey com p acted .

a n etern al friendshi p a nd sealed i t with mu tu al gifts Hermes ,

p resenti ng th e lyre to A p ollo a nd A p ollo i n h i s tu rn b estowing

on Hermes th e gol den wa nd of wealth a nd a l a s h with wh ich
to exercis e domi nion over th e floc ks a n d h erd s of th e field .

“
He rm es wi t h G o ds a n d m en e v e n fro m t h at da y
Mi n g l e d a n d w ro u g h t t h e l att e r m uch a nno y
, ,

An d littl e p ro fit g o i n g f a r a st r ay ,

T h ro u g h t h e dun n i g h t
” 4
.

Her m es A r ge i When Hermes wa s b idden to r e

p ho n te s .
-

lea se th e tethered Io he a p p roach ed h er gu ardian Argos a nd

, , ,

after p u tting h i m to s leep with t h e mu s ic of the l y re cut ,

ou t h i s man y eyes with h i s cu rved sword earning for h imse l f ,

'

by th i s deed it wa s popu larly s a id th e title of Argei p hontes

, ,
1 94 G REEK AND RO MAN MYT HO LOGY
Argos S l ayer
- W h en h e wa s ta ken befor e a co urt a n d
a cqu itted of the ch arge of mu rd er t h e a ng ry gods c a st t h ei r
,

voting pebb les a t h im a deta il wh ic h seems to b e aetiologica l

,

i n c h ara cter a nd designed to ex p la i n t h e o rigi n of h eap s of

s tones dedic ated to Hermes w h ich were often fou nd b es ide f r e
, ,

ue n t e d thoroug h fares a nd to wh ic h eac h wayfa rer added h is

q
contribution i n ki nd a s h e p a ss ed by Although i t i s cu stoma ry
.

nowad ays to b a se t h e story of th e sl ayi ng of Argos on a mi s

u ndersta ndi ng of Hermes title wh ic h seems rea lly to mea n
’
,
“ ”
wh ite gleami ng i t wou l d p rob ab ly b e n ea rer th e trut h to
-
,

b as e it on a fol k belief i n a n earth born monster w h o u nder t h e

- -
, ,

control of Hermes stoo d gu a rd over sou ls i n t h e lower world

, .

The Fun cti o n s of He r m es Hermes i s best known a s t h e

.
-

conductor of dep arted sou l s to Ha des a nd conversely h e , , ,

cou ld al so release t h em from th e worl d b elow T h rou g h th e .

d isch a rge of t h ese du ties h e fi rst of a ll bec ame con nected wit h
necroma ncy or conj u ri ng of the dea d a n d l ater i n consequence
, , ,

of th e popu l a r c la ssific ation of drea m o racles a s necroma nti c -

,

h e was evolved i nto a god of sleep a nd of d reams develop ing , ,

i n the end ou t a nd ou t i nto a deity of ma gi c AS t h e soul s of

,
.

th e dea d cou ld b e m agic ally committed to h i m a s t h ey traversed

the h ighway between t h e two world s so too cou ld th e sou l s of ,

th e l ivi ng be gu a rded by h i m a s t h ey went t h ei r ways to a nd

fro u po n earth Hence the images of Hermes at c ros s road s
.
-

were b elieved to avert evi l from travellers a nd h ere one c a n ,

se e t h e logic of h i s frequ ent a ssoci ation wit h Apollo Artemi s , ,

a nd He kate As god of th e h igh roa d it wa s n atu ral to su p p os e

.

th at h e h imself wa s i mmu ne from t h e perils of t h e way ;

h e cou l d therefore exerci se t h e doub le du ty of p rotecting
, ,

h era lds th e most s acred travellers among men a nd of h imself

, ,

being th e i nviol ate h era ld of th e god s ; a nd th u s h e wa s a n im

p ort a nt figu re i n the ea rly stages of i nternationa l l aw S i nce .

th e h eral d mu st h ave a fl uent a nd p ersu as ive tongue Hermes ,

bec a me th e g o d of o r a tory a nd s p eech i n genera l No one .

j ou rne y s a s mu ch a s h e who tr a vels fo r gai n a n d hence Hermes ,

 P LA T E X LI V
HER M ES A N D T H E I N F AN T D I O N Y SOS

T h i s fa m o us s tat ue a p p a re n tly re fe rs t o t h e T h e ba n
l e ge n d w hi c h re lat e s t hat D io n yso s j ust a fte r h is bi rt h
,

f ro m t h e t h i gh o f Z e us a n d p r i o r t o h is s o j o urn wit h
t h e n y m p h s o f Mo un t N s a w as ut i n t he s a fe
y , p
k e e p i n g o f He rm e s . Praxit e l e s h a s s e i z e d o n t h i s
b r i e f p e ri o d a s t he s up re m e m o m e n t in t he c a re e r o f
He rm e s fo r r e v e ali n g h im a s t he i de al p ro te c t o r o f
b o y s an d yo ut hs In l o o k i n g up o n t h i s h igh l y s p i rit
.

ua l iz e d c re ati o n o n e fo rge t s t h at t h i s g o d w a s t h e

divi n e p r i n c e o f k n av e s a n d lia rs . F ro m t he o ri gi n al
m a rbl e o f Prax it e l e s (fo urt h c e n t ury di sc o v e re d
i n t h e He ra io n at O l ym p ia (Brun n Bruc k m a n n D en h
-
,

m hle r g r iechische r un a i her Sculp t ur , N o

'
’ '

r om sc .
 C H AP T E R V I

T H E G REAT E R G O D S — AP H RO D I T E
AN D E RO S

APHROD I T E
HE Or igi n a n d the N a m e of Ap hr o dite I t i s a lmost im
.

possib le to doub t th at A p h rod ite wa s a gift of t h e S emiti c

world to the Hellenic so th at t h e op i nion now enterta i ned by
, ,

a s c a nt few th at the recent exc avations i n Crete Show h er to

,

h ave been i niti ally a p u rely Aegea n c reation i s u nfou nded ,

S ince th e d is coveries prove no more t h a n t h e great a nti qu ity

of a d ivi nity who strongly resemb led h er ; th ey do not at al l
remove th e poss ib i lity of h er h avi ng come a t some incalcu l ably
early period to th e Aegea n i sle s a s a n emigra nt from t h e
P ho in ik ia n coa st Many conception s of Ap h rod ite bear marks
.

of her Orienta l n ativi ty a nd we may poi nt ou t a few of th em

,

by way of example He r mai n f u nction s were th e s a me a s those

.

of th e great Astarte or I shtar a nd sub stanti ally th e s ame o b

, ,

j e c t s i n n atu re were s acre d to th em both wh i le eac h wa s r e p r e

,
’
sented i n th e h eaven s by th e p la net Venu s a nd Ap h rod ite s ,

epith et Ou rani a seems to b e a n ec h o of th e East

ern Q u een of th e Heaven s Fu rt h er th e allu sion s i n a rt a n d
.
,

l iteratu re to A p h rod ite s b i rt h from a mu s sel -s h ell ca nnot

’

bu t remi nd one th at Astarte wa s th e p atrones s of th e indu stry

wh ic h p roduced th e famou s pu rple I n h er relation s to th e
.

se a a nd t o ma riners A p h rod ite bea rs a stri king res emb la nce to

th e goddes s of th e Ph ilistine city of Jop p a a nd h er p rincipal,

cult centres Cy p ru s Crete a nd Kyt h era h ad di rect commu ni

-
, , , ,

c a tion with th e ea stern coasts th rou gh th ei r s itu ation on th e

m a in se a h ighwa y s I n Th ebes a lone of G reek c ities a place
- .
,
 T HE G REAT E R G O D S —
A PHROD ITE 197

p ecu li a r l y connected with th e E a s t i n legend wa s sh e vener ,

a ted a s a ncestress Unh a p p i l y the n a me of A p h ro dite te l l s us

.
,

noth ing concerning h er o r igi n T h e fi rst h a lf i s su re l y con

n e c t e d with th e G ree k c cp o s foam but a s to th e mea ning
’ ’

, ,

of th e s econd we mu s t admit ignor a nce a lthou gh i n con , ,

formity with cert a i n legen ds of h er b i r th th e name wa s p O p u ,

“
l a r ly i nter p rete d a s Foa m Bo r n
” 1
-
.

Ap hro di te i n Ho m e r Homer a cce p ts A p h rod ite a s th e

.

d aughter of Zeu s a n d D ione (th e e a rth go ddes s of Dodona ) ,

a n d nu mb ers h er among th e O l y m p i a ns S h e is the wed ded .

wi fe of He p h a i stos b u t i s notoriou sl y u nf a it h fu l to h er vows

, .

I n a n amou r with Ares sh e wa s c aught fl a g r a n te de li cto by her

h u sb a nd whose wits were not a s h alting a s h i s feet ; and by
,

a not h er afi a i r e du cce ur wi th Anch ises S h e became th e moth er

, ,

O f Ai n e ia s . S h e i s th e gol den goddess w h o s mi les bewitch ingl y

o n both mortal s a n d immortal s a n d h er lovelines s i s th e idea l
,

o f all b eauty S h e i s the supreme d ivinity of love and a s su ch

.

i s not su ited for s trife yet sh e ess ays to ta ke a smal l p art i n

,

th e great wa r S i nce it wa s sh e who h ad pu t it i nto th e hea rt

.

of Helen to leave h er hu sb and a nd go with P ari s to Tro y ,

S h e favou rs the arm s of t h e Troj ans for t h e s a ke of being con

sistent ,
a nd s natches both P a ri s a nd Ain e ia s from th e swor d
p oi nt of th e enemy althou gh i n s aving her son she i s wou n ded
,

by th e h a nd of D iomedes .

Bi r th a n d Fa m i ly Re la ti o n ship s In Hesiod Aph rodite i s

.
,

s ai d to h ave s p ru ng i nto being from the contact of th e severed

sexu al p arts of Ou ranos with th e se a a n d to h ave been after

ward wa s h ed ashore on Cy p ru s the evident p u rpos e of th is ,

myt h bei ng to a ccou nt i n one breath a s it were for h er S i mu l , ,

t a n e o us relation to th e life of th e sexes a nd to th e sea Even .

a fter Homer Sh e wa s considered a s th e wife of He p h ai stos a n d ,

o ne ol d s tory allu des to E ros a n d Hermes a s the is su e of th e

u nion a lthough Ha rmoni a a nd Ain e ia s were at all p eriods of
, ,

myth th e most famou s of h er C h i l dren S h e h ad a Cl ose

,
” “
a ffi nity with t h e Hora i S easons Hou rs and the Ch arites
,
1 98 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YT HO LOGY
Aria d ne Leu kothea Galateia a nd even he r
, , ,

d aughter Harmoni a a s we l l a s certa in oth er women of myt h

, ,

a re to be regarde d a s h er doub les .

Ap hr o dite a s the Go ddess of Lo ve —

W h ile D emeter a nd D io
.

n y so s were as sociated wit h th e p rodu ctive potencies of n atu re ,

A p h rod ite wa s concerned with i n fact wa s embodied in th e

, ,

re p rodu ctive powers S h e wa s th e d ivi ne personality w h o

.

b rough t together i n p rocreating love not only hum a n b ei ngs

bu t t h e b ea sts of t h e fiel d a nd th e fowl s of the ai r a nd more , ,

over wa s res p onsibl e for th e appea ra nce of fresh growt h s a n d

,

3
new generations of p l ants .

I n the P l a n t Wo r ld . I t i s i n t h e story of Adoni s w h ic h t h e ,

G ree ks borrowed from th e E a st (the n am e Adonis b ei ng only

a G reek ad a p tation of th e S emiti c form of a ddres s adhb n i
’ ‘'

th a t A p h rod ite most clearly app ea rs a s th e forc e

wh ich p romotes vegetation A certa i n Assyri a n king th e tal e
.
,

ru ns h ad a d aughter n amed S myrn a (or Myrr h a ) whom b e

, , ,

c au s e o f her conti nued disd a i n for Ap h rod ite t h e god dess i n ,

a nger d rove to commit a d re adfu l sin u pon h er father W h en .

h e lea rned of h er wic ked nes s h e d rew a swo rd an d pu rsu ed

,

h er a nd wou ld h ave t h ru st h er t h roug h h a d not th e god s

,

c h anged h er i nto a myrr h tree whos e b ar k bu rst open n i ne

-
,

month s l ater reveali ng th e i nfa nt Adonis Ap h rodite h i d h i m

, .

i n a ch est a nd entru sted h im to Persephone b u t when t h e l atte r ,

h a d beheld h is b eau ty sh e refu sed to su rrender h im w h ereu pon

, ,

th e two go ddess es l aid thei r dispu te b efore Zeu s w h o dec reed ,

th at P erse p hone wa s to p osses s the you t h for one th ird of th e

year a n d A p h rod ite a secon d th i rd ; du ring th e rema i ning fou r
month s A doni s w a s to b e free to do a s h e woul d bu t a s soon ,

a s h e he a rd of the verd ict h e gave t h i s p eriod of freedom

,

to A p h ro dite a nd bec ame h er favou rite Wh ile yet i n the flower .

of youth h e was s l a i n i n the ch as e by a wild boa r a nd w h en ,

A p h ro dite grieve d be y ond consoli ng from h i s b lood gre w ,

th e b l ossom of the red a nemone Th i s gra p h i c portr a ya l o f

.

t h e cycle of cond ition s th rough wh ic h vegetation p as ses i n th e

2 00 G REE K AND ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y

The legen d of P ygmalion a nd Galatei a b elongs to th e cycle

of Aph rodite P ygm a lion a scul p tor of Cy p ru s failing to
.
, ,

se e a ny good i n women ,
vowed h imself to lifelong celib acy .

Yet li ke most misogynists h e still c heris h ed i n h is h eart a

, ,

h ig h i de a l of wom anhood an d to embody th is i n p h ys ic al form

,

h e fash ioned a b eau tifu l statu e of ivory wh ich fell short of

p erfection only i n its lac k of s p iritu al tra its B y consta
. nt gazing
on t h e wo rk of h i s h eart a nd h ands he at l a st fel l i n love with
i t a nd wou l d fai n believe i t wa s actu a lly of flesh a nd b lood a n d ,

wh en th e festiva l of A p h rod ite c ame a rou nd offering th e c us ,

t o m a r y s acrifices to th e goddes s a nd standing by h er a ltar h e ,

ra ised a p rayer
O Ap h ro dit e k i n d a n d f ai r
“
, ,

T h at w h at t h o u w il t c a ns t g iv e ,

Oh li st e n t o a sc u l p t o r s p r ay er
’
, ,

An d b id m y i m a g e liv e !
Fo r m e t h e iv o ry a n d g o l d
T h a t c l o t h e h e r c e da r f r a m e
Are b e a u ti ful i n de e d b u t co l d ;
, ,

Oh t o uch t h e m wi t h t h y fl a m e !
” 4
,

At th ese word s Aph rodite made th e fl ame of t h e i ncens e s h oot

a loft i n th ree tongu es a n omen of h er good will a nd when , ,

a fter th e s acrifice P ygmalion retu rned to h i s h ou s e ,h e fou nd

,

h i s image endowed wi th the end earing ch a rm sof a l ivi ng

woma n S h e wa s given t h e name of G al atei a a nd wit h th e
.
,

favour of A p h rodite wa s wedded to th e m an whose lovi ng h ea rt

h a d conceived h er th eir ma rri age being afterwa rd b les s ed
,

with a so n P ap h os after w h om the famou s c ity of Cyp ru s wa s

,

n amed .

Th is cycle also i nclu des t h e story of P h aon w h o u sed to ,

ferry travel lers b ac k a nd forth b etwee n th e i sla nd s of Lesbos

a nd Ch ios One d ay A p h rodite i n th e gu ise of a n ol d woman
.
, ,

entreated of h im to give her i n h er p ove rty a free p a ssage a nd ,

so u ngru dgi ngly d i d h e com p ly with the request th at sh e

bestowe d a magic p h i ltre u p on h im Anointing h imself wit h.

th is h e bec a me a beautifu l you th w h o wa kened love i n t h e

,
 P L AT E X LV

E R OS

He is i g i n g fo rw a rd l ightly p o i s e d o n t h e
sp r n ,

t o e s o f h is r i g ht fo o t T h e l e ft a rm is e xt e n de d fo r
.

wa rd a n d h o l ds t h e so c k e t o f a t o rc h ; t he ri ght is
l o w e r e d a n d he l d o bl i q ue l y fro m t h e b o dy wit h fi n ge r s
e xt e n de d . He is n ude a n d wi n ge d t he fe at he rs o f ,

t h e w i n gs b e i n g i n di c at e d o n t he fro n t s i de by i n c i s e d

li n e s His hai r is c urly a n d s ho rt e x c e p t fo r o n e

.
,

t uft w h i c h is gat he re d ab o ut t he c e n t re o f t he h e a d
a n d b rai de d .

T h i s fa m o us s tat ue is o n e o f t he fi n e st r e p re
se n t a t io n s o f E r o s k n o w n T h e a rti s t h as a dm i rably
.

succ e e de d in c o n v e i ng t h e l i g ht n e ss a n d g ra c e a ss o
y
c iat e d in o ur m i n ds wit h t h e c o n c e pti o n o f E ro s .

E v e ryt h i n g i n t he fi g ure s ugg e st s r a p i d f o rwa rd

m o ti o n ; b ut t h i s is attai n e d w it ho ut s a c r ifi c i n g t h e
r fe c t bala n c e o f all a rt s s t h at t h e i m re ss i o n
p e p o , p
m a de is at t he s a m e ti m e o n e o f b uo ya ncy a n d o f
r e st rai n t . T h e c h il dli k e c h a ra c t e r o f t h e fi g ure is
b ro ught o ut in t h e l it he ro un de d li m b s a n d t he s m il
,

in g h a p p y fa c e
, (M i”
ss G M A R i c.h t er . G .re k ,
e ,

Et usca
r n nd a Rom a n Br on z s in t he Met r opolit e an

Mus um of A t p p 8 5
e r ,
. F ro m a He ll e n i s ti c
b ro n e in t h e Me t ro p o lita n Mus e um o f Art N e w
z
,

Y o rk hot o r a h
(p g p ) . Se e p p . 2 0 3— 04 .
 T HE G REAT E R G OD S —
A PHROD I T E 201

h earts of al l t h e women of Lesbos a nd to h im legen d s ays, , ,

S app h o add ress ed some of h er tende rest a nd mos t beautifu l

songs .

Th e Eas tern tale of P y ra m o s a nd Th isbe borrowed b y th e ,

G ree ks also reveal s t h e old belief i n th e i nvi ncible p ower of

,

Ap h rod ite P y r a m o s wa s th e most h a nd some youth i n the

.

kingdom of S emi ramis a n d Th isb e the most beautifu l maiden

, ,

a nd th ei r fami lies lived i n hou ses s e p a rated onl y by a p a rt y

wall Ap hrodite p ut a mu tu a l love i n th ei r hea rts b ut th ei r
.
,

p arents forb ade thei r marri age a nd w h at i s more even tried

, , ,

to p revent th em from conversing with one a nother Thei r .

p ass ion h owever woul d b rook no ob stacle a nd d iscovering a

, , , ,

c rac k i n th e wal l b etween th e two h ou ses u n known to their ,

p a rents th ey s p oke Sweet mess ages throug h it u ntil a t length , ,

filled with resolve to wed a t al l costs they a rra nged th at they ,

s h ou l d each s li p out of t h eir homes a nd meet t h at evening a t

a certai n trysting pla ce Th isb e c ame firs t bu t w h i le sh e wa s
-
.
,

awai ting h er lover a gre at lioness h er j aws d ri p p ing wit h

, ,

fres h b lood su d denly approac h ed to dri n k from a neighbou r

,

i ng Sp ri ng I n fea r Th isb e tu rned a n d fled d ropping her veil

.
, ,

wh ich t h e l iones s tore and left smeared with b lood Reach ing .

th e spot a few mi nu tes l ater P y r a m o s recognized t h e b lood

,
’
s tai ned veil a s T h isb e s a nd th inking th at it wa s a token of
,

h er deat h h e d rew h i s sword a nd p ierced h imself through

,

t h e h ea rt w h ile th e b lood from h is wou nd s a n k i nto th e grou nd

,
'

a nd p as si ng u pwa rd to t h e w h ite b erries of a nea r b y mu lberry -

tree tu rned t h em to a deep red AS P y ra m o s writhed o n th e

.

grou n d i n th e th roes of death Th isbe retu rned th e s igh t of

, ,

h er veil a nd h er lover s empty sc abb a rd at once telli ng the

’

reason of th e d readful deed D rawi ng th e sword from h i s hea rt

.
,

sh e plu nged it i nto h er own a nd p assed aw a y at h i s sid e ; a n d

ever s i nce the fru i t of the mu lberry h a s been of the hu e of blood .

Th e story of th e love of Hero a n d Le a n dros (Lea nder )

b elongs to a l ate period wh en the m a king of my th s wa s a more
consc iou s and a rb itrary p roces s th a n formerl y a nd wa s less
2 02 G REE K AND ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
closely con nected with religiou s thou gh t ; yet it d eserves c o n
s ideration h ere by rea son of its im p l ied as soci atio n with :

A p h rodite a nd its f a me i n l iteratu re I n S estos on th e Helles

.
,

p ont ,
l ived a b eau tifu l maiden c alled H ero who u sed to tend ,

th e s a cred b i rd s i n A p h rodite s Sh rine ; a nd i n Abydos o n th e

’
,

o p p os ite Shore of th e s tra it dwelt a h andsome you th n a med

,

Lea ndros . When th e time c ame for celeb rating th e festival

of th e god des s of love Lea ndros c rossed to S estos to ta ke p a rt
,

i n it I n th e midst of the rites it ch anced th a t h e a n d Hero

.

c ame face to face a n d at t h e fi rst gl a nce e a ch b ec ame en am

,

o ur e d of th e oth er ; b u t t h e modest m a iden wou ld a llow no

more th a n word s to p a s s b etween them fo r sh e h a d vowed to ,

go th rou gh l ife u nwedded Love however i s a lways stronger

.
, ,

t h a n d iscretion a nd Hero s resolution a t l ast wea kened S O

,
’

far t h at sh e a llowed h er lover to meet h er regu la rly a t a n a p

pointed place B y night S h e wou ld s ta nd on a n emi nence a n d
.

hold a torc h aloft to gu id e Leand ro s a s h e swam a cros s t h e

Hellespont B u t one eveni ng a tempest a rose an d t h ou g h
.
,

th e you th p lu nged i nto th e water a s u su al u nd au nted by t h e ,

h igh s ea s h i s strength gave ou t b efore h e cou ld reac h t h e

,

oth er S id e a nd h e wa s d rowned His body wa s flu ng by t h e

.

waves u pon th e Shore b efore th e eyes of Hero who i n th e frenzy ,

of h er sorrow th rew h erself u p on h i s lifeles s frame a nd died of

a b ro ken h eart .

Two of th e cu lt epit h ets of Ap h rod ite i n At h ens were Ou ra ni a

-

a nd P a ndemos t h e first app arently ma rking a tra nsp l a ntation

,

of th e worsh ip of th e S emitic Q ueen of t h e Heaven s wh ile t h e ,

s econd wa s p rob ab ly a m a nner of reco rding t h e wors h i p of

Aph rod ite by t h e u nited towns h ip s of At t ik e a lthough a s ,

ea rly a s Solon it wa s u nderstood to d esignate t h e goddes s as

th e one who p resided ove r p opu l a r love 5
.

Ap hr o dite i n Ar t Th rough th ree or fou r centu ries t h e

.
—

G ree ks were s lowly evolvi ng a n id ea l ty p e of A p h rodite .

I n a rch ai c a rt sh e a p pears fully c loth ed generally with a veil ,

a n d head cloth -
a nd with one h a nd eithe r ou tstretch ed or
,
294 G REEK AN D ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
old G ree k fol k tale possess i ng a religiou s s ignific ance its ex
-
,

c e ssiv e litera ry elaboration exclu des i t from ou r p ages

.

E ros is generally shown by th e a rti sts a s a wi nged boy b ea r

ing bow a nd qu iver ; a nd among h i s commonest attributes
a re th e dolp h in th e swa n the lyre and the mu s sel s hell
, , ,
-
.
 C H APT E R V I I

T H E G REAT E R G O D S H EP H AI S T O S
AN D H E S T I A

HE PHAI ST OS

HE Or ig in H
T
an d the N ame W h ateve r m ay
i
f
o e p h a st o s .

h ave been t h e p rec ise i ni ti a l conceptio n of He p h a is tos h e ,

wa s certai nly h el d by t h e Gree ks a t th e p eriod of wh ic h we h ave

c lea r record s to b e th e god of fi re a nd a s su c h we p u rpose to
,

c l a s sify h im here h i s connexion wit h t h e ma nu a l a rts being

,

a pp a rently d erived from th e ma ny u se s wh ic h they ma de of

fi re W h et h er h e wa s Hellen i c o r not i n origin we c annot ven

.
,

t u re to sa y b u t the most p lau s ib le ex p la n ation of h i s n ame

,

tentatively li n ks it with the b ases p a p a nd a d w h ic h wou l d ,

“ ”
yiel d th e mea ni ng qu iveri ng fl ame .

Hep ha isto s i n Ho m e r Homer knows Hep h ai sto s only a s

.

t h e so n of Ze u s an d Hera a nd i n t h e e p ic s he i s u nequ ivoc ally

,

th e god of fire a n d at ti mes by a figu re of speec h i s fi re itself

, , , ,

w h i le p artly a s a n i ns tru ment i n th e h ands of Ach i lles a n d

p a rtly a s a free agent h e consu mes the waters of th e ra ging
S k a m a n dro s I n one p as s age h e i s ma rried to one of th e
.

G races b u t i n a nother h e i s th e h u sb an d of the amorou s

,

Aph rod ite w h o O penly ma nifests h er p reference fo r the more

,

h u ma n Are s Two of h i s C h a racteri stic s sta nd ou t above a l l

.

th e othe rs h i s p hys i ca l a p p ea rance and h i s tr a de He i s

—
.

everywhere th e lame god a n d h i s limp i s a con sta nt sou rce of

,

l au ghter among h i s fellows on Olym p os Homer i s awa re of .

two a ccou nts concerning th e c au se of th is di sability one of ,

“
w h ich h e p u ts i nto th e mouth of Heph ai stos h imself
”
Once .
,

“
h e s ays wa rni ngly to Hera he [ i e Ze u s ] c au ght me by th e
,
. .
2 06 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOG Y
foot a nd hu rled me from th e he avenly th reshold ; al l d a y I
flew a nd at th e set of sun I fell i n Lemnos a nd little life wa s i n
, ,

” 1
me T here did th e S i nti a n fol k tend me for m y fa ll
. Th e .

other vers ion i s th at wh i ch wi ll be given u n de r th e next h ea d ing .

He p h aistos h a s th e d i stinction of being th e only craftsm a n o n

O l y m p os a nd th e works of h i s h a n ds a re ma ny a nd wonderful
,
.

T h e greatest of th ese wa s p erh a p s th e aegi s of Zeu s a lthou gh

, , ,

h e also b ui lt th e hou ses of th e god s a nd wrou gh t i n h i s forges

th e s ce p tre of Agamemnon the armou r of Diome des a n d of ,

Ach i lles a n d th e golden tri p od s wh ich u ngu ided a nd un sup

, , ,

p orte d ,
cou l d e nter a nd de p a rt fro m th e h all of Zeu s Th rough .

a comb i n a tion of d i s p osition a nd d i s ab ility h e ta kes b u t little

p a rt i n the stri fe of th e G ree k a n d th e Troj a n .

The Cha r a cter a n d Fun ct io n s of Hep ha isto s — Myt h ology .

m a kes a mu ch l a rger contrib uti on to ou r mos aic p ortra it of

Hepha istos th a n doe s cu lt for th e bol d ou tl ines of h i s p hysic a l
,

a p p ear a nce and th e concrete n a tu re of h i s a ctivities m ade h i m

a ready theme for th e myth ma ker a nd myth monger a lt h ou gh - -
,

these same ch a racteri stic s deb a rred h im from those p h as es of

worsh ip wh ic h dema nded some mea su re of ab stra ct thou g h t ,

so th at h e w a s i n fact th e lea s t ab stra ct a nd th e most c o n

, ,

c rete of a l l the god s .

I n a myt h wh ic h s eem s to belong to a very ol d stratu m

He p ha istos h a d no b lood rel a tionsh ip at al l to Zeu s ; i n stea d
-
,

l i ke T y p hon he wa s merely th e so n of the u n p a i red Hera bu t

, ,

after sh e h a d borne h im S h e ob serve d th a t he wa s a wea kli ng

,

a nd ca st h i m down from Olym p os th e fal l m a ki ng h im lame ,

ever a fte r B elow h e took refuge with Theti s a nd Eu rynome

.

i n thei r sea home a nd s p ent h i s time i n tra ining h is h a nd i n

-

th e cu nning of th e c r a fts H a rbou ri ng a gru dge aga inst h i s

.

mother for her c ruelty he fash ioned a nd sent to h er a golden

,

ch a i r fitted with i nvi sible s n a res so th at whe n sh e s a t i n i t sh e

,

w a s h el d so fa st th at not eve n th e strength of the god s coul d

re l e a se h e r Ares went to He p h ai stos to beg h im to come a nd
.

loosen th e s n a res bu t He p h aistos d rove h im b ac k home wit h

,
 P L AT E X L V I
T HE RE T UR N OF HEP H A IS T O S To O L Y M P OS

He p hai s t o s , c ro w n e d w it h t h e fe s tiv e ivy a n d h o l d

in g a p ai r o f s m it h s t o ngs ri de s unst e a dily o n a
’

sp i rit e d m ul e . In fro n t o f him w al k s D i o ny so s

c a r r i ng h is s p ec i al e m bl e m s t h e t hyr sos an d t he ha n
y ,

t ha r os. T he s ho rt a n d m e rry p ro c e ss i o n is l e d b y a
S atyr wit h a ho rs e s tail a n d p o i nte d e a rs w h o a s h e
’

o e s al o n s e e m s t o b e da n c i n g t o t h e a cc o m a n i m e n t
g g p
o f his o w n ly r e .F ro m a re d fig ure d hr a t er o f ab o ut
-

4 4 0 B C i n Mun i c h (Furt w an g le r Re ic h h o ld Cr icch

-
.
, ,
.

ische Va sen m a ler ei, N o . Se e p p . 2 06 — 0

7 .
2 08 G REEK AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
A p p a rently from th e i dea made cu rrent by ce r ta i n p h ys ica l
p h iloso p h ers th at fi re wa s the sub sta nce out of wh ic h li fe wa s
p ro du ced He p h aistos c ame to b e conceived a s t h e c reator of
,

men P a ndora we remember wa s mou ld ed by h is h a nd ou t of

.
, ,

clay a n d a h i nt of th i s fu nction may also be rea d i n t h e a c

,

cou nt o f h i s s tra nge fathering of Er ic h t ho n io s i n u nion with

Athene I nvoc ations sup ported by magica l rites were often
.

a ddressed to h im to b ring fe rti lity to b arren women .

Hep ha istos i n Ar t Th e a rtists con si stently rep resented

.
—

He p h a istos a s a s mith h olding a h ammer Ma ny sta tu es of .

the s ixth centu ry grossly c a ric atu red h i s lamenes s bu t oth ers ,

merely h i nted a t it or a lmost enti rely su ppressed it I n th e .

l ate p eriod h e b ecame a ra re th eme of a rt a nd wh ere h e wa s ,

re p resented at all it wa s a s th e seriou s a rtis a n .

HE ST IA

The Or ig i n and the N ame f

o Hest i a .
—
Hesti a u ndou btedly
belonged to a n old stratu m of G ree k life a nd u nli ke most of ,

the oth er god s S h e wa s h erself th e obj ect fo r wh ic h h er n ame

stood —
th e h eart h for t h at sh e wa s not th e fire nor th e ,

s p i rit of th e fi re bu rning o n t h e h ea rt h i s clea r from th e lac k

,

of d aemonic c h ara cteristic s i n h er person As th e h ea rt h itsel f .

sh e wa s origi nally a prod u ct of the p re a n im ist ic stage of

thou g h t a nd from th i s s tage s h e neve r adva nced fa r a ci rcu m
, ,

stance w h ich wa s du e to h er s tati c n atu re Th e othe r god s cou l d

.

exercise t h ei r a ctivi ties ove r b road ra nges of territory a nd

p eoples b u t h er vi rtu e would h ave va nished with movement
, ,

a nd li ke home kee p ing yout h s sh e h a d homely wits He r im

,
-
,
.

p ortance rested on th e imperative need of fi re i n th e p rimitive

home an d i n th e immense d ifficu lty of p rocu ri ng i t i n event of
su d den demand .

The Ge n e a lo gy a n d Fun ct i o n s of Hest i a T h e earliest state

.

ment of Hesti a s p a rentage i s to be fou nd i n Hes iod w h ere S h e

’
,

i s the eldest dau gh ter of K ronos a nd Rh ea alt h oug h not a word ,

 T HE G REAT ER GOD S —
HES TIA 299

i s s aid of h er du ties a s a go ddess I n a Ho m e r ic Hym n a d

.
3

dressed to h er we fi n d merel y th e rema rk th at S h e dwe l ls i n

A p ollo s s ac red hou se a t D e lp ho i a n d i t i s to the Ho m e r i c
’

Hym n to Ap hr o dite th at we mu st look fo r th e fu l lest deli nea

4

tion Th ere her i nviol ate p u rit y i s enh a nce d by contras t with
.

th e eas y ab a ndon of the goddes s of love for th e works of,

Aph rodite says th e h y mn i n sub stance a re dis p l eas ing to

, ,

Hesti a the modes t d au gh ter of Kronos whom both P osei don

,

a n d A p ollo wooed i n vai n Wi th a might y oath sworn o n the

.

h ea d of Zeu s S h e d ecla red th at Sh e wou ld rema i n a virgi n a ll

h e r d ays wh erefore h er fath er gr a nted her a gift i nstea d of
,

marri age a nd S h e too k h er p lace i n th e mid st of th e dwelling

,

a nd wa s a ccorded h ig h h onou r i n th e temples of th e gods a n d ,

from mortal s received th e greatest homage Pind a r s ings of .

h er a s th e d ivi ne gu a rd i a n of th e i ntegrit y of th e state .

Thes e few myth s a re tra ns p a rent views of the fu nction s of

Hesti a who wa s the divi ne symbol of th e pu rity of th e home
, .

AS th e h earth fi r e bu rne d u ncea singly S O wa s sh e th e p rotect

-
,

res s of the conti nu ity of the family life ; bu t wh ile Hera s too d
for th e government of th e hou sehold Hesti a t y pified rather
,

th e i ntimate d a ily rel ations of its members Oath s sworn u p o n

.

th e h ea rth a nd su p p li a nts b eside th e hea rth we re s acred to h er ,

a nd all litu rgi ca l a cts i n both p ub l i c and p rivate life were p ref
a ced by a S p eci al recognition of her wh ile th ere a re some rea
,

sons for t h i n king th at th ey were also thu s closed Neverth eless.

,

des p ite h er formal importance Hes ti a never showed a strong

,

d i recti ng h a nd i n th e mou lding of th e soci al orga nization .

I n a rt Hesti a a p p ea rs a s a sedate matron wit h ou t d istin

u i sh i n g attribu tes th e flowers a n d fru it with wh ich sh e w a s
g ,

sometimes S h own h aving a p p arently been a dded solely a s

o rn am e n t s .
 C H APT E R V I I I

T H E G RE AT E R G O D S — P O S EI D O N
AN D AMP H I T RI T E

POS E I D ON

HE Or ig in an d the N a m ef o I
P o se i do n
f we consu lt only
.

th e geograph ica l register of t h e di stribu tion of Poseidon s ’

cu lt we sh al l i ncli ne to cla ss ify h im a s a god of northern

,

o rigi n i ntrodu ced i nto Hella s by immigrating Gree ks I f o n .

,

th e contra ry we h ave rega rd p ri ncipa lly for h i s c hief cu lt

,

centres su ch a s Cori nth a nd Bo io t ia a nd accept a recent dem

, ,

o n st ra t io n t h at h i s i ns e p a rab le emb lem th e trident wa s i n , ,

origi n th e l ig h t n in g b o lt of a Meso p otami a n d ivi nity we c a n not ,

wel l help b elievi ng t h at h e too c ame from t h e ea st i n wh i ch

, ,
1
,

event h i s cu lt wou ld fi rst h ave rea ch ed Crete a n d thence h ave

b een s p read b y s ailors to Hellenic p orts on th e Aegea n a nd
Mediterra nea n Wh ateve r h i s i niti al fu nctions m ay h ave been
.
,

h e bec a me a mong th e Gree ks th e su p reme master of th e se a ;

a n d to ex la i n h i s n a me a s connected with 77 0 t 9
'
p
' '
0

” ”
a n d I r vo s o r 17
a 09
19 12a name of Crete ma kes the su ggestion
, ,

a s to h i s E as tern origi n very p l au s ibl e .

P o se ido n i n Ho m er Homer knows Posei don a s t h e so n

.
—

of Kronos a nd Rhea Wh en the new ki ngdom wa s d ivided

.
,

th e domi nio n of the se a wa s p ut i nto h i s h a nd s w h ile ea rth ,

a nd Olym p os were se t a side a s commo n territory for a ll th e

god s His home is u nderstood to be i n th e se a somewh ere
.

nea r Aig a i I n the wa r a t I l ion h e d ispl ays no great p a rti sa n

.

sh i p a l though h i s s y m p a th ies i ncl ine towa rd the c au s e o f th e

,

G reeks y et h e s a v es Ain e ia s from Ach il le s bec au se th e hou r of

,
2 12 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y
bodies of fres h water al so came u nder h i s sway T h e greater .

nu mber of h i s e p ithets record h i s su ndry rel ations with th e sea

a nd with th i ngs p ertai ni ng to th e se a ; nor i ndeed c a n it be , ,

doubted th at whenever h e wa s i nvo ked i n worsh ip by th e

average Greek h is a ssoci ation with t h e sea wa s p resent b efore
,

the mi nd no matter how ma ny oth er a s p ects h e bore I nl a nd

,
.

l a kes or s p rings of b rac kis h wate r were held to be of his c reat

i ng ; for i nsta nce th e so c al led S ea o n th e Acropoli s of Ath ens ;
,
-

a nd he wa s th e ch ief deity of sea fari ng commu nities li ke Iol

-

kos Troizen a nd Cori nth Wh ile h e gave no specific e n c o ur

, ,
.

a g e m e n t to th e bu ildi ng of sh i p s a nd to t h e tech nic al ities of

n avigation h e wa s looked u p to a s th e most reli ab le p rotector

,

of Sh ips a nd s ailors amid th e peril s of voyage No wonder .

th at h i s sh ri nes were very frequ ently loc ated i n h a rbou rs he

coul d c alm or trouble th e se a a s h e wou ld A certai n myth
?

rep resents th e awa rd of th e I st h mu s of Cori nth to P oseidon b y

Bria r eo s a s th e sou rce of h i s p atronage of th at region a nd it ,

wa s here th at I a so n so su itab ly ded ic ated to P oseidon t h e sh i p

of S h i p s the Argo Fi nally the doubles of P oseidon reflect h i s
,
.
,

mari ne c h aracter ; Aig e us Th eseu s P eleu s a n d Ach illes all

, , ,

sta nd i n some d i sti nctive relation to t h e se a .

I nasmu ch a s the se a a ppea red to hold up t h e l a nd it wa s ,

natu ral to attribute the oth erwise i nex p l ic ab le ph enomena

ema nati ng from th e depth s of th e ea rth to th e a ctivities of th e
powerfu l god of th e ocea n I t wa s h e w h o c au s ed t h e great up
.

h e a v a l wh ich i n some remote geologic al age d ra i ned th e pl ains

of Th es s aly th rou gh th e Vale of Tempe a nd left t h e face of
n atu re sca rred and wri n kled ; a nd some of t h e G reeks even went
so fa r a s to sa y th at the s hoc ks of ea rth qu a ke s were du e to
’
D emeter s resi stance to t h e emb ra ces of Poseidon j u st a s a ,

tu rb ulent se a wa s attribu ted to a s imila r b rawl between T h eti s

a nd P eleu s a d uplicate of Poseidon Th e roa ring a nd ru m
, .

b l ings of e a rth qu a ke a n d b illow were ex p l ai ned a s proceed ing

from p rodigiou s raging bu ll s or horse s livi ng i n th e d eep hol
lows of ea rth a nd se a th es e creatu res being u nderstood now
,
 P L AT E X LV I I
PO S E I D O N

T his c o n c e p ti o n o f Po s e i do n is i n fi n it e ly n o bl e r
t h a n t hat a p p e a r i n g o n p 6 alt ho ugh t he t w o p o r
.
,

t rait s e n do w h im w it h t he s a m e att r ib ut e s He re t he
.

o d s e e m s t o h av e j us t e m e rg e d fr o m his h o m e b e n e at h
g
t h e wav e s a n d n o w
, ,
sta n di n g as o n a n e m i n e n c e a n d
surv eyi n g h is va s t do m ai n s is ab o ut t o c r o ut t o t h e
, y
e l e m e nt s t o o b e y h is w ill . F ro m a lat e He ll e n i sti c
m a r bl e (s e c o n d o r fi rs t c e n t ury fo un d in Me l o s
a n d n o w i n At h e n s B r un n Br uc k m a n n
( D en hm a ler
’

-
,

g i h
r ecischer un d r om ischer Scul t ur , N o
p .
5
 T HE G REAT E R GOD S P O S E IDON 2 13

a s a nimate emb lems of P osei don now a s identica l wit h t h e god

,

3
h imself .

B y stri king h i s tri dent on a T h es s ali a n roc k Poseido n i s ,

s a id to h ave p rod uced th e fi rst h ors e an d h e it wa s who gave

,

to P elop s th e ch a riot th a t cou ld fly over la nd a nd se a d rawn by

th e immo rtal horses Ba l io s a n d X a nthos Moreover he h im
.
,

s elf d rove swiftly over th e w a ves i n h i s own ch a riot nor do we ,

need to b e remin ded th at he wa s the fath er of th e winged

Pegasos a nd of Ar e io n th e h orse of Ad ra stos Th e s ac rifice
, .

of a h orse i n connexion with h i s cu lt d istingu is hed h i s ritu a l

from th at of th e other divi nities a nd a t Cori nt h h e even
,
“
went by th e title Hip p io s ( Equ estri a n Th a t th e h orse god -

s hou ld b ecome th e deity of h orse racing an d fi nally of th e

-
,

b reeding a n d b re a king O f h ors es involves a very ea sy p roces s

,

of though t .

Th e god w h o op erated i n t h e u nseen d ept h s of t h e e art h

wa s very n atu rally h el d to b e th e giver of s p rings a nd s p ring
fed strea ms a nd la kes th e famou s fou nt of Hip p o uk r e n e b ei ng
,

c reated wit h a stroke of th e h oof o f P oseidon s P egasos Th e ’

.

s p rings of Lerne were revealed by Posei don to Amymone a nd ,

p rior to t h e arrival of t h e family of D a n aos i n Argol i s h e h a d

with h el d water from th e fo u ntai n s a n d rivers so th at t h e l an d
h a d b ecome p a rch ed a nd b a rren S o fa r t h en a s water from
.
, ,

t h es e sou rces p romotes the growth of p lant life Poseidon i s ,

righ tly to b e des ignated a god of fertility .

P osei don u niformly a ppea rs i n myth a s a god of little in

t e lle c t ua l a nd still les s eth ic a l ch aracter .

P o se ido n i n Ar t
. Art received its model of Posei don from
Homer From th e b est period onwa rd h e a p pears a s a well
.

m atu red m a n not u nl i ke t h e typ e of Zeu s b u t distingu ish able

,

from it by h i s h eavier mu scul atu r e a nd h i s les s lordly m anner .

Ord i narily h e i s nu de or lig h tly clad either sta nding on a dol

,

p h i n or a roc k or i n th e a c t of ta king a step forwa rd and h i s

, ,

fr ame stoop s Slightly a s if peering i nto th e d istance He i s

,
.

S hown bearded a nd wit h th e h a i r of th e h ea d variou sly long or

2 14 G RE EK AND ROMAN M Y THO LOG Y
short a n d very often d ish evelled He generally h old s a trident
.

i n h is h a n d bu t if th is a nd th e dol p h i n are ab sent identification

, ,

i s often diffi cu lt .

AMP HI T RI T E

Amph itrite does not strictly b elong to th e ci rc le of th e grea t

go ds but owing to h er form a l a ssoci atio n with P oseidon sh e
,

may not im p roperly b e b rough t to ou r attention here As .

th e wife of P oseidon sh e received m any of th e h onou rs accorded

a s a m a tter of cou rse to th e su perior d ivi nities I n myth sh e
.

w a s th e Q ueen of th e S e a a nd i n reality sh e s eems to h ave b een

,

the se a itself i n its a spect a s th e vas t flood of waters wh ic h

e nvelo p s th e e a rth AS to th e mea ning of h er n ame we c a n
.
,

mere l y d ivine r a ther th a n p rove t h at it refers to t h i s featu re

, ,

of her natu re I n the I l i a d S h e i s sca rcely more t h a n a n a lle

.

g o r ic a l figu re wh
,
ile i n th e Od yss ey sh e h a s become i nvested

with at le a st t h e p attern of a person ality b ei ng h ere rega rded

,

a s th e divine being who s end s t h e mon sters of t h e se a a nd

d rives waves a gainst th e roc ks .

Am p h itrite wa s eit h er o ne of th e many d augh ters of Ok e a n o s

or the d aughter of Nereu s a nd Dori s Poseidon fi rst sa w h er
.
,

ru n s the myt h i n t h e comp a ny of h er S ister nymp h s i n Naxos

,
-
.

Of all those fa ir ones sh e wa s th e fai rest a nd p owerles s to

,

res ist h er ch a rms he seized h er a nd bore h er away to be h i s

’
wife I n th e se a sh e s at u pon a th rone at Posei don s s ide a nd
.

with Theti s led th e c h o ru s of se a nymph s i n thei r d a nces I n

-
.

a rt sh e i s de p icted a s a Ne rei d of qu eenly mien wit h moist ,

flowing h a i r bou nd i n a net .

2 16 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
son made h im b l i nd a n d he wa s not for long b ecau s e h e wa s
, ,
”
h ate d of th e immorta l go ds .

Y et th e evi dence doe s more t h a n p oi nt away from Hellas ;

it i n dic a tes Th race with some degree of de fi n it e n e ss Many .

G ree ks of the h i storica l period were fi rmly convi nced of D io

n y so s s T h r a ci a n origin a nd moreover wh at little we know
’
, , ,

of the old Th racia n religion Shows th at it h ad C h a racteri stic s

very s imilar to thos e of th e cu lt of D ionysos wh ile fu rth er , , ,

th e scene of a ction a nd t h e ma d votaries of D ionysos i n th e

Ly k o ur g o s myth are Th raci a n
- .

’
Th e route of Dionysos s a p proa ch to G reece p res ents more
difficu lties th an the qu estion of h i s nativity Few believe t h at .

h e c ame d i rectly from Th race a t lea st at fi rst a lthou gh one

, ,

mu st admi t the p oss ib ility of a l ate cu rrent of h i s cu lt swee p

i ng i nto Greece th rou gh a straig h t c h a nnel The p revaili ng .

O p inion i s th at Dionysos wa s first c a rried by Th raci a n immi

gra nts to Ph rygia where h i s natu re a s a god of fertility bou nd

,

him i ntimately with the ea rth god des s of th e region who s eem s ,

to h ave been known a s Z e m e lo a name stri kingly s imila r to

,

th a t of S emele the mother of D ionysos i n Th eb a n legend

,
.

From P h rygi a th e god made h i s way to Crete a nd t h ence to ,

those p arts of Greece wh ich were i n C los e ma ri ne contact

with Crete not a b ly Argos a nd t h e Bo io t ia n coas t T h e myth s
,
.

of these p l a ces i nvolving D ionysos Show t h at h ere we re sit

ua t e d h i s oldest est a blishments i n G reece He seems to h ave .

reache d Athens u n der th e kings by way of th e Ma rathoni a n

tetr a polis and hi s a dvent i s celeb rated i n a legend wh i ch
,

p rob a b l y goes b a c k to the eigh th centu r y t h e period o f t h e ,

Bo io t o —Eub o ia n i nflue nce Thi s a lleges th at D ionyso s c a me to

.

I k a r io s who dwelt on the northern borders of At t ik e giving

, ,

h im a S h oot of t h e vine a nd i nstructing h im i n its cu ltu re .

Wi sh ing to bestow a boon u p on men I k ar io s gave some un ,

mixe d wi ne to a b a nd of sh e p herd s bu t t h ey h avi ng pa r, ,

t a ken of i t too freely became dru n k a nd b elievi ng th at th ey

, ,

h a d been p oisone d se t u p on I k a r io s a nd killed h i m Later .

,
 T HE G REAT ER GOD S D ION Y S O S 2 17

coming to thei r s ense s the y b u rie d h i s body b ut Er igone

, , ,

h i s d a ugh ter with the a id of h er dog fou n d h is grave a n d

, ,

h a nged h erself o n a tree wh ich overh u ng it As a p enalty .

for th e death of I k a r io s D ionysos sent u p on the p eo p le a n

e p idemi c wh ic h wa s a ppeased only when they h a d p ublicl y
offered h im the p h allic emb lem ; a nd to ma ke amend s for th e
death of Erigone the Attic maidens beg a n h anging themselves ,

the b a nefu l p ra ctice bei ng ca rried to su c h a n extent th at for

i t wa s sub stitu ted a festiva l i n wh i ch t h e you ng gi rls swu ng
from trees Th i s l ast featu re of th e story p rob ably a rose wh en
.

th e origi na l pu rpose of th is ritu a l swinging th e exciteme nt ,

of sexu a l p as sion h ad been forgotten Another cu lt p ractice

,
2
.
-

s eems to embody a s a n h i stori ca l fact a secon d a nd later in

t ro duc t io n of D ionysos i nto At t i k e by way of the town of

E le ut h e r a i .

Th e word D ionysos i s d ivisible i nto two p arts the first ,

origi nal l y Aco s (cf Z eu s) wh i le the second i s of u nknown

.
,

s ignific ation althou g h perh a p s connected with the name of

,

the Mou nt Nys a which figu res i n the sto ry of Ly k o ur g o s .

D io n ysos i n Ho m e r D ionysos p lays a very subordi nate

.
—

rO le i n Homer for h e i s not yet ex a lted to the circ l e of th e

,

Olymp i an s Th e poet regard s h im a s th e son of Zeu s a n d

.

S emole a nd i s a cqu ai nted with th e tale of h is p ersecution by

’
Ly k o ur g o s besi de s m a king h im th e witnes s of T heseu s s de
,

p a rtu re fro m Crete with Ari ad ne a nd record ing th at it wa s ,

h e who gave to Theti s the gol den j ar th e h a n diwork of He ,

p h a i stos i,
n wh i ch sh e p l aced th e ashes of Ach illes .

The Bi r th of D i o n yso s After the b i rth of D ionysos of

.
—
,

wh i ch we h ave rea d i n a n ea rlier p a ss a ge shoots of twining ,

ivy spra ng from the grou nd to give a p rotecti ng sh a de to th e

i nfa nt god a nd remai ned to dec k th e sh ri ne of h i s mother
,

S emele w h ic h w a s afte rwa rd erecte d on th e S p ot where sh e

,

d ied its roof b ei ng su p p orted b y p illa rs wh ich fel l from h eaven

,

with t h e bolts of ligh tning by wh ich sh e w a s slain Wh en .

D ionysos h a d been reborn from th e th igh of Zeu s Hermes e n ,

2 18 G REEK AND ROMAN M YT HO LOGY
tru sted him to th e nym p h s of Mou nt Nys a who fed h i m on ,

th e foo d of th e god s a nd m a de h i m immortal .

The F u n ct i o n s a n d the Cul t of D i o n ysos Th e ecstatic o r

.
—

gies of the D ionysi a c ritu als a nd th e p romi nence of th e vi ne i n

myth s rel a ting to D ion y sos are a ltogether res p onsib le for th e
ve ry common notion th a t h e wa s prima rily th e god of wine ,

a l though o n th e contra ry h e w a s i n reality th e deity who

, ,

embo died i n h i s s ingle bei ng th e sum total of al l those u nseen

p owers wh ich p rodu ce a ll ki nd s of p la nt life N atu rall y h e .

wa s given most consideratio n i n h i s rel ation a s p rodu cer of

those pla nts on wh ich hu ma n life most d e p ended a nd th e vi ne , ,

a s one of th ese rea dily b ecame h is p o p u la r symbol D ionysos s

,
.
’

c h ara cter a s a divi nit y of vegetation is revealed i n a nu mber of

myth s where li ke th e La k o n ia n Hy a k in t h o s h e a ppea rs a s
, ,

altern a tely dying a nd coming to life th i s b ei ng a p p a rently th e

,

signification of h i s fall with S emele a nd of h i s sub sequent r e

b irth Un der th e title o f Zagreu s h e wa s thoug h t to b e torn
.

a su nder a n d revive d a nd th e idea i s a lso p resent i n t h at p art

,

of th e Homeri c story of Ly k o ur g o s wh ic h we h ave reviewed .

Ly k o ur g o s re p resents thos e elements wh ich at a c ertai n s eason

c au se th e death of a ll vegetation b u t s ince thes e factors ca nnot
,

a lwa y s p revail Ly k o urg o s is sub du ed a nd D ionysos l i v es o n to

,

enj o y immortality Th e conti nu ation of th i s legend be y ond t h e

.

point to wh ich Homer c a rries i t i s i n th e s a me vein D ionysos .

,

it recou nts s mote Ly k o urg o s with madnes s a n d wh ile i n th i s

, ,

condition th e king i n a n attem p t to cu t th e tru n k of a vin e

,

with a n axe accidental l y kille d h i s own son S til l ou t of hi s

,
.

senses h e fou lly mu ti lated th e boy s bod y b u t th e l a nd then

,
’
,

with hel d i ts fru its a n d a n o racle decl a red to th e p eo p le th at

,

th i s st a te of th ings woul d conti nue u nti l they h a d b rought abou t

th e de a th of Ly k o urg o s Th ereu p on th e Edo n ia n s seized h i m
.

a n d bore h i m O ff to Mou nt P a n a io n where h e wa s d rawn

g ,

a sun de r b y horses th u s s atisfyi ng Dionysos who c au sed th e

3
, ,

l a n d to b e a r .

I t w a s i n the c h a ra cter of producer of t h ose forms of vegeta

 P L AT E X LV I I I
T HE E N T H R O N E D D I O N Y SOS

D i o ny s o s is s e at e d o n a n e lab o rat e m a rbl e o r iv o ry

t h ro n e st udde d wit h j e w e l s a n d b e hi n d him ri s e s a
, ,

sa c r e d p illa r . T he g o d w ith his e m b l e m s (ga r la n d

, ,

a n d ka n t ha r os s de p i c t e d as a bib l
t hyr sos , ) i u o us

l o o k i n g c e l e b ran t o f h is o w n rit e s O n t he gro un d at

.

h is r i g h t is a tymp a n on s up p o rt e d in a n o bli q ue p o si
ti o n a n d at h is l e ft a p a n t h e r h i gh ly s ugg e stiv e o f t he
, ,

O r i e n tal a ss o c iati o n s o f t he D i o ny s ia c c ult . T he

p ai n ti n g is r e m a r k abl e fo r it s bl e n di n g o f s o ft fl e sh

ti n ts dai n t y bl ue s o f t h e dra p e ry an d t he de l ic at e
, ,

w h it e o f t he t h ro n e ag ai n st a n un re li e v e d bac k gro un d
,

o f r i c h re d . F ro m a wall p ai n ti n g i n t he C a sa de l
-

N avi g l i o Po m p e i i (He r m a nn Bruc k m a n n D en hm aler

,
-
,

der Ma ler ei des Al t er t um s N O ,

.
2 20 G REEK AND ROMAN M Y THO LOGY
th e u nion wh ile I a k c ho s w h ose name i s etymologically a ki n to
, ,

Ba k c h o s one of t h e d ivi ne p ersonages of th e mysterie s wa s

, ,

a form of D ionysos Th at featu re of th e rites i n wh ich P e r

.

se p h o n e Demeter s dau ghter wa s redeemed from Hades a s th e

’

, ,

p ersonal representa tive of th e initi ates was su c h a s to attract ,

D ion y sos i n h is c apacity a s relea ser from Ha des a fu nction ,

wh ich h e derived perh ap s from t h e power of wi ne to relea se

, ,

the mi nd from care a nd wo rry a nd myth records th a t h e ,

liberated bot h Ari ad ne a nd S emele from t h e e terna l bond age

of the u nderworld .

Alt h ou gh the fou ntai n nymp h s a re often s ai d i n legend to

-

b e h i s ministra nts th i s i s not to b e ta ken to imply t h at h e wa s

,

a water god If the easiest i nterp retation i s to b e fol lowed it

-
.
,

mea ns rath er t h at t h e G reeks regarded th e watercou rses a s

, ,

a iding him i n t h e p rodu ction of a n ab u nd a nt growth 8

.

To cou nt the god of fertility a s t h e deity of we alth i s a n ea sy

tran sit for t h e imaginative mind a nd a l ate a nd u nc a noni ca l , ,

myth a s we may term it dep icts h im i n t h i s gu i se After

, , .

Midas t h e Myg do n ia n king h ad b een give n t h e ea rs of a n a s s

, ,

for h aving preferred th e mu sic of Ma rsya s to t h at of Apollo ,

D ionysos ch anced to p a s s t h rou gh th e ki ngdom on h i s way to

I ndi a E ntertai ni ng h im libera lly Mid a s gave h im a gu i de for
.
,

h i s j ou rney a nd i n gratitu d e D ionyso s bestowed u pon th e

,

king th e p ower of tu rni ng to gold wh atever h e tou c h ed Th i s .

boon however p roved to b e o nly a b a ne for eve n th e food wh ich

, , ,

Mid a s wou ld convey to h i s lip s b ec ame gold so th a t h e wa s ,

i n a fai r way to sta rve to death At la st h e begged to be de .

l ivered from h i s ru t h les s gift wherefore D ionysos b ade h im

,

wa sh h imself i n th e river P a k t o lo s whose waters too k on the ,

tinge of gold a s soon a s h is body touched t h e stre am .

Th e re l ation between D ionysos a nd the Mu ses goes b ac k to

th e T h raci a n period of h is wors hip F rom th e ea rliest times i n .

Hell a s h i s s p eci al ritu als cons isted of songs a nd d ances d e

s igne d m a gically to stimu late t h e growt h of u sefu l pla nt life
a n d to a ve r t s uch i nfluences a s th reatened it At fi rst th ese .
 T HE G REAT ER GOD S —
D ION Y SO S

p erform a nces were merely c ru d e s p ontaneou s ou tbu rs ts of

,

religiou s emotion b u t i n time th e orderly mind a nd th e c rea

,

tive fa nc y of th e G ree k mou lded them a s i t were ou t of th e , ,

d u st of th e ea rth i nto those sub lime figu res of l itera ry a nd

mu sica l a rt th e d ithyramb (or i ndependent chor a l song )
, ,
“
tragedy a nd comedy Th e d ivi ne mi ssio n of D ion y sos to
,
.

” 9
mingl e the mu s i c of th e fl ute a nd to b ring su rcease to ca re
i s tra ns pa re nt th roug h t h e text of a ny of the works of t h e great
d ra ma tists .

S p a ce a llows u s to d raw attention only to t h e more importa nt

festivals of D ionysos I n S i kyon Cori nth a nd At t ik e these
.
, ,

were made s p eci a l occ a sions for mu sica l p erforma nces b ut only ,

i n th e l a st of these th ree p l aces d id they attai n to monu

menta l d i stinction Here t h ey were fou r i n nu mber begin
.
,

ni ng if we follow th e order of ou r month s i n J a nu a ry with

, ,

th e Le n a ia th e feast of wi ld women (Afiva t ) The Anth esteria

,
.
,

comb ining ceremonies attend ant on th e o p eni ng of the new

“ ” ’
wi ne with a p rimitive all sou l s festival c ame next i n F e b ,

r ua r y a nd i n connexion with t h is th ere too k p la ce a s ymbol ic

,

ma rria ge of th e wife of th e ki ng Archon to D ionysos I n .

Ma rch fol lowed the Greater o r City D ion y s ia a t th e begi n

, , ,

n ing of wh ich th e i ntrodu ction of D ionysos i nto At t ik e by way

of Ele ut h e ra i wa s p roces sion ally re p resented ; a nd finally i n ,

D ecember th e p eo p le of th e cou ntry dis tricts celeb r a ted lo

,

c a lly th e u ncou th a nd u nrestrai ned Ru ra l D ion y si a Th e con .

n e x io n s estab li sh ed between D ion y sos a nd p rofes sion al a ctors

a nd mu sici ans i n the orga nized festival s led to h is a do p tion

a s th e p atron deity of th e b roth erhood s o r th e gu ilds of these
p erformers societies wh ich continu ed to th rive u nti l a late
,

d ate.

S u ffi cient rema rk h a s a lread y b een made o n the genera l

s ignifica nce of th e D ionys ia c ritu al s but it remai ns to S p e a k of
,

the ecs tasy of th e vota ri es T h i s wa s not i nduced wholl y by

.

th e u se of wi ne a s i s almost u nivers all y sup p osed for it a rose

, ,

i n th e fi rst p lace th rough th e p otent suggestivenes s of th e mere

 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y
i dea t h at it wa s p oss ib le for th e i nd ivi du al mortal by th e o b ,

se rva nce of certai n forms to become s p i ritu ally one wi th th e

,

immorta l god th e potency of th e conce p t b eing immeasu rab l y

,

i ncrea sed when i t pos ses sed a com p a ny of p eo p le of li ke mi nd ,

even though they rema ined s tatic With th e a id of d a nci ng .

,

mu si c d ri n king Shou ting a nd p a rti cip ation i n the raw fles h

, , ,

a n d b lood of victims i n wh ic h th e god wa s thou ght to dwell th e ,

i dea th rew the vota rie s i nto a n u ncontrollab le frenzy a ki n to

mad ness i n its extern al demon stration w h ence th e ma d nes s of ,

the d aug h ters of P ro it o s a nd Minya s a nd of D ionysos h i m ,

self.

T O th e field of moral s D ionysos m ade no new c o n t r ib u

tion s nor contrary to th e common b elief wit h al l th e seem
, , ,

i ng l icen ce of h i s rites d i d h e a dd to genera l immorality His .

gift wa s mai nly religiou s al t h oug h i t h a d a s aluta ry soci al re

,

a ction To cou ntles s thou sa nd s whos e i nd ividu al ities h a d b een

.

submerged i n th e p rimacy of state i nterests h e b rou ght a stim

ul a t in g ho p e a nd a b uoya nt fa ith i n th e pos sib i lity of atta i ning
to a n i mmorta l exi stence a s free from worldly c a re a s wa s
,

the divine ecstasy of h i s ritu al .

Dio n ysos i n Ar t After D ionysos ca me to b e rep resented

.
—

i n fu l ly i coni c form two d i sti nct types were d evelo p ed I n

, .

th e first seen on Attic va ses of th e sixth centu ry h e i s gen

, ,

e r a lly shown a s a bea rded ma n b ecomingly clothed a nd to d i s ,

t in g uish h im from a simil ar ty p e of Hermes a b ra nch of vin e ,

or of ivy i s p ut i nto h i s h and I n th e second aspect doub t .

,

les s given vogu e th rough Ph e idia s h e appea rs a s a you th fu l ,

god of i ns p i ration Th e k a n tha r os a ki nd of d ri n king ves sel

.
, ,

th e thyr so s a ceremonia l wand a nd a fawn s ki n a re h i s most

, ,
-

common emblems He i s sometimes su rrou nded by Mae n a ds

.
,

a nd h i s whole bea ring i s one of ec stasy so th at occ asionally h e ,

i s even shown a s i ntoxicated ; it is not h owever u nti l a fte r th e , ,

fou rth centu ry B C th at excess ive s ens u al i ty a nd e ff emin acy

. .

we re a ttributed to h im so frequently a s to b e rega rded a s

essential featu res .
2 24 G REEK AND ROMAN M YT HO LOGY
li ke Hera kles before h im Alexa nder seized th e s ac red tripod
,

a nd th reatened to carry it away Th e p ri estess then mad e

.

h a ste to s p ea k c alling h im Hera kles Alexa nder a nd p ro p h esy

,

i ng th at h e wou ld b e greater th a n al l mortals Emboldened by

.

th ese words Alex a nder ma rch ed to th e conqu est of the golde n

,

E ast where one after a nother th e great kings and ki ngdom s

, , ,

fel l before h im P ers i a Med i a Ba k t r ia In di a

, , ,
u nti l there
were no more la nd s to conqu er On h i s homewa rd ma rch h e
.

fel l ill and d ied a nd took h i s rightfu l p l ace i n h eaven amon g

,

th e gods .
 P L AT E X L I X

D I O N Y S OS I N THE SH I P

D i o n y s o s, w n e d w it h ivy l e a n s ba c k at his c ase

c ro ,

i n t he m i ddl e o f his s h i p Sp ri n g i ng fro m b e s i de h im

.
,

t w o s t o ut vi n e s tal k s c la m b e r up t h e
- m a s t at t he ,

p e a k o f w h i c h t h ey s e n d o ut s p re a di n g b r a nc h e s la de n

wit h gra p e s a n d l e av e s T he do l p h i n s i n di c at e t h at
.

t h e sh i p is afl o at i n t he se a b ut t h e p ai n t e r g iv e s n o
,

h i n t w he th e r t h e y r e p re s e nt t h e t ra n s fo rm e d p i r at e s
o f t he lit e r a ry m t h F r o m a bla c k fi ure d
b l l by -
y .
g i s:

Ex e k ia s (latt e r p a rt o f t he s ixt h c e n t ury in

Mun i ch (Furt w an gl e r Re ic h ho ld G r iechische Va s
-
,
en

m a ler e i , N o . Se e p . 2 19 .

KA S TO R AN D PO L Y D EU K ES AT HOM E

T he fi gure s i n t h i s c o m p o s iti o n c a n b e i de n tifi e d

b y m e a n s o f t he i n s c r i p ti o n s T h ey re p re s e n t all t h e
.

fa m ily o f T y n da re o s e x c e p ti n g He l e n i n t h e i r S p a rta n
, ,

ho m e ; p ro c e e di n g fro m r i ght t o l e ft t h e y a re T yn
da re o s h i m s e l f a b o y s lav e K a s t o r L e da a n d Po ly
, , , ,

de uk e s . T h e w h o l e s c e n e is e l o q ue n t o f a do m e sti c
h a rm o n y w h i c h i n c l ude s e v e n t h e a n i m al s o f t h e
h o us e ho l d . F r o m a bla c k fig ure d a mp hor a b y Exe k ia s
-

( latt er
p a rt o f t he s ixt h c e n t ur
y i n t he V a t

i c a n (Furt w a n g le r Re ic hh o ld G i hische Va sen rn a l r ei

-
,
r ec e
,

No . Se e p p . 24 ff .
 C H AP T E R X

T H E G REAT E R G O D S —
D EMET E R,
K O RE, H AD E S

D E ME T E R AN D K ORE (P E RS E P HON E )

E Or ig i n and the Name f o h

D e m e te r
T e goddes
. s Deme
ter t h e d au gh ter of Rh ea a nd Kronos i s a n exceed ingly
, ,

i mporta nt figu re i n th e h i story of religions o n a ccou nt of th e

nu merou s ph a se s of h er ch a racter i n cult a nd myth a nd also ,

b ec au se of the powerfu l i nflu ence wh i ch sh e exerted on th e

whole G ree k world after a certai n p eriod It i s im p oss ible .

to sa y more i n reference to her origi n th a n th at wh en we ,

go b ac k a s far as we ca n sh e still s eems to b e a Helle ni c

,

d ivi nity Pa rallel s to h er cu lt fou nd among b a rb a ri a n s r e

.

mai n p a rallel s a n d not h ing more a nd th e fact t h at sh e was

,

a c knowled ged a s th e C h ief d ivi nity of the northern Am p hik

t yo n y i s p roof pos itive of h er very a ncient estab lish ment a s

a god des s common to many Helleni c tribes While she i s .

obviou sly a fo rm of G ai a (Ge ) Sh e wa s i n fu n ctio n t h e soil

,

goddes s rath er th a n th e b roadly generalized ea rt h goddess .

I n th e ligh t of her ch aracter it i s ve ry attractive to i nterp ret

A r
-
h er n ame nuj mp a s a d i alecti c va ri a nt of y fi ufimp bu t th e -
,

su ggestio n wil l not stan d etymologica lly A more novel way .

,

a nd one wh ich conforms to known capri ces of fol k speech i s -

,

to exp l ai n t h e n ame a s a n alliterative form invented h alf de ,

l ib e r a t e l y h alf u nconsciou sly to correspond to th e a ntithetical

, ,

Ai e zss n a r rjp t h u s giving th e co O p erating d ivi ne p ai r Mothe r

‘
-
, ,

E a rth and Father S ky ; a nd still a noth er i nte r p retation wh ich

“
i s worth considering ma kes th e name signify B arle y Mother ,

a meaning qu ite consona nt with th e s cope of her O perations .

2 26 G REE K AND RO MAN MYTHO LOGY

D e m e te r i n Ho m er Demeter i s more of a symbol i n Home r

.

th a n a p ersonality S h e i s the divi nity of the corn a nd Thes

.
,

s a lia n P yr a so s i s known a s her sac red fiel d owing no doubt , , ,

to i ts p roductivity S he h a s no p lace a s yet in th e grou p of

.

th e O l ym p ia ns nor h a s S h e a ny p a rt to p la y i n th e actio n of
,

either I l i a d or Odyssey Homer i s not acqu a inted with he r

.

a s the mother of P erse p hone a nd th e story of her amou r with

,

I a sion a s related i n t h e e p i c wil l b e referred to u nder th e next

heading .

D em e ter as the Go ddess o f the S o il Th e n atu re of Demeter .

i s b rou gh t ou t by a n a dmittedly a ncient myth fou nd both i n

Homer a nd i n Hesiod th e latter s a ccou nt bei ng richer i n
1 ’
,

“
details . Demeter d ivi ne one of god des ses mi ngling i n love
, ,

with the hero I a sion i n a t h ri ce p loughed fallow field i n t h e-

f a t la nd of Crete bore Plo ut o s a goodly so n who goeth every

, ,

where upon ea rth a n d u pon th e b roa d ridge s of the sea Wh at .

soever ma n h e meetet h a nd i nto w h ose h a nd s h e comet h dot h

h e ma ke ric h a nd to h im dot h h e vou ch safe ab u nd a nt h appi
,

ness .
”
Homer a dds t h at w h en Ze u s lea rned of t h e d eed of
I a sion h e smote h im dea d with a thu nderbolt T h i s myt h
,
.
,

althou gh not c a st i n th e form of a n explan ation seems to be ,

i n reality a n attempt to solve t h e origi n of a nd to su pp ly a ,

d ivine s a nction for t h e performa nce of rites i nvolvin g th e a c

,

tu a l or symbolic coh abitation of a ma n a nd a woma n i n a field

abou t to b e sown th ese ceremonies fertilizi ng t h e ea rth so
,

th at S h e wou ld b ring fort h her i nc rease a nd confer wea lt h a nd

h appi ness u pon man kind ?
T h ou gh the bou nty of Demeter
compreh ended every p rodu ct of the soi l wh ic h wa s of u se to
men the cereal fru its came to be regarded a s th e speci al o b
,

j e c t s of h er ca re Al l operations on th e fa rm al l pa rts of t h e
.
,

fa rm such a s b a rn a nd fiel d a nd so fort h wh ich h a d to do with

, ,

th e c ultivation of the grai n the c rop s i n a ll stages of t h ei r

,

growth th e cut grai n i n the s heaf a nd o n t h e th resh ing flo o r

,
-
,

a l l these th ings too c ame u nder h e r su rveilla nce Th e fi rst .

loa f of t h e new l y h a rvested c rop wa s dedic ated to h er a nd a ll ,

228 G REE K AND RO MAN M YTHO LO G Y
a way Only th e S un a nd He kate th e moon goddes s saw h er
.
,
-
,

c a p tu re bu t h er mother h ea rd h er c ries a nd i ns ta ntly ru s hed

,

forth to see k h er goi ng abou t t h e earth for n ine d ays a nd nine

,

nights without ta sti ng food or d ri n k a nd b eari ng i n her

, ,

h a n ds blazing torches to ligh t u p the d a rkest rec esses D u ring .

th i s time neither the go ds who h a d b een witnes ses of P e r

se p h o n e s seizu re nor any ome n c ame to th e mother s a id wi th
’ ’

a word of i nform a tion bu t on th e tent h d ay Hekate led h er

,

to the S u n who tol d her wh ere th e m ai den was Agai n th e

,
.

distracted moth er betoo k h erself to wa ndering a nd h avi ng ,

p a ssed u nrecognized th rou g h many l an d s i n th e gu i se of a n

old woman s h e came at la st to Eleu si s i n At t ik e wh ere sh e
, ,

sat down b y t h e pub lic well known a s th e Fou ntai n of Ma i den

,

hood Hit h er c ame th e fou r d aughters of K e l eo s th e king of

.
,

the cou ntry to d raw water Won by th ei r gra ciou s willingnes s

,
.

to li sten to h er D emeter told t h em a fictitiou s ta le of h er

,

escape from pi rates who h a d ensl aved h er a n d t h en a s ked ,

them to obtai n for h er a p lace a s nu rse i n some fami ly w h ere ,

u pon they too k h er to th ei r own h ome pu tti ng th ei r i nfa nt ,

b roth er Demophon i n her ca re B y d ay D emeter a noi nted th e.

ch ild with amb rosi a and by nigh t b at h ed h im i n fire a s Theti s ,

d id with Ach illes a nd h e wa s l i ke to b ecome immortal w h en h is

,

mother Me t a n e ir a d iscovered th e performance of t h e magic

rites a nd s natched h im away I nsta ntly th e goddes s th rew a s id e
.

h er d i sgu ise a nd revea ling h erself i n a l l h er d ivi ne fresh nes s an d

,

b eauty sh e a nnou nced her name a nd b ad e t h e peop le of Eleu

,

sis bu ild h er a tem le i n wh ich S h e wou ld teac h them th e cere

p
moni al of her worsh i p Ke le o s did a s s h e h a d comma nded a n d
.
,

i n th e tem p le Sh e too k up h er abode ; bu t so grea t wa s h e r

grief for h er d augh ter th at she with held h er b less ings from th e
soi l so th at men bega n to die for need of food a nd t h e a lta rs o f
, ,

the go ds lacke d s a c rifices At length Zeu s s ent I ri s a n d the

.

othe r go ds one a fter a noth er to plead with h er to relent but ,

sh e w o u l d not he a r of it u ntil h er d a ugh ter shou l d be given

bac k to h e r wh erefore Zeu s d is p atch e d Hermes to th e u nder

,
 T HE G REAT ER GOD S —
D E M E T ER ,
KO RE 229

world to bi d Hades release P erse p hone Unab le to resi st th e .

comma nd of h i s el der b rother H a des y ielde d b ut before l etting , ,

P erse p hone go s h rew dl y g a ve he r a p omegr a na te see d to eat ,

FI G . 8 . TRI PTOL E MO S
T ri pt olem o s is se tti g f t h
n or on b g t
h is m issio n t o r in t h e c e re a l fr ui s a n d t he k n o w l
edg g t
e o f a r ic ul ure t o m a n k in d v ll d y p
I n t h e e rsio n fo o w e b t he a in t e r t he c a r is n o t
.

d yd g
r aw n b r a o n s, b ut flie s t ro u h gh p
s a c e o n w in e w ee s P e r a s t h e w e e w a s
gd h l . h p h l
g lly
o r i in a t he sun s isk
’
d F ro m a re d-fig ure d lekythos o f t h e fi f ce n ur B C , fo un a t
. th t y . . d
G e a (Mo n um e n ti An tichi, x ii, P a e X X)
l v l t I .

a nd b y ta sti ng of it s h e magicall y bou nd h erself to retu rn to

Hades after a time spent above I n the golden ch ariot She w a s .

conveyed to E leu s i s where her moth er welcomed her with

,

a n ou tb u rst of j oy a nd when a mess age from Zeu s came to

,

D emeter a nnou ncing th a t P erse p hone cou ld thenceforth r e

2 30 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y

m a i n with h er d u ring two p a rts of t h e ye a r s p en di ng only ,

th e th i r d p a rt b elow sh e forgot h er sorrow a n d con sented to

,

rej oi n th e god s o n Olym p os Moreover summoning th e ru lers .

,

of th e la n d T ri p to l emos Eum o lp o s D io k l e s a n d K e le o s s h e
, , , , ,

m a de them the mini sters of h er worsh i p a nd reve a led to them

the m a nner of p erformi ng h er sec ret holy rites ri tes wh ic h ,

wou ld confer u p on i nitiates a pecu li ar b less ed nes s i n th e after

l ife bene a th th e ea rth .

D e m e te r a n d Tr ip to le m os Th e story expl a ini ng th e sig n ifi

.

ca nce of Demeter i n agricu ltu ra l p u rsu its may b e reconstru cted

b y combi ni ng sever a l sou rces Tri p tolemos wa s the son accord .
,

i ng to th e va ri a nt vers ions now of Ok e a n o s a n d Ge now o f

, ,

Eleu s is a nd now of K e leo s ra nking a s so n of th i s l a st named

, , , ,

either a s the oldest or a s th e you ngest whom D emeter nu rsed

,

on h er comi ng to E leu si s I n h er a ff ection for h im S h e tau gh t

.

h im to yoke oxen a nd to till t h e soil a nd gave h im the fi rst ,

corn to sow I n th e rich p lai n s abou t Eleu si s h e rea p ed th e

.

first h a rvest of grai n ever grown a n d th ere too he b u ilt th e , , ,

ea rliest th resh ing flo o r I n a c a r give n h im by D emeter a nd

-
.

d r a wn b y winged dr a gon s h e flew from la nd to la n d scatteri ng

, ,

seed for th e u se of men a n d for th i s K e l e o s or dered h i s death

, ,

b u t Demeter h ea ri ng of th e i ntention remove d the ki ng a nd

, ,

gave the th rone to T ri p tolemos I t i s s a id th a t when h e fou n d .

th at a p ig h a d roote d up h i s fi rst sowing h e too k th e a nima l ,

to the altar of h is benef a ctres s a nd p l aci ng g a i ns of corn on , ,

r

i ts head slew it a s a n o ff eri ng whence ever a fterwa rd th e p ig

, , , ,

w a s s acrificed i n th i s s ame m a nner i n th e wors h ip of D emete r .

The N a t ur e of P e r sep ho n e P ersephone w h o w a s generally

.
—
,

known i n cu lt a s K ore wa s obviou sl y a n

offshoot of G a i a th e ea rth god dess a nd th erefore a du p li
, , , ,

c a te of Demeter Th e mother a nd d augh ter re p resented two

.

p h a ses of th e vegetative p ower of th e soil th e fi rs t s ta nding for ,

th e enti r e p ower l a tent or a ctive at all seasons of th e y ea r ;

, ,

a n d th e secon d t y if y i ng rather the otenc y i n i ts exubera nt

p p
y outh fu l as p ect m a ni feste d c h iefl y i n th e renewed growth of
,
 PLAT E L

MYS T I C RI T E S AT E LEU SI S

T he p ro p e r o rde r a n alys i s o f t h i s s c e n e p ro c e e ds
o f
fro m l e ft t o r i g ht F i rst o n e O b s e rv e s a gn a rl e d a n d
.
,

twi st e d t re e t h e s a c re d la ure l w h i c h k e e p s e vil in flu

,

e n c e s away f ro m t h e s a n c t ua ry N e xt t he r e is a n
.
,

alta r f ro m w h i c h ri s e s a fl a m e s urro un de d b y a c i rc l e
o f f ruit s. T h e fi rs t t w o h um a n fi g ure s a re t h e yo ut h
f ul Ia k c ho s a n d D e m e t e r t h e latt e r s e at e d o n a f aw n
,

sk i n sp re a d o v e r t h e so c all e d m s ti c c h e s t
-
y ab o ut ,

w h i ch a s e rp e n t h a s w o un d it s c o il s T he he a dl e ss .

fe m al e fi gure n e xt i n o rde r is K o re i n t he r ol o f ,
e

divi n e hi e ro p h a n t w ho wit h l o w e re d to rc he s is c l e a n s
,

in g t h e s o il j us t as D e m e t e r p ur i fi e s t h e ai r with a
fl a m e h e l d al o ft O n t h e t h ro n e o f e x p iati o n s it s t he
.

i n itiat e wit h v e il e d he a d a n d r e sti ng his fe e t o n t he

sa n c ti fyi n g fl eec e o f a ra m w h il e b e fo re him a m al e
,

h i e ro p h a n t b o w s o v e r a l o w alta r o n w h i c h t h e fl e s h
o f t h e r a m is b e i n g b ur n e d a n d wit h his r i gh t h a n d
,

o u r s wat e r o n t h e fi re O n t h e o o s it e s i de sta n ds
p .
pp
D i o ny so s gra s p i n g a t o rc h a n d at t he s a m e ti m e p o ur
,

in g a li q ui d p ro bably w i n e f ro m a ka t ha r os up o n
, ,
n

t h e fl a m e o f t h e alta r Be h i n d t h e g o d is a fe m al e
.

divi n ity w ho is do ubtl e ss t o b e i de n tifi e d a s He k at e .

F ro m a re li e f o n a m a rbl e s a rc o p hag us fo un d at T o r re
N uo va (RMi t t xxv Plat e I )
.
, S e e p p 2 31 32
. .
— .
2 32 G RE E K A N D ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
neighbou r doing th e s a me th ing a s h imself a nd p resumably ,

th rough th e same motives the meani ng of the ceremony wa s

,

dr iven d ee p l y into h i s sou l givi ng a thou s a ndfold in t e n sifi c a

,

tion to h is b e l ief i n the real ity of D emeter s p ower d rawn ’

,

from h er own sorrow to sym p ath ize with th e h eartbrea k o f

,

morta l s Wh en the m ysta i h ad all b ecome one with th e god a nd

.
,

therefore with one a nother they a p p rop riately p artook of food

,

a nd drin k i n common a n d togeth er h a ndled certa in s ac red o b

j e c t s Concerni ng th e la st a ct we a re tol d only th e b a rest
.

outline so s a credly d id th e i niti ates kee p thei r vows of secrecy

, .

S ub st a ntially a ll we know i s th at th e vota ries gathered to

gether i n th e gre a t Hall of I nitiation a nd there witnes sed c e r
tain p erforma nces p rob a b ly of a d ramatic c h a racter and b a sed
,

o n th e ex p eriences of the d ivi ne moth er a nd d aughter They .

listened too to weird sou n ds p rodu ced by t h e h iero p h ant a nd

, ,

h is a ssoci ates a nd into both S igh t a nd sou nd th e spectators

, ,

with their fancy qu ic kened by long a nd i ntense contem p lation

of holy th ings read me a nings wh ich were not at all wa rra nted
,

i n fact When th e sec ret rites were over the festival ter
.
,

m in a t e d wit h pub l ic games .

There c a n b e no doub t th at th e Mysteries of Eleu si s eff ected

mu ch good i n Greece W h ile t h e b a re sub stance of thei r teac h
.

i ng wa s p ractically the s ame a s th at of the cu lt of D ionysos ,

they were mu ch su p erior a s a sp iritu al tonic so to S p ea k i n , ,

th at they strengthe ned the fi ner feel ings a nd rel ied les s u pon
wanton extrav a g a nce of action ; a nd many a d es p ondent m a n
bec a me filled with a s avi ng h ope at t h e t h ough t t h at h e t o o , ,

cou l d know the immortal j oy of D emeter .

D e m e ter a n d K o r e i n Ar t Prior to t h e fou rt h centu ry

.
—

a rt h a d not devised two d i sti nct t y p es for th e mother a nd th e

d a ugh ter a nd i n m a ny c a ses i nsc ri p tions a re neces s a ry to iden
,

t if y th em sever a ll y Both go ddesses were shown wit h th a t

.

se riou s a i r wh ich reflecting a p as t sorrow h a s b ecome a p a rt

, ,

o f th ei r ch a racter I n th e l ater a rt Demeter a p p eared a s a

.

m a tron se a te d or sta n ding h er h ea d c rowned with the lofty

, ,
 T HE G REAT E R GOD S —
HAD E S 2 33

p or covered with the fold s of h er robe h er emblems being

o lo s ,

th e torch sce p tre bowl a n d s heaf I n fu nction sh e wa s now

, , , .

th e bestowe r of gra in a n d now the g r ief wo rn mother P e r

,
-
.

se p h o n e bec a me d istinctivel y maidenly i n form f a ce a nd , ,

d ress ; a s a chthoni c divi nity sh e held a to rch a n d a s a quee n ,

a sceptre .

HAD E S

W h en t h e kingdom of th e u niverse wrested from Kronos

wa s d ivi ded th e dominion of the i nvis ible realm beneath th e
,

earth wa s given to h i s so n Hades He wa s therefore not a .

, ,

p lace after ou r modern way of th in ki ng bu t a p erson a n d h is

, , ,

”
n ame wh ich to the G ree k s ignified th e u nseen betrayed at
, ,

once h i s dwell ing pl a ce a nd h is general fu nctions Th ese

-
.

s imple statements of myt h seem to disclos e at a single gla nce

th e com p lete story of H a des from th e very i nce p tion of h i s
c a reer a s a d ivinit y bu t i n real it y a s we S h all see l ater on
, , ,

they a re deceptive for the ma nner a n d stages of h i s growth

,

a re by no mea ns certai n .

Wh ile Homer genera lly s p ea ks of th i s nether god as Hades ,

“ ”
i n one p as sage h e knows h im a s Zeu s of th e u nde rworl d ,

yet a lt h ou gh su ggestions of roya l p ower a ccompa ny mentions

,

of h im rea l ki ngl y a ttribu tes a re l ac ki ng His ch ief fu nction

,
.

i s to p ut i nto e ff ect the cu rses u ttered by me n agai nst thei r

fellows a nd th e practice wh ich conti nu ed to a late d a y of
, , ,

i nvoki ng h i s n ame i n oath s wa s a recognition of h i s power to

d i sch a rge t h i s d uty for when one bou nd h imself to de st r uc
, ,

tion at the h a nds of Hades i n event of fai lu re to keep a solemn

p le dge h e wa s givi ng u ttera nce to a condition a l cu rse From
5
.
,

th i s most u nli kely sou rce th e god derived wh at little moral

signi fi c ance he h ad a lthou gh a t th e best i t wa s of a neg a tive
,

ch a ra cter His rel ation to th e pri nciple a nd to th e enforce

.

me nt of retribu tion is seen i n a rather moralizi ng gene a logy

wh i ch ma kes h i m th e father of th e E ri nye s .

Th e variou s a p p e l lation s a n d titles of Ha des t h row lig h t

2 34 G REE K AND ROMAN M YTHO LOG Y
u p on h i s natu re a nd i n deed the commonest form of h i s n ame
, , , ,

wh ich we h ave j u st u se d h ad mu ch to do i n sh a p ing h i s c h a r

,

a cter Th rou gh its obviou s reference to th e u nseen abode of

.

the dea d a n d bec au se of its forma l a ssoci ation wi th cu rses ,

wh ich a re noth i ng else th a n i nj u ry by magic t h e word became ,

so foreboding of i l l th a t men cou ld not ta ke i t eas ily u p on thei r

l i p s I t w a s very natu ra l to deny to su ch a n ame the b e n e fi c e n t

.

p ower th at gave i ncrease to the c ro p s a nd h erd s so th at a s a , ,

consequ ence the wors hip of Hades dwi n dled away and th e
,

enla rgement of hi s p ersonality wa s a rrested Only i n Eli s .

did h e h ave a tem p le a nd a cu lt u nder th i s n ame a lthoug h a s ,

th e earth god T ro p ho n io s h e di spensed ora cles i n h i s c ave at

Le b a de ia i n Bo io t ia wh ile h i s title Zeu s Eub o ule us wit h its
, , ,

evident suggestion of the wi sdom of h i s cou n sel i s a d istinct ,

ec h o of h i s oracu l a r fu nctions As Plo ut o n (P luto ) or P lo ut e us

.

h e is th e d ivinity who enri c h es men with th e abu nda nce of

the field and the fecu ndity of t h e floc ks wh ence Plo ut o s t h e , ,

so n of Demeter a nd I a sion i s app arently none ot h er t h a n a

,

doub le of Hades .

With the data avai lab le it i s imposs ib le a s h a s alrea dy been ,

h inted to state i n j u st w h at form Ha des fi rst emerged I t may

,
.

b e th at it wa s i n th e aspect in w h ich h e wa s known to Homer ,

a s the lord of th e dep arted but if so h e cou ld sca rcely h ave been
, ,

a product of th e wors h ip of a ncestors for now h ere do we find ,

a n y G reek s toc k tra cing it s d es cent ba c k to h im A mu c h .

more p rob ab le theory i s th at Had es wa s given a being i n th e

min d of the G ree k wors hi p p e r i n a nswer to th e d ema nd t h at ,

for the s a ke of absolute u niformity i n th e d ivi ne gove rnment

of th e u niverse th e lowe r world li ke th e u p per shoul d h ave
, , ,

its own se p a rate ruler Hence Had es wa s a neth er Zeu s a n d

.
,

exerc ised over the a ssembled sou l s a domin ion a ki n to t h at of

h i s greater b rothe r ove r th e h osts of the living bot h h u ma n ,

a n d divi ne .

Ha de s i n Ar t . One n e e d not go fa r to find a reason fo r th e

f a ct th a t Ha des w a s com p a rative l y neg l ected b y th e a rti sts .
 C H AP T E R X I

T HE L ES S ER G O D S —
OF T HE C I RC L E O F
Z EU S , O F L I G HT , AN D O F H E AT

OF T HE C I RC LE OF Z E US
URYN OME W e h ave a lrea dy met wit h Eu rynome t h e
E
—
,
.

beau tifu l d au ghter of Ok e a n o s a s one of th e wives of Zeu s

, ,

a nd there i s a s tory concerning h er to th e e ff ect th at long ,

b efore her marriage sh e a nd th e Tita n Op h ion togeth er ru led

,

th e u niverse from th e su mmit of Olym p os bu t were at length ,

forced to give p l ace to Kronos a nd Rh ea If she wa s a ctu ally

.
,

a s i s reasonab ly to b e su s p ected from h er p a rentage a per ,

”
so n ifi c a t io n of th e wide ru li ng element of moistu re t h is
-
,

legend may record a very ol d b elief th at i n th e beginning t h e

ea rth wa s enti rely covered with water a nd afterwa rd emerged
from it by degrees E u rynome h old s a n i nconspi cuou s pl ace
.

i n myth a nd remai ns little more th a n a symbol of t h e fa r

,

reach i ng domi nion of her h u sb and .

Ch a r i tes —
Eu rynome i s best known t h rou g h
the Ch a rites th e lovely d au gh ters w h o b lessed h er ma rriage
,

wi th Zeu s a nd who were at fi rst conceived a s gra ciou s d ivi nities

,

th at c au sed the soil to b ring fort h flowe rs a nd fruit for th e u se

of m a n a lthough the y were not yet e ndowed with t h e j oyfu l
,

s p i ri ts a nd u naffected ch a rms wh ic h h ave made them a fa

v o ur it e study of
p oet a n d a rti st A b rief legen d testifies to th e
.

somb re ch a r a cte r of thei r worshi p i n the i sla nd of P a ros .

Mi nos wa s offering s ac rifices to them here whe n word c ame

to h i m th a t h i s son An dro g e o s h a d been killed wh ereu pon , ,

dist r augh t with sorrow h e comm a nded th e flut e p layers to

,
-

ce a se thei r mu sic a n d tore the g a rl a nd s from h i s hea d From .

 P L AT E LI

HEL I OS

He li o s ,it h ra diate he a d a s c e n ds i n h is c a r draw n

w , ,

by fo ur wi n ge d ho rse s o ut o f t h e e a st e r n se a a n d t he
, ,

sta rs (t h e s m all b o yi sh fi g ure s ) di s a p p e a r o n e by o n e

in t h e wat e r o r b e n e at h t h e h o r i z o n F ro m a r e d
.

fi g ur e d k a t o f t h e fi rst p a rt o f t he fi ft h c e n t ury
r er

B C
. . in t h e Br iti sh Muse um (Fun w ii n g le r Re ic hh o ld
,
-
,

G r iechische Va sen m a ler ei , N O . Se e p p . 24 1 ff .

T H E HO R A I

T h e Ho ra i (t h u s n am ed b
y t h e a rti st
) a r e h e re

r e p re s e n t e d in t h e i r o r i g i n al C h a ra c t e r a s divi n iti e s o f

v ege tati o n a n d fr uit ful n e ss T h e fi rst c a rr i e s w hat

.

s e e m s t o b e a fi g b r a n c h ; t h e s e c o n d b e a rs t w o
-

b ra n c h e s t h e la rge r o f wh i c h is la de n w it h p o m e
,

ra n at e s ; a n d t h e t h i rd ho l ds a l uc k e d fr uit o n t he
g p
t ip o f h e r ha n d . F ro m a re d fig ure d hylix o f t he
-

fi fth c e n t ury B C in Be rli n (Furt w a n g le r Re ic hho ld

. .
,
-
,

G r ie chische Va sen m a ler ei, N o . Se e p p . 2 37— 38 .

 T HE LES S ER GOD S —
C I RC LE OF Z E US 2 37

th at d ay the legend ex p la in s fl utes a nd ga rla nd s were no

, ,

longer u sed i n the worsh i p of th e Ch a rites th i s su ggesti ng th at ,

thei r rites took p lace du ri ng th at gloomy season of the ye a r

when vegetation h a d d isa p p e a re d I n contr a st to thei r worsh i p
.

wa s thei r gl a ddeni ng bou nty of s p ri ngtime th i s i rresi stible ,

i nfection tou ch i ng thei r p ersona lities a n d i n ti me tr a nsfo rming

,

them from elementa l i nto S p i ritu al forces T hencefo rth the y .

were d ivo rced from n atu ral obj ects as su ch a nd stoo d for those ,

sub tle qu a litie s i n person s a nd i n th i ngs p ertaining to the soci a l

life of man wh ic h beget the pu rest j oy a nd h a p p i nes s T hey .

we re a ssoci ated for i ns tance with ta stefu l d res s with th e

, , ,

va riou s forms of a rt a nd with persona l a nd hou sehold orn a

,

ments a nd th i s connexion th rows lig h t on the i r relations to

,

Ap h rod ite a nd to th e c raftsma n god i n t h e well known sp ring

- -

song of Horace :
N o w C yt h e re a l e a ds t h e da nce , t h e b r i g ht m o o n o v e r h e a d ;
“

T h e G r a c e s a n d t h e N y m p hs , t o g e t h e r k n i t ,
Wi t h r hyt h m i c fe e t t h e m e a do w b e at , wh il e Vu l c a n , fi e ry r e d,
He at s t h e C y c l o p i a n fo rg e i n Ae t n a s p it
’ ” 1
.

Th e C h a rites are generally h eld to b e th ree i n number Hes iod ,

“
giving th ei r n ames a s Aglai a T h al e ia ( Luxu
“
ri a nt a nd Eu ph rosyne ( Good
Them is The second wife of Zeu s according to t h e a c
.
,

cou nt in t h e Theo g o n y of Hesiod wa s T h emi s ,

a nd a s we h ave poi nted ou t el sew h ere sh e i s a form of th e

, ,

great ea rth goddess He r p rima ry r 6le a p p arently wa s th a t

.

of controlling t h e cycle of t h e seasons and so regularly d id sh e ,

b ring abou t t h e period s of p rodu ctiveness th at men c a me to

loo k u p o n h er a s a power to whom they cou ld a p p eal for th e
e lu cid ation of matters i n wh ich hu ma n a rb iters failed I n .

b rief sh e b eca me a n o racu la r goddess a nd th e righteou s nes s

, ,

of her d eliverances establ ished h er a s t h e personifica tion of

j u stice a nd equ ity
“
Ho r a i ( Ho urs Th e Hora i w h o according to He
—
,

sio d ,
were Eu nomi a Di ke a nd Ei rene
2 38 G REE K AND ROMAN M YT HO LOG Y

P eace inh erite d i n n ame the soci al tra its of th ei r mothe r

Th emis bu t i n res p ect to thei r origin h er terrestri a l ch ar
, , ,

a c t e r ist ic s T h ey seem a t th e ou tset to h ave h a d to do wit h

.

th e se a sona l stimu l ation of p la nt life ; it wa s th ey who adorned

the newly cre a ted P a n dora with garla nd s of vern al b lossoms
-
,

a nd every s p ring a nd au tu mn the y were honou red at At h ens

with a p roces sion a nd were given offerings of t h e fru its of t h e
earth We are tol d th at h ere the se divi nities were c alled
.

“
Th a llo Au xo a nd K arpo ( F ru it
bu t we c annot b e su re t h at these a re t h e o ff i ci a l n ames .

I n late times th e Hora i were o ften rega rd ed a s th e h ou rs of

th e d ay .

Mn e m osyn e; The Muses B y h er u nion wit h Zeu s Mn e

.
,

m o sy n e d id more th a n serve a s a l iving r e

min der o f h i s power ; Sh e b rough t h i m th e ni ne comely da ug h
ters the Mu ses who b y th eir ma ny a nd varied gifts h ave
, ,

done mu ch to give ch a rm to the l ife of m a nkind It h as b een .

su ggested t h at th ey sprang from t h e s ame stratu m of elemental

p owers a s the G races a nd t h e H ou rs a nd it certai
,
nly appeal s
to one s poeti c sense to find personified i n t h em t h e mu sical
’

voices of t h e rivulet a nd of the foli age of the forest althou g h ,

we are p rob ab ly mu ch nearer to rea l fact if we a ssign to t h em

th e p sych i c origi n wh ic h i s cl aimed for thei r moth er One .

modern writer adva nces t h e very a cce p tab le ex p l a n ation

2

“
th at t h ey were the menta l tension th at relieves i tself i n
”
p ro p hecy a nd song t h e stres s to wh ic h Ten nyson a lludes
,
3

w h en h e s ays th a t
Fo r t h e un q u i e t he a r t a n d b r ai n
A use i n m e a su red l a n g u a g e l i e s.

As men bec ame more a nd more consciou s of t h i s state of

mind they tended to di ssoci ate i t from th emselves a nd to
,

attribu te a n inde p endent exi stence to it ; how it became p lu ral

iz e d we ca nnot ou tl ine b u t may only fa ncy
, .

The n ative abode of th e Mu ses wa s i n the extreme nort h of

2 40 G RE E K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOG Y
but th at i n wh ich ni ne were enu merated became fixed a s t h e
sta nda rd althou gh the diff erenti ation of thei r fu nction s a n d
,

p erson a l ities took p lace onl y late a n d not a l ways a long logic a l
lines T h e ni ne were formally divi de d a s s hown i n th e a p
.
,

p ended table i nto th ree c l

,
a s ses corresponding to th e great
de p a rtments of l iteratu re .

S H ERE ATT RI BUT E P

K ll i p aSw t V i d )
o e H i Ep i ee - o ce W iti g t b l t
”
e ro c c r n - a e

E s
Po Kl i e o Hi t i l Epi S ll w iti g t b l t
s o r ca c c ro or r n - a e

i ( H v ly At m i l Ep ic G l b
“
Ou ra n a ea en s ro n o ca o e

E t ( L v li ra o
“
o L v ly i
e n e ss Zit h o e- r c er

L RI
T p i h er ( D l ig h t i t h
s c o re
Ch
“
l ly ie
Ly
n e
Y C
D ) an ce
” o ra r c re

E ut p ( D l ig h t )er e F l ut m u i
e
”
F l ut e sc e

M lp m e o ene T g dy T gi m k ra e ra c as

Lu u i t B uty C m dy C mi m k
D RAMA Th l i a e a x
R l ig i u
r an

h y
ea o e o c as

P lym i ( M y H ym
o n a
“
dp t m m
an
m
N d fi it
ns tt
e
an
ib ut
o s

an o i
ns
e
o e n e a r e

G a n ym e Th e story of G a nymedes th e beau tifu l son

des .
—
,

of Tros of Ilion i s fou nd i n its most attractive form i n th e per

,

su as ive word s of A p h rodite ad dres sed to Anc h i ses i n th e

“
Ho m er i c Hym n to Ap h rod ite ?
I ndeed cou n selling Zeu s
s natched away gol den h a ired Ga nymedes for h i s b eauty s -
’

s a ke th at h e might dwell with t h e immortal s a nd i n t h e h ome

of Zeu s b e a c up —b earer to t h e god s a ma rvel to loo k u pon , ,

hel d i n h ig h honou r a s h e pou rs t h e ru d dy nectar from a

gol den bowl And i nexorable grief p osses sed t h e sou l of Tros
.
,

nor d id h e know wh ithe r th e divi ne wh i rlwi nd h ad h u rried h i s

cl e ar son Then i ndeed d i d h e mou rn h i m u ncea si ngly d ay after
.

d ay And Zeu s h ad p ity on h im a nd gave h im a s a recomp ens e

.

for h i s so n swift steeds su ch a s d raw th e i m mortal s Th es e ,

.

h e gave h im a s a gift a nd Hermes at t h e b eh est of Zeu s told ,

h i m clea rl y th at l i ke the gods he Shou ld never d ie nor know

, ,
”
o l d a ge I n the most wi del y known form of th e story G a ny
.

medes wa s borne aloft by a n eagle or by Zeu s i n th e gu ise of ,

a n e a gle He seems to sta nd for the h ealt h y beau ty a nd j oy of

.

you th a nd i s a male cou nterp art of Heb e i n h er l ater a spects

, .

He b e I n origi n Hebe
. seem s to h ave b een
more th a n th e mere pe rsonification of th e c h a rms of you th or
 T HE LE S S E R GOD S —
LUM INA RI E S 41

of th e well p reserved be a u ty of her moth er Hera for sh e w a s

-
, , ,

rather a spring divi nity of flowe rs a ki n to the Hor a i a n d

,

Cha rites or perh ap s sh e wa s the ea rth god des s h erse l f r e

, ,

gar de d a s i n the p rime of m a i denhood T h e legend wh ich .

ma kes her th e ch il d of Zeu s i s u ndoub te dl y not so o ld a s th at

i n wh ich S h e i s born of a str a nge u nion between Hera a nd a
leaf of lettu ce a nd the not im p rob a b l e su ggestion h a s been
,

a dva nced th at Hebe wa s i n a very e a r l y p e r iod th e equ iv a lent

of D ione the s p ou se of Zeu s at Dodon a a n d th at with the amal
, ,

a m a t io n of th e two stoc ks whose c h ief d eities were Zeu s a nd

g
Her a Hebe w a s th ru st from h er p l ace a nd a myth was create d
,

to give h er legitimate sta nd ing a s a d a ugh ter i n the new family .

Li ke th e oth er ch ild ren of Zeu s a nd Hera sh e never enj oye d any ,

great d i sti nction ; h er r 6le wa s a lways t h at of a n attend a nt .

I n th e I l i a d sh e i s th e maid en c up b ea rer to t h e Olym p i an s

-
,

a nd on one occ a sion S h e h el p s Hera get her ch a riot a nd

hors es ready for a j ou rney w h ile at a not h er time S h e p e r
,

forms th e rather meni a l t a s k o f p re p a ring t h e b at h for t h e du st

b egrimed Ares o n h i s retu rn from a b a ttle .

I r is. I ri s i s no more th a n a p ersonifica tion of t h e ra inbow .

Li ke th e ra i nbow sh e comes a nd goes withou t wa rning wh ile

, ,

h er S p eed of movement and her p athway a cros s th e h eaven s

fit h er for t h e p ost of messenger of th e gods S h e i s cloth ed i n .

th e b right colou rs b ecomi ng to you th a nd on golden wings sh e

,

fl its from p l ace to p l ace p erformi ng th e erra n ds of h er greater

,

com p anions notab l y Zeu s a n d Hera I n h er re p resentation s

,
.

i n art S h e i s s c arcely to b e d istingu is hed from oth er winge d

figu res except wh en S h e i s shown a s bea ri ng a h erald s wa n d
,
’
.

OF T HE G RE AT E R LUMI N ARI E S

Hel i o s F rom a remote time ma ny p h as es of

t h e s u n s power h ad b een ob served by th e G reeks with a n atten
’

tion wh ich wa s a ki n to a doration bu t only i n a few p laces did

,

th i s d evelo p i nto genu ine worsh ip ; for the su n wa s altogether

2 42 G REE K AN D ROMAN MYT HO LOG Y
too cor p orea l a n obj ect to a p p e a l strongly to the religiou s
fa ncy Y et it mu st h ave a rou se d i n th e mi nd some feeli ng of
.

d ivinity i nasmu ch a s it w a s th e d aily p ractice of t h e G ree k to

,

ri se at dawn a nd greet the sun with a kiss O f t h e h a nd ; a nd very

e a rly th is lu mina ry became a frequ ent th eme i n myth s a lt h ough ,

litt l e by little these legend s lost th ei r d istinctive sola r c h a r

a c t e r ist ic s i n th e p o p u l ar consciou s nes s .

I n m y th Helios i s th e so n of Hy p erion a nd Eur yp h a e ssa

,

Far both of them Tita n ch ild re n of Oura nos

“
a n d Gai a a nd Hyp erion ( High Going ) b ei ng tra n sp arently
,
” -

a noth er name for Helios h imself Helios took a s h i s wife .

P erse the d au ghter of Ok e a n o s t h ei r ch ild ren ,

b eing Kirke th e sorceres s of the West a nd Aie t e s t h e father of

, , ,

Medei a th e sorceres s of th e E a st P i nda r rel ates t h e story of

,
.

a nother marri age wh ic h i s of p rime importance i n ou r stu dy ,

h aving to do a s it does with t h e ch ief centre of t h e su n cu lt

, ,
-

a mong th e G ree ks W h en t h e j u ri s diction of th e va riou s

.

d e p a rtments of th e worl d wa s a pportioned i t h ap p ened ,

th a t Helios b eing ab sent wa s forgotten b ut a lthou gh on

, , , ,

d iscovery of the error Zeu s wis h ed to ma ke a new divi sion

, ,

Helios d is su aded him from SO doi ng stating th at he wa s willing ,

to receive a s h i s s h are a n i sla nd wh ic h h e b eheld ri si ng from

th e se a T h i s Zeu s gra nted h i m a nd wed di ng th e nymp h
.
,

Rhodos (or Rhode ) th e d aughter of Am p h itrite Helios gave

, ,

h er name to the i sla nd a nd n amed the th ree cities of Rhodes

a fter th ree of thei r sons Helios i s also s a i d to h ave h a d a s wives
.

Le uk o t h o e Klytia a nd N e a ir a th e las t of whom accordi ng

, , , ,

to Homer bore h im two d au ghters La m p e t ié who tende d h er

, , ,
’
fath er s c attle a nd P h a é t ho usa who sh e p herded h i s sh eep
, ,
.

There were seven h erd s of c attle a nd seven of s heep eac h ,

com p rising fifty a nimals ; th at i s th ere were t h ree h u nd red ,

a nd fi ft y of each ki nd ; a nd Aristotle i s p rob ab ly rig h t i n seeing

i n these a reference to the d a y s a nd nights of a lu na r yea r .

T h e he r ds we re gene ral l y loc ated either i n S ic il y o r Crete .

T h e a p p ea r a nce of th e sun i n the h eavens remi nded t h e

 P L AT E L II

G AN Y M E D ES AN D T H E EAGLE

T h o ug h c o py is b ut a n i n a de q uat e re n de r i n g
t he

o f t h e o ri gi n al it s e rv e s t o s h o w t he o ri g i n al ity a n d
,

o w e r o f t h e c o m p o s iti o n w h i c h al m o s t t ra n s c e n ds
p ,

t h e b o un ds o f s c ul p t ure i n it s a dditi o n o f s ur ro un d

i n gs a n d a cc e ss i o n s t o e n h a n c e t he e ff e c t A h i gh .

t re e t run k fo r m s t h e ba c k g ro un d a n d supp o rt fo r t h e
-

w ho l e w h i c h is m o s t s k il fully c o n struc t e d so t hat t he

, ,

fe e t o f t h e b o y do n o t t o uc h t h e g r o un d a n d t h e ,

w o n de r ful up wa rd s w e e p o f t he w ho l e c o m p o s iti o n is
e n h a n c e d by t h e c o n t ra s t w it h t h e do w h o S it s o n
g ,

t h e g ro un d an d l o o k s up wa rd a ft e r his m a s t e r T he .

o ut s re a d w i n gs o f t h e e a g l e fo r m a b ro a d s um m it t o
p
t h e g ro up fr o m w h i c h it g r aduall y n a r ro w s do w n t o

t h e fe e t o f G a ny m e de a n d t h us t he e ff e c t is furt he r
,

i n c re as e d Eag l e a n d b o y ali k e st rai n up wa rd i n a n

.

a s p i rati o n l i k e t h at wh i c h G o e t he e x p re sse s in his

o e m o f G a n y m e de T h e re i s no h i n t o f s e n s ual
p .

m e a n i n g in t he t re at m e nt o f L e o c h a re s ; t h e e a g l e is
m e r e ly t h e m e ss e n g e r o f Z e us ; a n d w e c an se e in his
ri a w i li ny m e n ti o n s
”
g p o f t he b o
y t h e c re h c h P
(E . A G .a rdn e r A H,
a n db ooh o
f G r eek S cul t ur e
p ,

p . F ro m a Ro m a n m a r bl e c o
py n o w in t h e,

V ati c a n o f a fo urt h c e n t ury o r i g i n al b y L e o c h are s

,

B run n Bruc k m a n n D r ie chische r un d r om

( en hm a ler
’

-
, g
ische r Sculp t ur , N o . Se e p . 2 4 0.
2 44 G RE E K AN D ROMAN MYTHO LOGY

of EO S a nd K e p h a lo s w h om A p h rodite s eized a n d se t to
gu a rd h er tem p l e b y night wh ile elsewh ere h e i s th e so n of
,

Helios eithe r by the se a nym p h Klymene or by Rh ode Th e

,
-
.

most famou s legend wh ich grew up abou t h i s n a me recou nts

th a t he coaxe d h i s f a th er u nti l he O b ta ined p ermi ss ion to
d rive th e fier y ch ariot of the sun for a Single d ay bu t Si nce h e ,

l a cked h i s p arent s S kill i n h andling th e rei ns t h e swift horses

’
,

soon got beyond h i s control I n thei r ma d c areer th ey

.

descended too low a nd the fl ame of the c ar c au sed su ch

,

great h eat a nd so terrible a d rou gh t u p on eart h t h at Libya

became forever a desert t h e peo p le of Ait hio p ia too k on a
,

b lac k hu e a nd the c h a n nels of mighty rivers were d ried ;

,

bu t at lengt h Zeu s s mote P h a é t ho n with a thu nderbolt a n d

h e fell from h is c a r i nto t h e river Er ida n o s His seven S i sters .
,

weeping over h i s bod y were tu rned i nto p o p lars (o r p o p p ies )

,

a nd thei r tears bec ame bea d s of a mber (or rub ies ) wh ile th e ,

Er ida n o s wa s given a pl ace a mong th e constellations On e .

version states th at i n order to pu t a n en d to th e d rought a nd

,

the co n fla g r a t io n s raging u pon earth Zeu s filled t h e ch a nnel s,

of the rivers to overflowing and the Great Flood of Deu kalion

came to p as s Th e story of P h a é t ho n p rob ably h a d its roots
.

i n a n a ncient festiva l i n w h ic h th e death of vegetation i n th e

heat of mi dsu mmer wa s celeb rate d by mou rni ng ?

S e len e . S elene
—
wa s too tra ns p a rently a de fi
nite materia l bo dy to become i nvested with the ma ny a n d
varied tra its wh ich go to ma ke up a gre at personality S h e .

wa s i n consequence gene rally conceived merely a s a p lanet

, ,

with femi nine ch aracteri stics for th e softnes s of h er ligh t a p

,

p ealed to t h e G ree ks a s it doe s to u s a s very femi ni ne i n com

, ,

p a rison with the more vi rile light of t h e sun Homer never .

fully deified her a nd even i n th e l ater period w h en her d ivi n

, ,

i ty wa s somewh at enlarged Sh e yielded u p a ll h er moral a t

,

tributes to Artemi s a nd He kate The regu l a rity O f h er ph ases .

w a s a ltogether too mech anic a l to give to the G ree k religiou s

imagination th at freedom of action w h ic h cou ld c reate a n
 T HE LE S S E R G OD S —
P HA SES OF LIG HT 2 45

entire ci rcle of god s ou t of p henomen a only vagu el y co m

p rehended or ou t of pu re i l lu sion T h e fami ly relationsh i p s
.

of S elene a re confu sed I n one p assage sh e i s the daughte r

.

of Zeu s b ut a gain she is the Sister or d au gh ter or wi fe of

, , , , ,

Helios a nd a s h i s wife she bore to h i m P a n di a

, a d a ugh ter of ,
”
su rp a ssi ng beau t y a mong th e i mmorta l gods From he r a s .

soci ation with Helios sh e wa s conceived a s ri ding ac ros s th e

h eaven s i n a c a r d rawn b y horses or bu lls bu t ver y often ,

poetic a l a llu sions to h er c a r are p atently meta p hors .

Th e C l as si c legend of S elene i s th at which tel l s of her love

for Endymion the so n of Aé t h lio s One night she loo ked down
,
.

from th e clea r heaven s u p on th i s you th a s h e wa s slee p ing nea r

h i s floc ks on th e S lo p es of Mou nt La t m o s in Ka ria a nd at th e ,

sigh t of h is beau ty a ti de of affection rose i n her hea rt wh ich

h er wi l l wa s u n able to stem Coming down from heaven sh e .
,

s too p ed a nd kissed h im a nd th en li ngered nea r h im till dawn

a s h e sle p t on repeating these visits night a fter night u ntil
,

h er abs ence s exci ted su sp icion among h er d ivi ne com p anions .

When a t length t h e c au se of them b ecame known Zeu s gave ,

E ndymion the c hoice b etween death and a n endles s slee p ,

a nd choos ing the l a tter h e may s till be fou nd a sleep on th e

, ,

mou nt a i n side vis ited each nigh t by h is p ale lover who

-
, ,

keep s a c arefu l watch over h i s floc ks .

OF PHAS E S OF LI G HT

Eos . Eo s D awn the Roman Au rora wa s very ea rly ,

cons i dered the equ al of the great lu mina ries t h i s being clear ,

evidence of the im p orta nce of th e retu rn of th e d ay to a

p rimitive p eo p le l ac ki ng the mea ns of p rodu ci ng strong an d
steady a rtifici al light Eo s not onl y b rou gh t the d a wn b ut S h e
.
,

w a s th e d awn S h e s le p t i n h er home among the Ait h iO p ia n s

.
,

a nd wa keni ng wh en h er hou r came ros e from the stream of

, ,

O k e a n o s ; or a gai n S h e wa s thought to kee p watch at the fron

, ,

tiers of D ay a nd Night d riving Night to the u nderworld a nd

,
2 46 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LOG Y
letti ng D ay go forth after th e morning sta r h a d h eralded th e
retu rn of th e ligh t Accor ding to Homer th e su n spent th e
.
,

h ou rs of d a rknes s nea r h er so th at at h i s appoi nted time S h e

cou ld c all forth h i s gleaming ch ariot I t wa s S h e who rou sed .

th e breeze of morning a n d Sp rayed th e gra s s with refresh ing

dew S ometimes li ke th e su n S h e wa s conceived a s riding i n a
.
, ,

c a r drawn by two or by fou r horses b ut often she wa s though t ,

to move by ru nning or by flyi ng with wi ngs growing from h er

,

s hou lders a n d feet S h e i s commonly re p resented i n a rt a s

.

winged and wit h h er h ai r streaming be h i n d h er a s s h e speed s

fo r ward .

EO S wa s u niformly t h e d au g h ter of Hyperion a nd t h ere , ,

fore th e s i ster of Helios a nd S elene

,
S h e h a d a notoriou s .

ha n t for b eautifu l you ng h u nters for exam le K e p h a lo s

p e n c p , ,

a nd Orion a nd a nother of her lovers wa s T it ho n o s a b rot h er

, ,

of P riam of Troy Enamou red of h i s beau ty sh e c arri ed h i m

.
,

off i n her ch ariot to the l a nd of the Ait hio p ia n s a nd i n asmu c h , ,

a s h e wa s a mere mortal she b esou g h t Zeu s to gra nt h im endles s

,

l ife Zeu s gra nted he r requ est b u t S h e h a d forgotte n to a s k

.
,

a lso for t h e boon of eterna l you th so th at after many yea rs , , ,

T it ho n o s wasted away wit h t h e steady a dva nce of old age ,

a nd became only a b u rden to h imself a n d to Eo s To get h i m .

out of t he way sh e enclose d h im i n a room from wh ic h only

t h e fai nt c ry of h i s voi ce cou ld emerge a nd fi n ally to e nd h i s , ,

misery sh e ch a nged h i m i nto a cic ad a Thei r c h ild ren were

,
.

Memnon who fell at Troy Emat h ion a n d Hemera I t i s

, , ,
.

cu stoma ry to accou nt for T it ho n o s a s t h e regu l a r retu rn t h e ,

waxing and the w ani ng of t h e d ay a n d to ex p la i n Memnon

, , ,

the d us ky Ait hiO p ia n a s the d a rknes s between evening twi

,
“ ”
light and the d awn wh i le E math ion (c f i ma p
,
d ay ) a nd .
,

Hemera a re mascu l ine an d femi nine conception s of the d ay .

Hele n a n d the D i osk o ur o i Helen i n myt h t h e wife of

.
—
,

Me n e l ao s a nd Pa ri s ha s been cons idered by a nu mber of

,

sch o l ars a s origi nally a d ivinity of light being identified now ,

wit h the moon now with th e red of d awn a n d now with th e

, ,
2 48 G RE EK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOG Y

d a u ghter Hes p eri s , who as th e wife of Atl a s bore t h e seve n

Atl a ntides (or Hes p eri des ) Fo r a n obviou s reason h e wa s a l
.

wa y s a ssociated with the west b ut when he se a le d the lofty ,

p ea k of At l a s to g a ze at the sta rs a storm win d su ddenly ,

-

s natched hi m awa y a nd h e wa s seen no more Nevertheles s

,
.
,

h e wa s honou red a s divi ne a nd th e b rightest stellar body i n

,

th e western h eave n wa s given h i s n ame wh ile the memory of ,

h i s p iety and lovi ng natu re lived after h im a mong men so ,

th at hi s orb wa s known a s th e s tar of love th at i s of Ap h ro , ,

d ite or Venu s i ts religiou s i m p orta nce l y ing i n th e ease wi t h

, ,

wh ich th e dates of festival s cou ld b e determined from its

p eriod ic movements .

P le i a des a n d Hya des —

Owi ng to thei r cons p i cuou s c h a r
.

a cter constell ation s received mu c h more attention among th e

,

a ncients th a n di d si ngle s tars a nd two group s one of seve n

, ,

s ta rs a nd the other of five wh ic h a p pea r i n the constellation

,

of Tau ru s were known to the Gree ks

,
in fact a re still —
,

known to uS by the n a mes of P lei ades a n d Hya de s re sp e c

t iv e ly these belongi ng among the earl iest attested sta r n ames
, .

I n Homer Heph ai stos de p icts th e P lei ades on th e S h iel d of

,

Ach illes and by them Odys seu s hol d s h i s cou rse for S cheri a
, .

They a nd the Hy a des were s ai d to h ave been origi na ll y th e

d augh ters of Atla s th rou gh a u nion with P leione o r Ait h r a ,

b ut when thei r b roth er Hya s wa s killed b y some crea tu re of

the wil d a ll twe l ve d ied of grief a nd Zeu s a ccorded them
, ,

p laces among the sta rs One a ncient author however moth ered
.
, ,

them on the queen of the Amazon s As for the Hyades a s a .

s e p a ra te grou p a we l l known legen d identifies th em with t h e

,
-

a ttend a nts of Dion y sos who were pu rsue d by Ly k o urg o s b ut ,

who after the y h a d safely delivered thei r wa rd to Ino fled to

, ,

thei r gr a ndmoth er T eth y s and were a p pointed a constella

tion b y Z eu s T h e names of th e ind ividu a l Plei ades a nd Hy ades
.

v a r y to su ch a n extent that no pu rpose woul d be served by

thei r recit a l h ere .

Ve r y ea rl y the G reeks fa ncied th at t h ey sa w i n th e P lei ades

 P LA TE LI I I

T HE D E A T H OF AK T A I O N

Art e m i s, ca rryi n g a q uiv e r o n he r ba c k a n d w ea r i n g

a faw n sk i n o v e r her sho ul de rs an d b re a s t b ra c e s he r
-
,

se l f t o dr aw h e r b o w as sh e p la c e s a n a rro w o n t h e

s t ri n g Be fo re he r Ak tai o n is falli n g t o t he g ro un d
.

o v e r o w e re d b h is fo ur m a dde n e d do gs w h i c h l e a
p y , p
up o n him a n d te a r his fl e s h F ro m a re d fig ure d
.
-

hr a t r o f t h e fi ft h c e nt ury B C (F urt w a
e . . ln g le r Re ic hho ld
-
,

G r ie chische Va sen rn a l er ei, N o . 1 Se e p . 2 52 .

 T HE LE SS E R G OD S ST A RS 2 49

a swa rm of wood doves a n d i ndeed many schola rs seriou sly

, , ,

e nte r ta in the b elief th a t th ei r na me wa s derived from the word

The a ncients themsel v es r a nge d wi dely i n
’
n e Ae i a t

th ei r attem p ts to fi nd the sou rce of the n a me of th e Hy a des .

To some th e pecu lia r resemb l a nce of th e form of th e stel l a r

g rou p to a ca p ita l T su p p lied at once a n initia l i m p u lse a nd a n
i niti al letter for t h e formation of T a Ses a lthough becau s e of
‘ ’

, ,

t h e Hya des rel ations to ferti lity oth ers d iscovered a con nexion
’
,

b etween their n ame a n d th at fe rti le a nimal th e p ig (559 ,

T h e most p opu l ar derivation howe v er w a s a p p arently th at

, ,
“
wh ic h li n ked the a p p ellation with the verb !few ( to
f o r th e s ea son s of th ei r ea rly risi ng a nd th ei r early setti ng were
n otoriou sly rai ny . A certa i n typ e of va se p ictu re Shows the -

i nflu ence of th i s traditiona l a ssoci ation S i nce it depicts Al ,

k m e n e a s b eing s ave d from a b u rning p yre b y th e a rriva l of

t w o Hyades ,
who extingu is h the fl a mes with water Th e .

r is ing a n d th e setting of both Hy a des a n d P lei a des d ivided th e

ye a r i nto two p a rts the p ortion b etween May a nd Novemb er

,

m a rking th e perio d of s afe n avigation .

Or i o n
. I n treating of Orion one mu st b ear i n min d th at
t h e n a me stan d s both for a constellation a n d for a myth ica l

p erson age,
a nd although th e frequ ent confu sion of th e two
m a kes it im p os sib le to s ay with certai nty w h ic h wa s th e
o ri gi n a l i t c a n sca rcely b e doub ted th at some of th e sagas of
,

Orion develo p ed withou t reference to the stella r grou p Homer .

,

f o r i nstance knows th e two forms a s di sti nct although h e does

, ,

not a lways treat th em a s su ch Were we to rely solel y u p on

.

h im we shou l d i ncli ne to th e conclu sion th at the Orion of

,

myth ca me fi rst i n p oi nt of ti me a nd wa s afterwar ds imported

i nto th e real m of t h e stars ; b ut on the other h and late G ree k
, ,

a n d Roma n writers allu de o nly to th e constellation .

Th i s stell ar grou p is situ a ted near Tau ru s a nd t h erefore , ,

n ea r th e Plei ades a nd Hy a des a nd owing to its p ecu lia r sh a p e

,

i t wa s a lso c al l ed the Coc k s Foot or th e Doub le Axe Th e

’
.
,

p eriod of th e ea rly rising of Orion a n d S iriu s th e dog —Sta r

,
2 50 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y

( i
. e . Ju ne ) marks,
th e end of th e r a iny se aso n a nd u shers i n
t h e h eat of su mmer whi le th e P leia des a nd Hy a des at th e time
,

of th ei r e a rly setting (November ) dis a p p ea r from th e western

s ky a h ea d of Orion a n d S i riu s a s if d riven aw a y by t h em I n
, .

th ese a stronomic a l facts one c a n read withou t fu rth er c o m

mentary th e mea ning of some of th e myth s wh ic h concern
th ese constellations .

I n the Homeri c epi c Orion the mea ni ng of whose name is ,

u n known wa s a h u nter of remarkab le beauty a nd of a statu re

,

th at exceeded even th at of the gi a nts Oto s a nd Eph i alte s .

Eo s c ast loo ks of love u pon h i m a nd c a rried h im away to h er

dwelling bu t her i nordi nate h a p p i nes s over h er good fortu ne
,

aroused th e anger of t h e gods a nd Artemi s deceived by a tri c k

, ,

of A p ollo with h er noiseles s s h afts gave Orion a n early deat h

,

i n the i s land of Or t y g ia (D elos ) Together with Leto sh e set .

h i m a mong th e sta rs w h ile i n Ha des h i s s h ade a rmed wit h a

, ,

b razen C lub conti nu ed to pu rsu e a nd kill t h e wi ld bea sts w h ic h

,

h e h ad h u nted i n l ife .

I n th e legends of Bo io t ia Orion wa s a h ero born of t h e soi l

,

i n Tana gra or T h eb es Once w h en Pleione a nd h er l arge

.
,

family of d au g h ters were p a ss i ng t h rou g h Bo io t ia h e accosted ,

them a nd a lthou g h t h ey i mmedi ately tu rned a nd fled for fi v e

, ,

conti nuou s years h e relentle ssly pu rsued th em u ntil moved ,

by th e u n h appy plig h t of t h e women Ze u s exalted t h em ,

a ll to th e h eavens wh ere t h e pu rsu it still goe s o n S ide t h e

,
.
,

wife of Orion d ared to v ie i n beau ty wit h Hera a n d for h e r

, ,

bold nes s w a s consigned to Ha des .

I n ot h er cycle s of myth Orion wa s t h e so n of Poseidon a n d

E u ryale th e d au g h ter of Mi nos a nd h i s father endowed h im
, ,

with the gift of moving swiftly over t h e se a eith er by striding ,

a cross it o r by wal king th rou g h i t wit h h is h ead h igh a nd

,

d ry above th e waves o r agai n by u sing t h e i sl a nd s a s giga nti c

, , ,

ste p p ing stones F rom Bo io t ia h e made h is way to C h ios

-
.
,

wh ere he married t h e d aughter of K ing Oin O p io n b ut p a r , ,

ta king too liberally of t h e vi ntage of h i s fat h er in l aw he - -

,
2 52 G REEK AND ROMAN M Y THO LOGY
where h e wedded her In p roces s of time Sh e beca me t h e mot h er
.

of Ar ist a io s a n d Herme s took the ch i ld to h is great gra nd

,
-

mother G a i a who i n h er tu rn e ntru sted h im to the Hou rs

,
.

These m a i den s nu rtu red h im on necta r a n d a mb rosia thereby ,

m a king h im a n i mmortal a nd l a ter h e wa s tra i ned by Ch ei ron

,

i n th e a rts of m a nhood wh ile th e Mu ses i nstru cted h im i n

,

healing a nd p ro p h ecy a nd from certa i n nym p h s he lea rned th e

,

cu ltu re of th e olive d a iryi ng a n d b ee keep ing f a b le d ec la ring

, ,
-
,

th at h e vi sited almost every la nd in the Mediterra nea n b a si n

i n h is su ccessfu l e ff o rts to estab lis h th es e ru ra l i ndu stries
a mong men On one occ asion he went to th e i sl a nd of Keos
.

when the heat of S iriu s wa s cau s ing a p lagu e to s p rea d a mong

the Aegea n i slands a nd rais ing a n altar to Ze u s I k m a io s a
, ,

d ivi nity of moi stu re h e pu t a n en d to th e p l a gu e by th e reg

,

u la r o ff ering of s a crifices to h i m a nd to S iriu s Zeu s sent th e .

E tesi a n wi nds to b low for forty d a ys a n d cool th e atmos p h ere ,

thereby a cqu i ring for h imself th e title Ar ist a io s

a nd by following the exam p le of Ar ist a io s i n o ff ering s ac rifices
th e p eop le of th e i sland were th enceforth a ble eac h yea r to
mitigate the extreme h eat of midsu mmer Ar ist a io s married .

Autono e a d au ghter of K a dm o s a n d by her b ec ame t h e fath er

, ,

of Aktaion of whose u nh a p p y fate we h ave rea d i n th e stories

,

of Thebes Akta ion p ersonified th e strong p la nt growth of

.

s p ri ng withere d by the p a rch ing h e a t of the su mmer weeks ,

a n d the ma dne ss of h i s dogs i s a graph i c re resentation of th e

p
su p p ose d resu lt of the h eat u pon th es e a nimals a n e ffect w h ic h ,

“ ”
i s sti l l p o p u l arl y recorded i n the ex p ress ion do g d a ys -
.

Li n o s
. T h e stor y of Linos a ff ord s a n excellent i l l u stration
of the ma nner i n wh ich a m y th a nd a pe rsona l ity could be
evolved from religiou s rites The name seems to h ave been
.

“ '

derive d from the sa d refrai n a i lén ii ( woe to occu rring

i n S emitic ritu al songs i n wh ich the pa rch ing of vegetation
u n der th e summer sun w a s l a mented wh ile the ceremon ies ,

reste d on the wi de s p read be l ief th at d a emon s of hea t a nd

-

d rought ru n a bou t li ke r a vening dogs .

 T HE LESSER G OD S —
HEAT 2 53

Th e p a rentage of Li nos va ried a ccord ing to the loc aliz a tio n

of h i s story I n Argos he was the so n of A p ollo a n d th e p ri n
.

c es s P s am a the a n d ex p ose d b y h i s mother for fea r of h e r

, ,

f a th er h e wa s fou n d by th e king s hou n ds a nd torn to p ieces

,
’
.

I n anger a t h is ch ild s dea th A p ol l o dis p atched a monster

’

c a lled P oine to tea r ch i l dren from the womb s

of the Argive women b u t when the p eo p le rose up a n d slew
,

the c re atu re they only b rough t on themselves a p l a gue from

,

wh ich they su ff ere d u nti l they gave A p ollo a tem p le i n thei r

c ity Another version however relates th at the p lague wa s
.
, ,

sent bec a u s e th e king killed P sa m a the a n d th a t it wa s ended ,

only wh en th e women of Argos a p p ease d the sou ls of Linos a nd

h i s mother wit h ceremoni al p rayers a nd di rges E lsewhere i n .

Hella s Linos wa s th e so n of A p ollo a nd th e Mu se Kallio p e or ,

a g a in of Am p h ia r ao s a nd Ou ra ni a As the son of th e l a tter

,
.

p ai r h e w a s ki lled by Apollo b ecau se i n a song h e ras hly li kene d

h i s gifts to those O f th e god a nd wa s bu rie d on th e S l o p es of
,

Mou nt Heli kon ne a res t to T h ebes From th e song develo p ed .

th e s inger a nd l y re p la y er a n d i n th i s ca p acit y Linos became

-
,

th e mu sic teacher of Hera kles a lthough a s we h a ve recorde d

-
, ,

a mong the deed s of th at might y hero he met a violent death ,

a t th e h and s of h is choleric pu pil To the mu si ca l gifts of Linos .

myth gratu itou sly a dded oth ers of a n a l lied natu re c re diting ,

h i m with h aving been th e first to u se i n the writing of G reek

t h e letters b rou gh t from P h o in ik ia b y K a dm o s a n d also ,

d ecl aring th a t h e wa s a gramma ri an a n d li ke Or p heu s th e , , ,

a u tho r of p h iloso p h i ca l works .

Litye r ses .Th e p ersona l ity of Lityerses

-
P ra y er for
who w as accor ding to th e legen ds a so n of Mi da s
, , ,

a lso grew i n p art ou t of a mi dsummer song Under th e p re

, ,
.

tence of hos p ita l it y h e m a d e a p r a ctice of luring p a ss ers b y

,
-

i nto h i s p al a ce b ut once th ey were i n h is power he wou l d ta ke

, ,

th em to th e h a rvest fields wra p them i n Sheaves and cut O ff

, ,

thei r h ead s u nti l at length Hera kles came on the s cene a nd

, ,

killing h im th rew h i s bod y i nto the Maea nder River Another

,
.
2 54 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YTHO LOG Y
form of the story re p resents Lityerses a s engagi ng i n mowi ng
contests i n th e field s On ach ieving vi ctory i n e a c h contest
.

h e woul d c ru elly scou rge h i s defeated com p etitor b u t i n th e

,

end h e w a s h imself defeated by a Stronger mower I n thes e .

stories a comb i nation of severa l featu res m a y b e ob served .

Th e scou rging i s a n allu sio n to th e p rimitive p ractice of w h i p

ping up laggard mowers a nd th e treatment accorded to th e
,

l ast mower reflects a n a ncient cu stom wh ich wa s designed to

i nsu re su ccessfu l re a p ing on t h e followi ng d ay w h ile th e d i s
,

posa l of th e prince s body i n t h e river s eems to b e a fa nc ifu l

’

portraya l of a magic rite to p roduce dew .

 P L AT E LI V

L I N OS S L A I N BY HER A K LES

L i n o s , t h e k n e e li n gfi gure h as b e e n k n o c k e d do wn
,

by He r a k l e s wit h a frag m e n t o f a c hai r w hi c h c a n b e

,

p a rtl y s e e n lyi n g o n t h e fl o o r i n t h e ba c k g ro un d a n d , ,

a s h e att e m p t s t o de fe n d h i m s e l f w it h h is ly r e is i n,

dang e r o f b e i n g s t ruc k a g ai n by a n o th e r p i e c e o f t he
c h ai r b r a n di she d i n t he h a n d o f h is p up il T h e .

yo uth ful c o m ra de s o f He ra k l e s s o m e t ho ro ugh ly

,

t e rro r s t ri c k e n o t he rs m a n i f es ti ng a de s i re t o he l p
-
,

th e i r m a s t e r s ta n d he l p l e ss ly l o o k i ng o n High
,
.

i n t h e ba c k gro un d t o t he l e ft is a w r iti ng tabl e t - .

F ro m a re d fi g ure d hylix o f t he styl e o f D o u ri s (e arl y

-

fi fth c e nt ury i n Mun i c h (Furt w éin g le r—Re i c h

h o l d G r i chi he V n m a l er e i N o
,
e sc a se ,
. Se e p p 7 9 .
,

2 52— 53 .
2 59 G REE K AN D ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
al l being h u ma n and d ivi ne a nd th e sou rce of all mu ndane
, ,

w a ters Hesiod a ccou nts Ok e a n o s a s th e so n of Ou ranos an d

.

G a i a a nd th e hu sb a nd of h i s n atu ra l cou nterp art Tethys by

, , ,

whom h e begat th e rivers b rooks and s p rings of ea rth

,
th ree
,

thou s a nd divine d augh ters the Ok e a n ide s a nd th ree thou s an d

, ,

d ivi ne sons N i ne p arts of th e water of Ok e a n o s s ays Hesio d

.
, ,

flow abou t ea rth and se a wh ile th e tenth p a rt becomes th e

,

S tyx and flows u nderneath th e ea rth bu rsting ou t agai n ,

th rou gh a roc ky o p ening .

As to th e loc ation of Ok e a n o s we a re tol d th at it i s th e ou ter

,

bou nda ry of t h e Up p er world a nd a lso th e border b etween th e

nether worl d a nd t h e h eavens Th e Kim m e r ia n s dwelt on its.

northern S h ore t h e Ait h io p ia n s on th e ea stern a nd th e west

,

ern a nd th e dwa rfli ke P ygmies on th e sou t h ern ; b u t now h ere

,

i n G ree k literatu re i s it even h i nted th at peop le believed i n th e

exi stence of a fu rt h er a nd ou ter shore .

I n a rt Ok e a n o s i s Shown reclining li ke t h e river god s bu t h e -

,

c a n b e d istingu i sh ed from them by h i s possess ion of a steering

oar or by th e p resence of se a a nimal s nea r h im .

River s .T h e b elief i n t h e divinity of rive rs wa s g e n e ra l

—

among th e Gree ks t h i s doubtles s a risi ng from t h e s p eed a nd

,

strength of thei r cu rrents down the steep mou nta i n valley s

a s well a s from th eir stimu l ati ng i nflu ence u po n vegetation .

They u su ally pas sed a s t h e son s of Ok e a n o s b u t sometimes a s ,

th e son s of Zeu s ; t h ei r rel ations to P oseidon a re not c lea r .

They were conceived a s b eing now of h u ma n form now of ,

a nima l S h a pe now of a comb inatio n of th e two T h e Ac he lo Os

,
.
,

fo r exam p le appea red to men wit h t h e body of a bu ll a nd th e

,

h e a d of a ma n bea rded a nd horned w h ile i n h u ma n sh ape t h e ,

S k a m a n dro s tal ked a nd fou gh t wit h Ac h illes a nd wa s i n tu rn ,

a ttac ked by Hep h ai stos I n Homer the river god s a re fou n d

.
-

i n th e grea t cou nci l of Zeu s .

The ch ief fu nction of th e rive rs wa s t h e bestowa l of fe rtility ,

an d so im p orta nt wa s th i s to t h e growth and even to the exist

ence of man y commu nities th at rivers were often wors h ipped
 T HE LESS E R G OD S —
OF WAT E R 2 57

a s th e fou nders both of th e loc a l stoc ks a n d of the local cu l tu re .

The Aso p os occu pie d th i s high p lace i n P h lio us a n d S i k y on ,

the I n a c ho s i n Argos th e P eneios i n T hes s a l y the E u rot a s i n

, ,

S p a rta a nd th e Ke p h iso s i n Bo io t ia wh ile the r é le of th e

, ,

Ac h e lo o s i s obviou s i n h i s gift of th e Horn of P l enty to Hera

k le s a nd su ch rivers a s the K ai k o s of Mysi a a nd the Himeros
,

of S icily were thou gh t to p os ses s p owers of he a l ing dise a se a n d

of averting h a rm T h e ma n y ea rl y stories wh ich tel l of the
.

u nion of h u man m a i dens wi th rive r go ds a p p a r ent l y go b a c k

-

to rites p artl y religiou s p a rtly m a gical i n wh ich y ou ng women

, , ,

j u st p rior to m a rriage were made ferti le by b ath i ng i n the

waters of a river .

A pretty story i s told of the river Alp h e io s of Elis At firs t .

Alp h e io s wa s a hu ntsma n who fell i n love with Arethou s a a ,

h u ntres s mai den bu t sh e refu sed h i s a dv a nces and c rossed

,

over th e sea to the l ittle isla nd of Ort y g ia before the h a rbou r of

S yracu se where sh e was tr a nsformed i nto a fou nta in of fresh
,

water I n des p a i r Alp h e io s became a river bu t since h is love

.
,

remained u nch a nge d he ma de h i s wa y bene a th the se a u nti l

,

h e c a me to Or t yg ia a nd there mingle d with the outflow of th e

s p ring .

S p r i n gs (N ym p hs) Th e first nym p h s were the Na i ads

.
—
,

who dwelt
By de e p w e ll s a n d wat e r flo o ds -
,

S t r e a m s o f a n c i e n t h ill s a n d w h e r e
,

All t h e w a n g re e n p l a c e s b e a r
Bl o sso m s c l e avi n g t o t h e so d
” 2
.

Th at i s to s ay the y were s p i r its of th e s p rings a nd from them

, ,

develo p e d by ver y natu r a l p rocesses th e ma rks a n d fu nc

, ,

tions of the n y m p h s of h i l l a n d forest I n the l ife gi v ing ele

.
-

ment of the s p rings th e G reeks fa ncie d th a t the y sa w a kin d o f

fem a le fru itfu l nes s wh ence th e fun da ment a l me a ning of th e
,

n ame mind! ; embodies the i dea of p regn a nc y a l ,

though by long u s a ge th e wor d bec a me less a n d l es s st r ict i n

its a p p l ication u nti l at last it coul d be a p p r o p r iate l y use d to
2 58 G REEK AN D RO MAN M YTHO LOG Y
des ignate a lso th e Nereid s a nd Ok e a n ids w h o essentially b e
,

longed to the la rger waters ; the Oread s or mou ntai n spi rits ;
,
-

a nd even t h e D ryad s a nd Hamad rya ds I n their p roper Sp here

.
,

wh ich i nclu ded a ll p laces li ke c aves and m arsh es where

, ,

moistu re gathered the nym p h s were a s p ote nt a s wa s Posei

,

do n over the se a o r D emeter over the earth a nd from thei r ,

conce p tion a s femini ne powers i n th e b loom of you th they a c

qu ired a l l sorts of mai denly ch a racteristic s They d a nced a nd .

s ang a nd ceaseles sly made merry i n thei r woo dla nd retire

,

ment ; th ey were the nu rses of th e i nfa nts D ionysos a nd Zeu s ;

a nd aga in th ey were th e ch a ste atten da nts of Artemis ;
, ,

wh ile th rou gh thei r fres h c h arms they won ma ny lovers from

a mong both god s a nd men .

I n myth th e nymph s a re a s a ru le s im p ly t h e d au gh ters of

Zeu s ; the n ame of a moth er i s seldom mentioned although t h e ,

Mel i a n nym p h s com e i nto b eing from th e b lood of Ou ra nos ,

a nd i n t h e Orp h ic hymns al l nymph s a re th e o ff s p ring of

O k e a n o s Once i n Homer th e nym p h s a p p ear u pon Olym p os
.
,

a nd they p la nt elms abou t th e tomb of An dro m a c h e s father ’

.

A group of N ai ad s in h ab its th e i sl a nd of I t h a k e I n variou s .

p laces th e d ivi nitie s of many of the fa mou s springs were re

p u t e d to h ave originally b een women mos t,
of whom h a d been
d rowned th e stories of t h e fou nta in s of P e ire n e a nd Glau ke a t
,

Cori nt h a nd of Kirke a t Th eb es being excellent illu strations

of th i s manner of myt h ma king Th ere were also nymp h s of
-
.

c ities w h o were t h e d augh ters of t h e im p orta nt rivers of th e

neighbou r h ood a n d who were i n ma ny i nsta nces wed ded to
the loc al eponymou s hero S ome of th ese divi nities were
.

c red ited with th e gift of foretelli ng th e futu re a belief w h ich ,

wa s derived not so mu ch from the p oeti c fa nc y t h at ru n ning

water tal ks a s from th e conviction th at th e d rin king of certai n
waters p ro duced a st a te of i ns p i ration I ndeed th e e p ithet of
.

“ ”
nym p h smitten wa s a p p lied to person s wrought u p to pro
-

p h e t ic ec st a sy .

T h e worshi p of t h e nym p h s wa s general ly l imited to s pec ia l

2 60 G REE K AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
a s driving a hors e d rawn ch ariot over the sea a nd as h oldi ng
-

a trident or a dol p h i n or a d rin king horn i n h i s h and ; bu t

, ,
-

h i s ch ief attribu te was a se a shell on wh ich he u sed to b low

-
,

loudly o r softly according a s he desi red to a rou se o r to calm

the se a Th e artists delineated h im a s of h u ma n form above
.

bu t of a ni mal sh a p e b elow th e wai st th e line of u nion bei ng ,

concealed by a garment I n th e later centu ries h owever h i s

.
, ,

lower p arts were S hown a s t h ose of a fis h .

A Bo io t ia n tale n arrates t h at the women of Tan agra w h o ,

h a d gone down to th e sea to b e pu rified in p re p a ration for a

festival of D ionyso s were attac ked by Triton wh ile th ey were
,

i n th e water b u t th e god h eard thei r cries for help a nd beat

,

I n a nother tale Triton wa s ch a rged with

'

t h e ir a ssa il a n t O ff .
,

raid s on th e herd s and s hi p p ing of Ta nagra u ntil a t last th e

p eo p le set ou t a bowl of wine a s a tra p w h ereu pon d ri nking , ,

th e wine Triton fell a slee p o n the shore of th e se a a nd a ma n

, ,

of the city cho p ped o ff h i s h ea d with a n axe T h at i s w h y th e .

T a n ag r a n image of Tri ton wa s head les s .

“
N ere us . Ner e u s th e Ancien t of t h e S ea
,
portrayed ,

i n h i s person a nd family t h e mu ltiform b eau ties of th e se a .

He was th e is su e of Pontos a nd G ai a a nd by h is wife Dori s ,

h e b egat a host of d au gh ters th e Nereids th e beautifu l nymph s

, ,

of th e i nner se a a s oppos ed to the Ok e a n ids the nym p hs of ,

th e outer se a He wa s a b enevolent old ma n a lways rea dy

.

to h el p those who were i n troub le h i s great age being ma rked ,

by the hoary foa m of the b rea ki ng waves Li ke certai n othe r .

gods of the sea h e was a n u nerri ng p ro p het a nd gifted wit h

,

m a rvellou s powers of transformation bu t i n sp ite of h is ch anges ,

i nto many a nimal forms h e wa s forced by Hera kles to poi nt ou t

,

th e roa d lead ing to the golden a p p les of t h e Hesperi des I n .

h i s tru e form h e wa s conceived a s a n old ma n wit h a t h ic k beard

a nd a h eavy tangled mat of h ai r His emb lem wa s th e trident . .

T h e Nereid s seem to h ave stood for t h e ri p p les a nd waves

of c a l m weather those mos t fa mou s i n myth being Amp h itrite
,

a nd T hetis .
 P L AT E LV

O D Y SS EUS AND THE S I RE N S

O dy sse us s ta nds ti p to e la sh e d fac e fo rw a rd t o

on ,

t he m a s t . I n f ro n t o f h im is a Si re n p e rc he d o n a
b ra n c h a n d s i n g i n g t o t he a c c o m p a n i m e n t o f a tym
p a non w h i c h sh e is b e ati n g w,
h il e b e h i n d h im is a h

o t h e r S i re n s i m ila r ly s e at e d ho l di n g a hit h z it he r
, , ( ara
)
i n h e r l e ft ha n d an d a p l kt r on (p i c k ) in he r ri g ht
e .

T h e fo ur c o m p a n i o n s o f O dys se us a re w o r k i n g dis
t rac t e dly at t h e i r o a r s as t h e g a z e s e llb o un d at t he
y p
all uri n g c re at ure s ab o ve t he m F ro m a de s i g n do n e
.
,

in wh it e a n d t h re e c o l o ur s o n a Luc an ia n k r a t r o f
,
e

t h e t h i rd c e n t ury B C . i n Be rli n (Furt w an g le r Re i c h

.
,
-

h o l d G r iechisch Va sen ma l r ei N o
,
e e , . Se e p p .

2 62- 63.
 T HE LE S S ER GOD S —
OF WAT ER 26 1

P r o te us . the so n a n d u n derling of P oseidon w a s

P roteu s , ,
“
so far the ma ster god of elu si v e se a ch a nge
”
th at the e p ith et
P rote a n h a s become a s y non y m of the so p his tical a nd dis
S imu l a ting mi n d His two sons Po lyg o n o s a n d T e le g o n o s
.
, ,

met Her a kles a t Torone a s the l atter wa s retu rning f rom th e

cou ntry of the Amazons a n d ch a l l enge d h im to a wrestling
,

bout bu t th e h ero th r ew a n d k i l l e d them both Acco r ding to

, .

Homer a nd Eu ri p i des P roteu s w a s th e king of the Eg y p ti a n

,

isla nd of P h a ros a nd th e hu sb a nd of a Nereid nym p h He

4
.

w a s the herder a nd gu a r dia n of the seals a nd knew everyt h ing

th at took p l ace i n th e de p th s of the sea a nd also l i ke Nereu s , , ,

a l l th at h a d h appened o r wa s to come to p as s u p on ea rth .

Th rou gh th e conniva n ce of h i s d augh ter Eido t h e a h e wa s , ,

seized by Me n e l ao s a nd forced to reveal to h im the state of

affa i rs at S p a rta a nd to d irect h im on hi s homewa rd voyage .

Gla uk os . Th e se a god Glau kos was sa id to h ave been a t

— -

fi rst a n ordi na ry hu ma n being t h e so n of An t h e do n an d ,

Al kyone th is b eing a mythological way of s a yi ng t h at h e w a s

,

a n a tive of th e Bo io t ia n c ity of An t h e do n B y tra de h e was a .

fi sherman a nd o n e d a y when recli ning on the s hore afte r l a nd

, ,

i ng h i s c atch h e ob se rved th a t some of the fish eating of a

, ,

certai n h erb came b ac k to life a nd lea p ed i nto the se a After

,
.

ta sting the herb h imself h e t o o s p r a ng i nto the water at a

, , ,

s p ot wh i ch th e An t h e do n ia n s l ater c a lled G la uk o s s Leap

“ ” ’

and wa s tra nsformed i nto a deity being admitte d i nto th e c ircle ,

of th e se a god s after Ok e a n o s a nd Tethys h ad p u rged h i m of

-

all hu man imperfection s a nd becoming so s killed i n p ro p hecy

,

th at i n th i s a rt h e gave instru ction to A p ollo a nd Nereu s .

Th e a rti sts were wont to S ketch h i m a s a fisherma n equ i p p ed

with fi sh tra p s a nd a fi sh b a s ket a nd a s we a ring th e ski n of a
- -

fi sh on h i s h ead Th i s story i s withou t doubt essenti a l ly r e

.
, ,

l ated to the more wi dely known legend of the search for the
Fou ntai n of You th .

I n o (Le uk o the a ) We are al ready awa re of the r 6le p layed

.

by Ino th e dau g h ter of K a dm o s i n those events of the early

, ,
 G RE E K A N D RO MAN M YT HO LO G Y
h istory of T he b es wh ich cu lmi n a ted i n the great trib al move
ment known i n m y tho l og y a s the Vo y age of the Argonauts .

He r fu nction a s gu ardia n of the s ai l or fol k wh ich sh e e xe r ,

c ise d u n der th e new name of Leu k othe a i s exem p lified most

,

c l e a rly i n th e Homeric e p isode wh ere sh e come s to th e a i d o f

the Sh i p wrec ke d O dy sseu s S eeing th e he ro exh au sted by h is
.

e ff o rts to s ave h imself she rose from th e se a a n d s at bes i d e

,

h im on h i s raft giving h im a magic vei l a nd b iddi ng h im b in d

,

it abou t h i s bre a st c a s t h imself i nto the raging water a n d

, ,

ende a vou r to swim to the Ph a ia k ia n coast Following he r .

cou nsel Odysseu s wa s ke p t afloat by the vei l for two d ays a n d

,

two nigh ts a nd on the morning of the th i rd d ay h e set foo t

,

up o n l a n d .

S e i r e n es (S iren s) B y n atu re the S i rens

. B ewitch i n g
”
Ones ) were a kin to the Keres a nd Eri nyes being winged d ae ,

mon s of death who h a u nted graves a nd t h e u nderworld T h e .

belief i n them wa s d ee p l y rooted i n th e mind s of th e common

p eople ,
a nd H omer mu s t h ave been awa re of their speci a l a t

tributes a lthough he seems to h ave chosen o nly su ch of th em

,

a s woul d serve h i s l itera ry pu rposes He i s th e creator of thei r

.

mu s ic a l gifts a n d i s res p onsib le for thei r associ ation wit h th e se a .

T h e descent of the S i ren s wa s not definitely fixed They .

were re p uted to b e th e ch il dren of P h o r k y s o r aga in th ey were

, , ,

born of th e dro p s of blood th a t fell u p on E a rth from the b ro ken

horn of Ac h e lo Os wh ile a nother genealogy a ccou nts them th e
,

ch i l dr en of th is s ame Ae h e lo Os a nd o ne of t h e Muse s I n '

.

Homer the y a re two i n nu mber though th e vase p ai nters gen

,
-

e ra l l y re p resent th em a s th ree
; bu t i n the s p h ere of popu la r
religion thei r number i s u nlimited by rea son of thei r ve r y
n a tu re a nd an y n a mes th at a tt a ch to them a re i nva riab ly su g
,

g e st iv e of meretri ciou s wiles a n d ch a rms Hes iod locates th es e

.

b egu iling divi nities i n the flowery is la nd of An t h e m o é ssa i n the

weste r n se a .

K i rke thu s describes th e S i r ens to Odys seu s : To th e S i rens

fi rst sh a l t thou c o m e who b ewitch a l l men whosoever come to
, ,
2 64 G RE E K AND RO MAN M YT HO LOGY
les s cruel monster who too h a d been bo rn a goddes s b eing
, , , ,

th e d aughter of P oseidon and G aia He r ch ief c h a ra cteri sti c

.

wa s a n i nsatiab le voracity a nd becau se of repeated th efts of

, ,

c a ttle from Hera kles Zeu s with th e stroke of a thu nd erbolt

, , ,

h u rled h er i nto the se a wh ere i n th e ver y p ath of sh i p s sh e

, , ,

suc ke d down blac k water th ree times a d ay a nd th rice d aily ,

s p outed it fo r th B eginni ng with th e fifth centu ry B C S kyl la

. . .
,

a nd Ch a rybdi s were localized i n th e S tra its of Mess i na .

OF W I N D S AN D STORMS

A little knowledge of th e meteorologic al conditions of Greece

a nd of the manner of life to wh ich th e a ncient G ree k wa s
bou nd by th e very natu re of th ings ma ke s it p lai n why Hesiod 5

“
c a lled th e winds a great troub le to mortals One w h o is well
.

“
a cqu a inted with modern G reece writes : I n t h e wi nter t h e
wi nd s blow from every poi nt of t h e comp as s a n d c a nnot b e
” 7
relied upon from one d ay to t h e next w h i le i n s trong c o n
,

tras t i s the regu larity of d irection of t h e su mmer wi nds I n .

a ll t h is va riety of ai r cu rrents sometimes h u mou ri ng some

-
, ,

times t h warti ng t h e p lan s of man it wa s not at a ll strange to

,

se e the o p erations of beings of i ndependent will a nd of thos e

motley traits w h ic h go to ma ke u p personality It wa s in .

evitab le th at th e mou ntai n h u rric a nes w h ich without wa rni ng

,

Swoo p ed down on the s ailor or fi sh erma n who t h ou g h t h i mself

s afe a s long a s he h ugged the shore s h ou ld seem to b e d aemons
,

of destruction ; a nd i t wa s equ ally axiomatic th at th e u seful

trade wind s shou ld b e c redited wit h peacefu l a nd b enevolent
-

d is p ositions Owi ng to thei r importance th e wi nd s were very

.

ea rl y given a p l ace i n cu lt or i n t h ose magi c ceremonies wh ic h

ca n be d i ff erenti ated from cu lt only with difli c ul t y ; a n d con ,

sequently a s there were rai n ch a rms so were there wi nd

,
-
,

C h a rms to a ve rt o r to a rou s e the wi nd s a s necess ity requ i red .

With th e conti nuou s de v elo p ment of c h t h oni c elements i n

G r e ek r itu a l the tendency gai ned momentu m to identify th e
 T HE LES S ER GOD S —
OF WIND S 2 95

violent wi nd s wit h maligna nt d aemons of t h e ea rth ; yet on t h e ,

other h a nd many of them were thou ght to res i de i n b ir ds of

,

p rey su c h a s t h e se a h awk wh ile i n the ki ngfis h er dwelt th e

,
-
,

“
s p i rit of midwi nter ca lm whence we still spea k of h alcyon ,
”
(ki ngfis h er ) d ays .

B o r e a s E u
,
r os N o to s a n d Z ep hy os
,
r — Th e most im p orta nt
, .

winds Borea s Eu ros Notos a nd Z e p hy ro s were cla ssified i n

, , , , ,

myth a s t h e son s of Ast r a io s a nd Eo s T h e C h a ra cter wh ic h .

Borea s t h e north wi nd exh ib its i n Atti c myth holds good every

, ,

wh ere else He i s lu stfu l cru el a n d strong a nd with a deci ded

.
, , ,

bent for th ievery ; h e i s a cold b lu steri ng a nd u ncou th Th ra , ,

c ian ; h e leap s swiftly down from th e p ea ks of th e h ill s up ,

rooting t h e oa ks a nd sh atteri ng th e sh ip s wh ich lie i n h i s p ath ;

a ccord ing to h i s c apri ce h e b rings clea r sk y o r clou d Homer
, .

tell s u s th at Ac h illes b esought Borea s a nd Z e p h y ro s to fa n th e

fl a mes of P a t ro k lo s s p yre a nd the Atheni a n s of t h e fift h
’
,
’
centu ry a ttribu ted to Borea s s connexion with them by ma r
r ia g e th e d estru ction of the fleet of Xerxes o ff Ch al ki s Th ey .

h a b itu ally t h ou g h t of h i m a s a s h aggy h a ired a nd h eavy -

b rowed man equ ipped with wings o n both s hou lders a nd feet
, ,

wh ile at T ho ur io i h e wa s regarded a s so nea rly hu ma n th at h e

wa s given t h e ran k of c itizen a nd wa s a s signed a domici le .

Homer rel ates h owever t h at i n t h e form of a h ors e he b egat

, ,

by th e ma res of Er ic ht h o n io s twelve foals t h at cou ld ra ce over

the se a wit h ou t S in ki ng a n d over t h e tilled la nd s without leav
i ng a footma rk or th e tra i l of a w h eel beh in d th em .

Th e remai ning winds a re devoi d of th e s h a rp i ndivi du ality

of B orea s F rom th e sou th la nd comes Notos i n au tu mn a nd
.

wi nter h i s b ea rd h eavy with clou ds a nd h i s grey p oll d ri p p ing

, ,

great d ro p s of moi stu re whi le from h i s wi ngs a leade n mist ,

falls over glen a nd h i ll a nd men a nd b ea sts a n d h erb a ge b e

,

come sluggi s h a n d s ic kly Over th e se a h e Sp re a ds a d ense mi st

.

so t h at s ailo rs d es p ai r of ma king p ort a n d i n Horati a n p h r a se , , ,

“
h e i s th e wi n d th a n w h om there i s no greater ru ler of th e
” 8
Adri atic . Along with Eu ros h e h i ndered Odys seu s s dep a rt ’
2 66 G REE K AN D ROMAN M YTHO LOGY

u re from T h r in a k ia a n d d rove h im b ac k u p on Ch a ryb di s I n .

th e south ea st i s th e home of E u ros a t whose wa rm b reath th e

-
,

s nows me l t a n d rain s fall Z e p h y ro s i s th e gentle win d of th e

.

west which gives strength to p l a nts a nd i n a ver y ch ildish ,

“
a llegory myth ma kes h i m th e hu sb a nd of Ch loris ( V erd a nt
“
by whom h e became th e fath er of Kar p o ( Fru it

Aio los . I n th e Odyssey Aio lo s th e steward of th e wi nds

, ,

i nh a b its th e floati ng isl a nd of Aio lia i n th e western sea along

with h i s family of six convivi al son s a n d S ix convivi a l da ug h
ters The story of how h e p a c ked th e wi n ds i n a b ag a nd gave
.

them to Odys seu s we need not re p eat h ere Th e p erson of .

Aio lo s seems to re p resent th e mob i l ity a nd va ri ab ility of th e

“ ”
wi nds a n d h i s ch il dren l ivi ng a s th ey did i n S a us un d Br a us
, , ,

th ei r ra p acity ; wh ile h i s method of control l i ng th em i s p a ral

leled i n a p rimitive Germa nic cu stom of bagging t h e wi nd s i n
order to quell th em .

Ha rp ies The h ated a nd destru ctive s qu alls t h at bu rst

.
—

su ddenl y from th e mou nta i n valleys on th e coa stal sh ippi ng

were well desc ribed i n the a p pe a r a nce a nd th e a ction s of
th e Ha r p ies whom popu l a r ep ith et
“ ”
styled th e dogs of Zeu s a n d with good reason a s th ei r , ,

treatment of P h ineu s h a s al ready demons t rated These loath .

some creatu res h ad the a rms a nd b rea sts of a woman bu t all ,

thei r rem a i ning p arts were those of a b i rd The talons of th ei r .

h a n ds a n d feet were l ong a n d sh a r p a nd wi th thei r wings th ey

,

fl ew abou t with the s p ee d of the wi nd th eir n ames Aé llO p o uS , ,

S torm Foot -
a n d Ok y e t e
p S wift accu rate
registe r s of thei r natu re T o a ccou nt for su c h m a rvellou s
.

b eings m y tholog y de r ived th em from some monstrou s s i re li ke

T h a uma s o r T y p hon o r Poseidon ; a nd s inc e li ke begets li ke
, , , ,

th e y i n th ei r tu rn bec a me th e mothe rs of th e swift steeds of

Ach i l l es E rech theu s a n d the D io sk o uro i Thei r home wa s i n
, , .

the S t ro p h a de s a grou p of i s l a n ds i n th e Aegea n o r a ccord

, , ,

i ng to Ve rg i l a t th e ver y g a tes o f th e u n derwo r ld

, .
 P L AT E LV I

O R EI T H Y I A AN D BO RE A S

Bo re a s , w e ll C ha ra c te ri z e d a s a t hi c k se t a n d-

b r i s tly h ai re d m an o f c rue l c o un t e n a n c e h a s g ra s p e d
-
,

O re it hyia a ro un d t he wai s t a n d li fti n g he r o ff h er

, ,

fe e t is o n t h e p o i nt o f fl yi n g aw ay w it h he r t hro ugh
,

t h e a ir . A si s t e r o f t h e m ai de n Pa n dro s o s is h a s t e n
, ,

in g away in fe a r wh il e He rse a n o t h e r s i s t e r r un s
, , ,

fo rwa rd t o l e n d a id . F ro m a re d fig ure d a mp hor a o f

-

ab o ut 4 7 5 B c in Muni c h (Furt w éin g le r—Re ic h ho ld

. .
, ,

G r ie chische Va sen m a l er ei , N O . S e e pp .
7 3 74 ,
2 65 .
2 68 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
la y s amid th e leaves of flowery S p ri ng c a n excel h i m i n song .

With h im then j oi n i n the melody th e sweetl y singi ng nym p h s

of the high l a n ds th rongi ng rou nd t h e d a rkling fou ntain a nd ,
” 1°
echo resou nd s about th e su mmit of th e mou ntai n .

At th e outset P a n wa s s im p ly a generative d aemon of th e

floc ks a nd h erd s bu t th e conce p t of h i s b ei ng a sort of i deal
,

s he p herd a n d p rotector wa s a n atu ra l sequ el of t h i s fu nction ,

a n d i n time his powe rs were so e nl a rged th at h e wa s h eld to

exert a n i nfluence on th e growth of forage p lants a lthough h e ,

never became a fu ll fle dg e d deity of vegetation I n th e fore

- .

going s p heres h i s emb lem wa s t h e p h a llos So fa r a s wi nd a nd

.

weather a ff ected th e cond ition of th e c a ttle Pa n wa s a wea th er

,

o d a n d doubtles s h i s fab led s kill o n the p ipe s i s a remi ni scence

g ,

of the p rimitive magica l p ractice of endeavou ring to control

the wi nd s by wh istling or by p laying o n wi nd i n stru ments -
.

As the ch ief d ivine i nh ab itant of t h e solitu des P a n contrived

the s p eci a l p eril s th at beset h u nters h erd smen travellers
, , ,

a nd others who i nva ded h i s domains T h e mi rage wa s a de

.

vice created by h im to mi s lea d a nd perp lex a nd p a nic na med , ,

a fter h imself wa s h is co up de m a itr e for su ddenly d isp ers ing

,

great hosts .

The S atyrs a nd the Sile n o i c a n best be comp re h ended ,

p erh aps i n the statement th a t t h ey a re a p lu ra lity of Pa ns

, ,

a lthough i n th em th i s playfu l an d lu stfu l ch a racter sta nd s ou t

i n ex a gger a ted relief They comb i ne the elements of h u ma n
.
,

b rute and i na nimate natu re more su cces sfu lly t h a n a ny oth er

,

c reatu res of myth By vi rtue of t h ei r connexio n with fertility

.

the y f r equently appea r i n t h e c i rcle of D ionysos a s wel l a s i n

th at of P a n .

T h e re p resentation s of P a n a nd h i s les ser congene rs i n

a rt a re i n more th a n th e ord in a ry sense myth s i n pictori al o r
, ,

gr a p h ic form Two p eriod s of their develo p ment ma y be o h

.

s e rve d th e di v idi ng l ine b eing drawn rou gh ly at abou t 400

, , ,

B C
. .
I n t he fi rst th e h um a n element p redominates a ll of th e ,

divi nities bein g regul a rl y s hown a s p os ses s ing th e h ead s a nd

 T HE LE S S ER GOD S —
OF T HE W I LD 2 69

bodies of men a nd the members of a nima ls su ch a s horns ta il , , ,

poi nted ea rs s h agg y h a i r a nd th e legs of goats or of horses

, ,
.

Towa rd th e end of th i s ti me ty p es a p p ea r wh ich re p resent

th em a s bea utifu l youth s b ea ri ng here a nd there u p on th ei r ,

persons mere h i nts of thei r semi besti a l n atu re I n th e second -

.

p eriod the ani ma l element becomes more p rominent bu t more ,

s mooth ly fu sed with th e h u m a n a nd th e ty p es of P a n th e , ,

S at y rs a nd the S ile n o i now begi n to d iverge along their own

,

FIG . 10 . SAT Y R S A T P L AY
I n t he tc e n re o f t h e h l d i g thy ( itu l w d ) d l k
l o w e r b an d is a Ma e n a d o n a r sor r a an an oo

i g t
n a a f f u S ty
g upro o tw oh m id i g t h b k f t h t h
r a rs, w it i g
o of w o ,
r n on e ac so e o e rs, a r e a n

t t h t h b l l b ut t b t h w by t h ld S ty t t h xt m l ft f t h p i t u
o ca c e a a o o e ro n e o a r a e e re e e o e c re .

B tw
e th
een ld S ty d th M
e o d i b y S t y l ig h tly l i g
a r an h p w hi h
e ae n a sa o a r e an n on a 00 c

h h
e ju t b
as t u dl i g T h upp b d h w p t m im ic d
s een r n n . f m id e er an s o sa an o a n ce o a ens

(] HS xi P l t X I I )
,
a e .

s ep arate l i nes P a n i s now p ractic ally alwa y s s een with goat s

.
’

legs a nd h a s a leeri ng sensu al cou ntena nce w h i le the fl ute , ,

o f reed t h e goatherd s sta ff a n d th e goats ki n are h i s common

,
’

attrib utes All thes e ch a racteri stic s a re gradu ally ta ken over
.

by th e S atyrs .

Ma en a d: a n d Ba ccha n ter — Th e Maenad s a nd B acch a ntes .

we re th e s p i rits of t h e wil d conceived a s femi ni ne Althou gh .

they were mu ch less gros s th a n their m ale com p a nions w hom

we h ave j u st describ e d i n th at they were devoi d of the bo dil y ,

a ttribu te s of th e a nima l kinds nevertheless they cou nted the , ,

b easts of the wil d a mong thei r ch ief as soc iates a nd des p ite , ,

th ei r h u ma n form they were d isti nctly u nhu m a n i n s p i rit

,
.
2 7o G R E E K AN D R O MAN M YT HO LO G Y
Th ey h ad their b irt h i n th e belief common to many p rimitiv e
,

p
eo p les th
,
at th e storms of th e l atter p art of th e wi nter releas e
the d aemons wh ich pu t life i nto herb a nd tree ; i n fact th e y ,

were th ese storms thems elves wa nton wild a nd free Th ei r

, , ,
.

n a tu res b rou ght them i nto a n i ntimate alli a nce with D ionysos ,

a n d th e r b l e wh i ch they p layed i n h i s rites h a s m ade thei r

‘

n a mes synonyms of u nrestrai nt a nd revel ry Wrou gh t to a .

state of ecstas y by t h e sh ri ll mu sic of the fl ute a n d t h e c las h

of cymb als th ey wou ld shou t a n d sing a s th ey ra n wildly t o
,

a nd fro waving bu rning b rand s a nd thyr r o i (ritu a l wa nd s )

,
.

As Agave tore h er u nb elieving so n Pentheu s asu nder so t h e ,

Maen a d s were s ai d to ren d t h e you ng of wild a nimal s a n d t h e n

to eat thei r flesh raw .

D r ya d; a n d Ha m a dr ya ds T h e sp i rits w h ic h were t h ou gh t
.

to i nh a b it trees were known a s D ryad s or Hama d rya ds a n d ,

they b ecame cl a ssed a s nym p h s a s we h ave p reviou sly poi nted

,

out by a very e asy extension of terms Under th e na me o f

,
.

D rya d the G reeks seem to h ave com p re h en ded a female spi ri t

dwelling a mong the trees w h erea s a Hama dryad o n t h e othe r
, ,

h and wa s the s p irit of a n individu a l tree whose life bega n a n d

,

ended with th at of h er host S tories w h ic h b ri ng ou t th e i ndi

.

v idua lit y of H amad ryad s for examp le t h at of D a p h ne a n d ,

A p ollo are simply th e devices of mythology to expla i n t h e

m a rke d p ecu li arities of si ngle trees or of s ingle species of trees .

Ke n ta ur o i (Cen ta ur s) .Of a ll t h e monsters p ut togeth er b y

the G reek imagin a tion the Centau rs constitu ted a cl a s s i n
themselves D es p ite a strong strea k O f sen su a lity i n th e i r
.

make up thei r norma l b eh aviou r wa s moral a n d t h ey too k

-
, ,

a k i n dl y t h ought of ma n s welfa re Th e attempted outrage o f

’
.

N e sso s o n Dei a nei ra a n d th at O f t h e whole tribe of Centau rs

,

on t h e La p ith women a re more th a n o ffset by th e h os p i t a l ity

,

of P ho lo s a nd b y th e wi sdom of Chei ron phys ici a n p ro p het , , ,

ly ri s t a n d th e instructor of Ach i lles

, Fu rther t h e Ce ntau rs
.
,

were p ecu l i a r i n th a t th ei r n a tu re wh ic h u nited th e body of

,

a horse with th e tru nk a n d he a d of a man i nvolved a n u nth in k ,

 C H AP T E R X I I I

T H E L ES S E R G O D S —
O F T H E EART H

I . G AI A (G E)

F a p oet of th i s u tilitari a n d ay a nd generation can sing ,

with su ch h a p p y fancy ,

T h e e a r t h t h at i s t h e s i st e r o f t h e se a ,
“

T h e e a r t h t h at is t h e da u g h t e r o f t h e s ta r s,
T h e m o t h e r o f t h e m y r i a d r a ce o f m en ,
” 1

’
why shoul d we wonder at th e G reeks imputation of person
?
ality to the variou s featu re s of the materi a l world Thi s mod
ern conce p tion of E arth i e G ai a or Ge i s almost textu a lly
,
. .
, ,

we may s a fely say th at of th e most a ncient G reeks of whom

,

we h ave even th e vagu est knowledge At Dodon a Zeu s th e .

,

s ky god wa s cou p led with th e ea rth goddess a u nion long

-
, ,

consu mmated even th en I n Homer s time she wa s held to b e a

.
’

sentient being a lthou gh p erh a p s not qu ite person al enou gh to

,

be a goddes s b u t l ater i n Hesiod we fi nd h er consciou sly

, , ,

exercisi ng the fu nction s of p arenthood As we h ave seen i n .

th e ch a p ter on the beginni ng of th ings sh e wa s th e mot h er , ,

fi rst of Ou ra nos a nd afterward by h im of the Titan s of th e

, , , ,

K y klo p es a n d of th e Gi ants a nd by th e i ndi rect p roces s of

, , ,

descent of god s a nd men ; wh ile i n th e loc al myt h s we lea rned

,

th a t men li ke P e l a sg o s Ke k ro p s and Ala l k o m e n e us sp rang

, ,

str a igh t from her bosom When she h a d b rough t all thes e
.

i nto the worl d she nou rishe d th em enriched th em and gave

, , ,

them the mys teriou s p ower to re p rodu ce thei r ki nd wh ence ,

a t Athens she wa s venerated u nder t h e title Nou risher of

”
You th s.
 P L AT E LV I I

A MA E NA D
T hi s vi go ro us ly dra w n fi g ure re p re s e n ts a Ma e n a d
at t he he i g ht o f h e r o rg ia s ti c fre n z y He r s l ightly .

r ai s e d fo o t a n d t h e fl utt e r o f he r g a r m e n t s s h o w t h at

sh e is da n c i ng wil dly rat h er t h a n m o vi n g s wi ftl f or

y
wa rd Sh e w e a rs a g i rdl e o f fawn s k i n a n d is c ro w ne d
.
-
,

with a w re at h o f ivy fro m b e n e ath w hi c h Ho w l o n g

l o o s e t re ss e s o f he r h ai r Be h i n d he r an d t o o n e s i de
.

he r t byr sos (r it ual wa n d) s ta nds o bl i q ue ly i n t h e g ro un d .

I n e a ch h a n d sh e h o l ds a p a rt o f t he fawn w h i ch i n h e r
m a dn e ss sh e ha s j ust re n t a s un de r a s t h e bl o o d sti ll
,

dr i p p i n g fro m t h e w o un ds t e s ti fi e s F ro m a re d
.

fig ure d I kytb os o f ab o ut
e B C
. f ro m G e la (Mon u
.
,

m en t i J t icb i xvii Plat e L V a

n , , ) .S ee p p 2 6 9
7 0
.
— .
 T HE L E SS E R G OD S RHE A— K Y B E LE 2 73

Under th e n ame o f G a ia howeve r the develo p ment of th e

.
, ,

goddes s sto p p ed for G a i a wa s too o b v iou s a suggestion of th e

,

materi a l ea rth to sti r th e con structi v e G ree k f a nc y i nto a c

tion a lthou gh certai n of h er e p ithets descri p tive of diff erent
,

concepts of the earth p ower su rv ive d a n d too k on attractive

-

“ ”
forms Thu s a s P a ndora ( A l l G i v e r ) she became the theme
.
,
-

“ ”
of a s ignific a nt myth a nd a s P a n droso s ( A l l B edewing )
,
-

sh e p l ays a r ale i n ea rly Athenia n re l igiou s h i story whi le , ,

p artly from th e righteou s nes s of h er oracles a s de l ivered for , ,

i nsta nce from h er p r e Apol l ine sh rine a t D e lp ho i she became

,
-
,

Themi s althou gh it w a s u nder t h e n ame of

Demeter th at sh e attai ned her h ighest and loveliest attribu tes
of d ivi nity .

Y et th ere i s a nother si de t o th e n atu re of Ga ia for after ,

death me n were l a i d away i n h er dee p bosom whence th ey h a d ,

first come so th at sh e p res ided over th e host of de p a rte d s p i rits

, ,

a nd i t wa s on ly n atu ral th at u nder the name of P ersephone, ,

sh e u ltimately c a me to b e known a s th e queen of the lower

world S h e wa s a ssociated with th e G enesia a festiva l i n wh ich
.
,

a ncestors were honou red a nd with the l atter p art of th e An

,

t h e st e r ia wh ile i n p ubli c oath s th at bou nd treaties a n d a lli

,

a n c e s sh e wa s i nvoked a long with Zeu s and Helios a s a n ever

, ,

p resent witnes s of th e solemn obligation .

II . RHE A-KYBE LE (G RE AT MOT HE R)

B egi nni ng with th e fifth centu ry th e n ames G reat Mother ,

or Moth er O f th e Go ds Rh ea a nd Kybele were em p lo y e d

, ,

i ndi ff erently to des ign ate a single d ivi ne being a great ea rth ,

god dess a nd it i s a ltogether p rob ab le th at h istorically a lso

,

th ey re p resented onl y one being At Ath ens h er o ffi ci a l tit l e .

wa s th e first O f th e foregoing n ames or its a lternative form , ,

a nd t h ere a s ea rly a s th e sixth centu ry sh e wa s accor de d a

, ,

s h ri ne known a s th e Me t ro On wh ich s erved a s th e d e p os itory

, ,

of th e state a rch ives a n honou r wh ich seems to h ave come to

,
2 74 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LO G Y
h er th rough h er li kenes s to D emeter w h o h ad already b een
,

n a tu ra lized The n a me Rhea b elonged rath er to the ci rcle of

.

myth b ei ng seldom u sed a s a forma l religiou s des ignation

, ,

wh ile th e mention of K y bele always c a lled to mi n d th e p ecu li a r

ma nner of cu lt connected with th e As i atic form of th e mot h er
god des s of earth .

Rhea wa s p rimarily the Creta n conce p tion of th e matern a l

p rinci p le resi dent i n th e earth a n d ,
a s wi th th e other god s h er
functions i ncrea sed with he r recognition u nti l ma n y were in ,

c lu ded wh ic h i n re a lity h ad only a remote relation to h er actu al

n atu re I n some qu arters h er name i s ex p lai ned a s b ei ng pos
.

“
sib ly a Creta n form of y e a (yfi)
'
.
r
ea rth wh ile i n oth ers it
, ,
“ ”
i s connected with fiGZV to flow a rel ation wh ich seem s to
, ,

p u t emph a si s on h er fu nction a s a p rodu cer of ra i n I n th e .

Orphi c genealogy Rhea i s th e d aug h ter of Ok e a n o s a nd Tet h ys ,

bu t i n th e Hesiodi c th e o ff sp ri ng of Ou ra nos a n d G ai a Be .

coming t h e s i ster wife of K ronos s h e bea rs Hera Ze u s Posei

-
, , ,

don Hades Demeter a nd Hesti a a nd i n th i s way s h e p l ays a

, , , ,
’
very im p orta nt p art i n the ea rly s cenes of th e world s h is tory
a s se t forth i n myt h The s to ry of h er givi ng b i rth to Zeu s i n
.

Crete i s a mi rror of h er fu nctions a n d cu lt Zeu s rep resenti ng ,

th e herb age of s p ring emerging from t h e ferti le bosom of mother

e a rth a n d t h e nym p h s attending h i m being th e cou ntles s
,

ki nd l y spi rits wh ic h ch eris h th e tender p la nts O f ea rth T h e .

Ko ure t e s who later b ecome a n orga nized p riesthood a re none

, ,

oth er th a n th e ea rly Creta ns engaged i n t h e p erforma nce of

magical ce remonies designed to encou rage th e p rod u ctivity of
ea rth wh ile th e stone wh i ch Rhea gives Kronos to swa llow
,

mu s t su rely b e a r a i n stone to b ri ng rai n u pon ea rth Fi nally

-
.
,

the death of Zeu s a s re p orted i n Crete is i n th e la ngu age of ,

m y th th e a nnu a l decline of vegetation th e fal l of leaf and

, ,

flower u pon th e b reas t O f ea rth .

I n th e fifth centu ry th e na me an d wors h i p of Kybele we re

int ro duced i nto G reece a nd s p rea d a b road la rgely th rough th e,

i nfluence of free d P h r y gia n slaves Th e personali ty of th i s god

.
2 76 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LOGY
mu t i lation of thei r bodies Th e a im of thei r ritu a l wa s twofold
.

to a dva nce th e growth of vegetation a nd to free th emselves

,

from eterna l d eath by mystic u nion wit h t h e i mmorta l god

des s Owing to the h ig h ly emotiona l a nd un re fle c t iv e ch a racter
.

of th is cu lt it wa s never thorou g h ly acceptable to the Gree k

,

tem p era ment .

D u ring th e fift h a nd fou rt h centu ries a rt d id not su cceed i n

el aborating a stri ctly Greek ty p e of Rh ea Kybele who wa s -
,

often portrayed i n a ma nner wh ich su ggested the Artemis of

the wi ld bea sts a matronly figu re seated c rowned a nd a c , ,

comp ani ed by lion s He r later ty p e wa s a n am p lific ation of t h e

.

earlier a lthough b arb ari an tra its now predomi nated

,
.

111 . LE SS E R D I VI N I T I E S OF T HE UN D ERW ORLD

Er i n yes (Lati n Fur i a e ) After t h e mu rd er of Abel we a re

.
,
“
told i n G enesis God s aid to Cai n : Th e voice of thy b rother s
2
,
’

”
b lood crieth u nto me from th e grou nd a nd from the s ame ,

ide a of the a p p eal of mu rdered sou l s for vengea nce th e Eri nyes
were born Th e Heb rew a nd t h e G reek d i ff ered however i n
.
, ,

the extent to wh ic h th ey s everally el aborated th e idea si nc e ,

th e former p ut th e avengi ng power i nto th e h an d s of God a nd ,

th e l atter i nto th e h a nd s of th e i nj u red sou l s th emselves Th e .

sou l of th e mu rdere d man according to G reek belief cou ld ris e

, ,

from th e grou nd a nd a s a free agent hou nd th e mu rderer nigh t

a n d da
y u nti l h e ma de p roper ex p i ation for h i s c rime th i s aveng
,

i ng sou l bei ng a n Eri nys I n time th roug h th e i nfluence of

.
,

a common tendenc y to p lu ra lize d aemoni c conceptions it wa s ,

ex p an ded i nto a nu mber of b eings O f a li ke n atu re ; a nd a s thes e

became est a bli sh ed i n p o p u la r thou ght th ey a cqu i red a n
,

ever enl a rging en dowment of a ttribu tes t h e most importa nt

-
,

being those wh ic h they acqu i red from th e ea rth ou t of wh ic h

th e y c ame As E a rth w a s genera lly conceived a s femi nine
.
,

so were th e y a n d a t times men even entreate d t h em a s th ey

, ,

wou l d E a rth for the bles si ng of a good h a rvest S trange to

, .
 T HE LESS E R G OD S —
U ND ERWO RLD 2 77

sa y , th e E ri nyes did not p u rsu e ever y mu rderer ; thei r v in dic

tive fu r y w a s reserve d es p eci a ll y for h i m who h a d committe d
th e sin of s i ns th e sl augh ter of a ki nsma n a n d h erei n lies the
, ,

s igni fi ca nce of th ei r p u rsu i t of Oreste s a nd Al k m a io n each

h ad sl a i n h i s mother Once estab lished a s defen de r s of th e
.

f a mi ly to th e G ree k mi nd th e mainst a y of th e soci a l o r de r

, ,

th ei r powers to enforce j u stice were b roa dene d a n d th e y now ,

became th e ch am p ion s of the right of th e fi rst born a n d of -

,

stra ngers a nd O f b eggars I n Homer we fin d them de p riving

,
.

Ach illes h orses of th e gift of s p eech i n order to correct a n

’

o ffence a g a i nst th e j u st l aws of n atu re Th ey a re generally .

,

bu t not a lways represented a s being th ree i n nu mber a n d

,

n a med respectively Ale kto Megaira Ti si p hone I n im a gina , , .

tion men p ai nted them a s re p uls ive cari catu res of women ;
for h a ir t h ey h a d a ta ngle of ser p ents ; in stea d of ru nning they ,

fl ew abou t li ke b ird s of p re y ; i n their h a nd s th ey b randished

s cou rges with wh ich th ey threatened th e vi cti m of thei r p ur
su it ; a n d th e Tau ri an h erdsmen re p orted to I p h igenia Orestes ’

descri p tion of th e E rinys who a s sailed h im

“
A sh e dr a g o n o f He ll a n d all h e r he a d
-
,

Ag a p e wi t h f a n g e d a sp s t o b i t e m e de a d ,
.

S h e h at h n o f a c e b u t so m e w h e re f ro m h e r c l o a k
,

Bl o w e t h a wi n d o f fi re a n d b l o o dy s m o k e :
T h e wi n d s h e at f a ns i t : i n h e r a r m s Ah se e !
’
,

My m o t h e r de a d g re y s t o ne t o c a s t o n m e
, ,

An d c r ush
” 3
.

Eum en i des, S em n a i The a i , S mall wonder th at M a n ia i —

th e Gree ks sh ran k from p ronou ncing the n ame of su ch dire

b eings a s th e Eri nyes S i nce a n ame h a s a h a p p y way of clo a k
.

“
i ng rea li ties they c alled th em i n Athens S e m n a i T h e a i Re
, ,
“
vered G oddes ses a n d at Ko lo n o s th e E u menides Be n e v o
”
, , ,

”
lent Ones bu t i n time they forgot th at these e p ithets were
,

only s ub stitu tes a n d b u ilt up new divine ch a racters to su it

th em su c h b eing th e p l i a b i l ity of th e m y th ma king mind
,
-
.

Th e Ma niai of Megalo p ol i s seem to h ave

b een of i dentic al n atu re .
2 78 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YT HO LOGY

Mir ce lla n e o ur . B es ides th e E ri nyes there wa s a host of

,

i nferior h elli sh creatu res p opu l arly loc ated i n the u nderworld .

T h e Keres p a s se d now a s the sou l s of the dea d now a s ma levo

,

lent death dea l ing d aemon s of a n i nde p endent o rigi n a nd exi st

-

e nce ; th e S t r in g e s were horrid winged creatu res

i n th e form of night b i rd s who b rou ght evi l d rea ms a nd su c ked
-

th e life b l ood of s l ee p ers ; a nd Em p o usa wa s a d estru ctive

-

monster with one foot of b r a s s a nd th e oth er of a n a s s Lami a

.
,

who still lives i n modern G ree k su p erstition wa s s a i d to h ave

,

been a woman of Libya whose ch ild ren b egotten b y Zeu s

, ,

were s lai n by Hera a nd who i n revenge gave herself over to

,

th e p er p etu al ta s k of killing stra nge ch ild ren .

I n the u nderworld there a lso l ived Hy p nos S leep

“
a nd Th a natos ( De a th twi n sons O f Nyx Nigh t
a nd Erebos Hyp nos s p ent h i s time now o n
ea rth now i n th e I sl a nd of D reams a nd now be neath t h e
, ,

e a rth exercis ing h i s power ove r men a nd god s a s h e willed ;

,

wh ile Th an atos woul d come fort h from below a nd clip a loc k

from the h ea d of th e dyi ng to h as ten the l as t b reat h .
 P LAT E LV I I I

HY P N OS

Hyp n o s , a b e a uti ful s o ft fle she d dre a my yo ut h

,
-
, ,

se e m s o r i gi n ally t o h av e h e l d i n h is e xt e n de d r i g ht

h a n d a ho rn fro m w h i c h t o p o ur sl e e p o n re p o s i n g
m o rtal s ; i n his l e ft h e p ro bably g r a s p e d a p o p py s t e m -

w ith w h i c h he c a s t o v e r t he m a s p e ll o f fo rge t f ul n e ss .

His a p p e a ra nc e c all s t o m i n d t he de s c r i pti o n o f S l e e p

w h i c h O vi d p ut s i nt o t h e m o ut h o f Iun o : “ S l e e p ,

m il de st o f all t he g o ds t ho u a r t t hy s e l f s w e e t p e a c e o f
,

m i n d a s o o t h i n g bal m a n al i e n t o c a re a n d b ri ng e s t
, , ,

r e st a n d st re n g th t o m o rtal s w o rn an d w ea ry w it h
t h e t o il s o f li fe
(M t ame
p
or b oses xi 6 2
, 3 . A
Ro m a n m a rbl e c o py o f a b ro n z e o r i g i n al (a p p a re n tly
O f t he fo urt h c e n t ury in t h e Pra do Ma dri d ,

B r un n Bruc k m a n n D b scb er a n d r bm
( n t m éi l r i i
’

- e r er
,
e
g
ire/yer Sculp t ur , N o . Se e p . 2 78 .
2 80 G RE E K AND RO MAN M YT HO LOGY

with a n attractive simplic ity When h e [ i e Ph legya s ] ca me

. . .

to P elo p onnese h i s d au ghter c ame with h im a nd sh e a l l , ,

u n known to her f a th er wa s with ch ild by A p ollo I n th e la nd

,
.

of Ep ida uro s sh e wa s delivere d of a male ch ild whom she ex ,

p osed u pon the mou ntai n wh ich i s named T it t hio n

B ut one of th e goats th at b rowse d on t h e mou nta i n

gave su c k to t h e fors a ken b ab e ; a nd a dog th e gu a rdi a n of ,

th e floc k watched over it Now when Ar e st h a n a s

,
. for th a t
wa s t h e name of th e goath erd perceived th at the tale of th e
goats wa s not fu ll a n d th at th e dog ke p t away from t h e floc k
, ,

h e went up and down th ey sa y loo ki ng everywh ere At

, ,
.

l ast h e fou nd the b ab e a nd wa s fai n to ta ke it up i n h i s a rms .

B ut a s h e d rew nea r h e s aw a b rig h t light s h ining from th e

c h il d So h e tu rned away For su rely thou ght h e th e h a nd
.
,
‘
,
’
,
‘

of God i s i n this a s i ndeed it wa s And soo n th e fame of th e

,
’
.

ch ild went ab roa d over eve ry la nd a nd sea h ow th at h e h ad ,

a ll power to h eal th e sic k a nd th at h e rai sed th e de ad ”

An .

other accou nt relates th at wh ile As kle p ios wa s s ti ll i n t h e

womb of h is mother a raven c ame to Apollo wit h th e tid ings
,

th at Koroni s wa s u nfa ithfu l to h im wh ereu p on A p ollo straight ,

way cu rsed th e raven whic h i n con sequ ence was ch a nged

, , ,

forever from wh ite to b lac k a nd h a steni ng to Koroni s h e , , ,

s lew h er a nd b u rned h er body o n a pyre S natch ing th e c h ild .

from t h e mid st of th e fl a mes h e to o k h im to Ch ei ron who , ,

trai ned h im i n t h e c h ase a nd i n th e mysteries of h ea ling ,

whereby As klepios b ec ame so s kilfu l a s a p hys ici a n th at h e

not only kept ma ny men from death bu t even rai se d to life ,

some who h a d d ied for i nsta nce K a p a n e us Hippolytos

, , , ,

T y nda reos G lau kos t h e son of Mi nos a nd others Ze u s h ow

, ,
.
,

ever fearfu l lest men too migh t lea rn how to revive th e dead
, , , ,

s lew As klepios with t h e th u nderbolt w h ereupon i n rep ris al , , ,

A p ollo killed th e K y klopes a nd for th i s a ct h a d to ma ke ex

p i ation by se rvi ng Adm e t o s a s a s l ave T h e legend also tries .

to ex p l a i n the h ealing mea ns employed by As kle p ios s ayi ng ,

th at th rough Athene h e secu red b lood from th e vei ns of

, ,
 T HE LES S ER GOD S —
A S K LEP IO S 281

Me do usa With t h at w h ich came from h er left side he destroye d

.

men wh i l e wit h th at w
, h ic h wa s derived from the right he
b rought th em b ac k to life .

Th e p eople of Ep ida uro s s a id th a t Askle p ios wa s fi rst known

a s Ep io s bu t a fter h e h a d healed King Ask le s of a grievou s
,

malady h e a ssumed the longer a nd trad itiona l na me I n

, .

E p ida ur o s h i s wife wa s Epione bu t elsewhere she wa s La m

,

p eti e a d,
au ghter of H elios Mach aon
. t h e hero — h ysicia n wa s
,p ,

a lways held to be a son of As klep ios a nd sometimes Epione

a n d Hygiei a were s aid to be h i s d a ughters .

Th e s erpe nt i s th e consta nt symbol of As kle p ios i n both

legend a n d worsh i p th e b u rghers of a certa in Ep ida uro s i n
,

L a koni a cla iming th at their s hri ne of the god wa s bu ilt on a

s p ot where a s na ke h a d di sa p p ea red beneath the earth I n .

h i s s acred p reci ncts i n th e Argive Ep ida uro s a nd i n those of ,

Athens and Kos wh ich were o ff shoots of the former th e se r

, ,

p ent wa s th e livi ng emb lem o f h i s p resence a nd wa s thought

to commu nicate mea ns of h ea li ng to sufferers from disea se
a s they sle p t i n the holy place the rite tech nical l y known a s
“ ” 2
i ncub ation As kle p ios wa s i nva ri ably atten ded b y grou p s
.

o f p riests who devote d themselves to su rger y a n d other cu ra

tive mea ns a nd ma ny exta nt i nsc riptions tell of thei r wonderfu l

,

s u cces ses I n th e i sl a nd of Kos i n p a rticu la r the p riests of As

.

k le p io s lai d the fou ndation s of the modern scientific stu dy a nd

p ractice of medici ne .

2 41 /dep th : i n Ar t Owing to th e failu re of p oetry to a t

.
—

t ribu te a ny definite tr a its o f face a nd form to As kle p ios th e ,

a rtists were th rown b ac k u p o n thei r own i ngenu it y T hey chose .

to re p resent h im after th e i deal of Zeu s bu t of mi lder c o un t e ,

n a nce a n d of less maj estic ma nner He i s shown seate d or

.

s t a nding l i ke th e corres p onding t y p es of Zeus though ho l ding ,

t h e s ce p tre not a s a mark of migh t but a s a sta ff on which to

lea n T h e best re p resentation s of h im a re seen i n the votive

.

o ff erings of h i s sh ri ne where i ncub ation (slee p cu re ) wa s p r a c -

t ise d .
2 82 G RE E K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOG Y

II . ABST RACT D I VI N I T I E S

The s ame h ab it of thou gh t wh ich cou ld cloth e t h e mysteriou s

O p erations of natu re with al l th e featu res of person ality cou ld

con sistently treat i n li ke m anner t h e i nscrutab le p rocesses of

th e mi nd a nd th e qu alities of th ings w h ence we a ctu ally fi nd ,

the G reeks ma king these ab stract conception s ove r i nto d ivi ne

beings Th at th i s wa s not merely a l ate bu t a very ea rly p r a c
.

tice i s demonstrated i n th e evident a nti qu ity of Mnemosyne ,

Eu nomi a a nd cert a i n others of thei r ki nd i n Hes iod Th i s

,
.

entire c las s of d ivi nities wa s treated in myth wh en th ey were ,

given a ny p lace at a ll i n th e s ame way a s were th e more h igh ly

,

p erson alized natu re —gods although they were deb a rred from
,

frequ ent a p p ea ra nce i n th i s field for tem p era mentall y th e ,

G ree k sh ran k from th e b a ld litera lnes s of t h ei r n a mes a nd some ,

of th e d ivi nities recorded below are by n atu re p erilou sly nea r th e

concrete Th e list i s of necess ity fa r from com p lete a nd mu st
.

b e regarded a s su p p lyi ng little more th a n mere i llu stration s .

I t will b e noticed th at some of th e n ame s h ave b een d is cu ssed

i n ea rlier ch a p ters bu t here we se e t h em from a not h er a ngle
,
.

“
Of ti m e : Eo s Hemera Nyx Ch ronos
”
, ,
Time ; c f Fat h er
,
.

“
Heb e Gera s ( Old ,
Ka i ros
P s y chologic al
Of sta tes of b o dy: Hygiei a Hy p nos Th an atos Li mos
,
Fam , ,

Laimo s Ma ni a
Of sta te s of m i n d: P hobos Ele o s Aidos
,
Mod
E ros Himeros
, Eu ph rosyne .

Of the sp i r itua l f a cult ie s: Meti s Mnemosyne P ro n o ia Fore

, ,

Of the vi r t ue s a n d vices: Arete Excellence or Vi rtu e

“ “
So p h ros y ne ( T em p er a nce D ik a io sy n e ( Righteou snes s
Hy b ri s “
( Off ensive
“
An a ide ia ( S h ameless

Of sun dry so c i a l i n st itut io n s: T e le t e Rite of th e My st e r

Lit a i Ara i Nomos
2 84 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY

h ers elf th e will of Zeu s a lthou gh th e oth er gods limited h er

,

scope of a ction according to th eir respective degrees of great

nes s Somew h at l ater th a n Homer sh e wa s conceived a s a n
.

i nde p endent power to w h ich gods a s well a s men mu st yield ,

a nd in th i s a spect s h e i s An an ke Necess ity o r Adr a st e ia

“
( I nevitable
I n legend the Moi ra i w h o were rec koned a s t h ree i n nu mb er
, ,

were a p p ro p ri ately t h e d au g h ters of Zeu s a nd T h emis a nd

, ,
3

bore th e names Klotho Lach esi s a nd Atro p os P l ato may b e

, ,
.

following a n old tra dition wh en h e states th at i nto th e ea rs of

ma n Klotho s i ngs of th e p resent Lachesi s of th e pa st a nd
, ,

Atropos of t h e fu tu re ; a nd a l ate belief a scribed to them sever

a lly in the order i n w h ich th ey h ave j u st been na med control
, ,

over the b i rth th e life a nd the death of mortals

, ,
.

N e m esis . Th e n ame of Nemes i s seems to h ave been fi rst

4

emp loyed a s a n ep ithet of Artemi s i ntended to convey the

,

i dea th at th i s goddess a s one who p resi ded over b irt h w a s also

, ,

a d i spenser of hu man lots B y the times of Homer a nd Hes iod

.
,

however it h ad lost its ch a racter a s a pu rely descriptive term

a nd h a d become th e name of a vagu e person ality ; wh ile l ater
it c ame to stand for th e d ivi nity w h o b rough t u p on men ret
r ib ut io n for th ei r d eed s a nd who wa s especi ally hostile to ex

c e ssiv e h u ma n p ros erity Pride b rea ks itself a nd too mu ch

p .
,

” 5
gained is gone . We read i n a fragment of th e Kyp r i a t h a t
Nemesi s wa s a winged goddes s who fl ew over l a nd an d se a
a nd as su med th e forms of m a ny a nimal s i n order to esca p e th e
emb races of Zeu s b u t i n t h e form of a swa n h e overtoo k h er
,

a t Rh a m n o us a nd by her bec ame t h e moth er of Helen .

 P L AT E L IX

N I KE

w i nge d N i k e ( i c t
“V o ry c la d i n chit on a n d

a n d w e a r i n g a t o n g ue d dia de m
him a t ion,
p o ur s o ut
,

wi n e f r o m a n oin o /a e he l d i n h e r r igh t h a nd i n t o a
c
'

o ,
,

s a uc e r re sti n g in t h e h a n d o f an a rm e d G re e k wa r ri o r .

T h e heryé eion o r ca duc us i n t h e l e ft h a n d o f t he

,
e ,

g o dde ss s i gn ifi e s t hat she is b ri n g i ng a m e ss age o f vi c

t o ry F ro m a re d fig ure d Atti c l kyt h s o f t he e a rly
.
- e o

fi fth c e n t ury B C fo un d at G e la (Mon umen t i Amic/ai

. .
, ,

xvii Plat e X III ) Se e p 2 8 3

, . . .
 P ART III

T HE M YT H O L O GY O F AN C I E N T I T ALY
2 88 G REEK AND ROMAN M YT HO LOGY

p ersonal ity ; al l oth ers h e left i n th e pl a i n ru sti c garb of fu nc

t io n a l s p irits of n atu re T h e a s s ignment of n ames to th e fa
.

v o ure d few a nd the estab li sh ment of thei r worsh ip s and p riest

hood s i n definite loca lities added to the i llu sion of thei r per
so n a lit y i n th e p opu l ar mi nd Although from t h e poi nt of view
.

of ou r cla ssification th e n um i n a were s ca rcely gods yet for th e ,

pra cti cal p u r p oses of Roma n private a n d pub lic religion t h ey

were a s muc h deities a s were for i nsta nce the nobler figu res O f
, ,

I up p it e r I un o a nd Mi nerva
, ,
.

B y reason of th e power of th e god s to h elp or to h arm i t w a s

t o the b est i nterest of t h e Roma n to keep on good terms wit h

them ; i n h i s own words to secu re a nd ma i ntai n a p ax deor um ;

,

a nd a ccord ingly every a c t of h i s wors h i p wa s d irected to t h i s

, ,

e nd B y rites largely magic al i n ch a racter by s acrifice a n d

.
, , ,

by su p p lication he strove d aily to en su re for h imself h i s fami ly , ,

h i s field s a nd floc ks a nd h i s s tate th e favou r of t h e b e n e v o

,

lent divi nities a nd to avert the di s p lea su re of th e evi l ; b ut t h e

,

fixed system of ritu al wh ich h e evolved i n a very ea rly period

so mech a nized h i s religiou s th i n king th at h e became i nca p ab l e

of i magi ning h is god s a s de p a rti ng from t h e tra ditional c o n

c e p t io n of them a nd h ence wa s equ ally u nab le to i nvent myt h s
, .

I n the d earth of Roma n myth t h e Latin writers from Liviu s

An dronicu s onwa rd were forced to d raw for th eir litera ry
materi a l on the abu nda nt store of G ree k poetry a nd wit h t h e ,

p oetr y n atu ra lly went th e Gree k god s a nd th e G ree k mythology ,

a l though i n order to ma ke th e c h aracter of th ese beings in

,

t e llig ib l e to Roma n readers the authors h a d to equ ate o r

,

id entif y th em with those of th e acce p ted god s of th e l and

whom the y resembled most closely I n some i nsta nce s th ey .

m a de u se of i dentifications ready mad e i n t h e popu la r belief ,

whence i t c ame abou t th at for i nsta nce Zeu s wa s a lways r e p re

, ,

sented by I up p it e r Hera by I un o Artemi s by D i a na a nd

, , ,

Demete r b y Ce res P ractically a ll the myth s of p a n Helleni c

.
-

cu rrenc y became common Roma n p roperty ; only the n a rrowly

loc a l ones we re u ntou ched As su ming th is we c a n rea d t h e
.
,
 NATIV E ITA LI C GOD S 2 89

G ree k myt h s of ou r p reced ing pages a s Roma n i f only we ta ke ,

the p ai n s to ch a nge th e n ames of t h e gods to those O f th ei r

Roma n equ iva lents 1
.

I . ET RUS CAN MYT HOLOG Y

U n h appi ly we a re u n ab le to d i stingu ish with exa ctnes s th e
Etru sca n contribu tion to Roma n religion although Roma n ,

writers definitely label led a few myth s a s from th i s sou rce .

Accord ing to a n Etrusc a n cosmogony th e c reator a p p ointed ,

twelve millenniu m s for th e acts of creation an d a ss igne d to them

severally th e twelve signs of th e zodia c I n th e fi rst mil lenniu m .

h e created h eaven and ea rth ; i n th e s econ d th e fi r m a m e n t ; i n

the th i rd th e la nd se a a nd les ser waters ; i n the fou rth the
, ,

sun ,
moo n a nd sta rs ; i n th e fifth th e c reatu res of ai r ea rth
, , ,

a nd water ; a nd i n th e s ixth man whose race wa s to endu re ,

for the remaini ng six millennium s a n d th en p eri s h A myth .

a ttribu ted th e origi n of th e Etru sc a n religiou s system to a

c h ild n amed Tages who took h uma n form from a clod th rown
,

up by a p lou gh a nd i n song delivered h i s holy message to a

wondering t h rong T h e nymp h Be g o é wa s s aid to h ave r e
'

vea led th e so —ca lled s acred law of l imitation to Ar r un s Vel

t y m n ius wh ile Mantu s i s recorded a s th e n ame O f th e Etru sca n
,

god of th e u nderworl d a nd Volta a s th e appell ation of a

,

myth ica l monster .

II . N AT I V E I T ALI C G OD S

(a ) N a tur e—Go ds: Of the S k y, Atm o sp he r e , and Ti m e

th e
D i D i D i i r) ,
I up p iter .
—
I up p it e r (I o v i s,
io v s,
us,
e sp t e

c h ief god of all th e Italic stoc ks wa s a p ersoni fi cation of th e ,

s ky and its p h enomen a being th erefore rightly i denti fi e d

, , ,

with Zeu s His control over th e weath er a nd ligh t m a de h im

.

of necessity th e a ll im p orta nt d ivinity O f a nation of she p her ds

-

a nd h u sb a ndmen a nd h i s might wa s manifested i n the thu n

,
2 90 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY
der lightning a nd ra in ; in fa ct legen d re p orted h i m a s coming
, , ,

to ea rth i n bod ily form with th e thu nderbolt Th is i s th e .

“
origi n of h i s e p ith ets Fu lgu r Fu lmen ( Thu n
a nd doubtles s also of F e r e t r ius wh ile a s the ra in
, , ,

god h e b ears th e names P luviu s P luvi ali s a nd E liciu s From , ,

.

h i s lofty seat i n th e h eaven s h e cou ld b ehold a ll th a t h a p

pened u p on earth ; hen ce a s Termi nu s h e b ecame th e gu a r
, ,

d ia n of bou nda ries between p ro p erties a nd a s D ius Fidius , , ,

’
th e witness of men s fidelity to thei r o ath s Only a few of th e .

Roma n god s became thu s moralized .

Ma te r Ma tuta Mater Matu ta wa s t h e d eity who i n

.
,

2 “
th e words of Lu cretiu s a t a certa in hou r b ri ngs down t h e
,
”
d a wn th rough th e tracts of a i r a n d diffu ses t h e ligh t of d ay ;
bu t sh e wa s also a d ivi nity of b irth a nd i n t h ese two c a p acities,

wa s li kened by th e G ree ks to t h ei r Leu kot h ea a nd E ileithyi a

res p ectively As the former sh e be came a goddes s of the se a
.

a nd of s a ilors wh ile Me lik e r t e s o r P a l a im o n th e so n of Le u

, , ,
“
k o t h e a wa s li kened to t h e Roma n P ortu nu s ( P rotector of
,

Th e god s of t h e sea sons were few Th e expla nations sug .

gested by th e a ncients to a ccou nt for th e s ignific a nce of th e

goddes s Angerona a re ch ildi s h a nd s h e seem s really to h ave
,

b een li ke Ann a P erenn a a d ivi nity O f th e wi nter sol stice

, ,
.

As p rotector of p la nts th rou gh a l l th ei r stages from b looming

to fru it b earing Vertu mnu s wa s p erh a p s aborigin ally a god of
-

the ch anging yea r Ovid relates th at i n th e d ays of King P ro c a

.
, ,

V ertu mnu s fel l i n love with P omon a a shy nymp h who with ,

d rew from the soc iet y of men to the reti rement a nd d uties of
h er orc h a rd a n d g a rden a nd a lthou gh i n m a ny d i sgu ises h e
,

sought to ma ke h i s way i nto her retreat i t wa s al l i n vai n , ,

u nti l h e p resented h imself i n th e fo rm of a n ol d woma n He .

then tol d her of h i s pas sion bu t a ll h i s word s cou ld not ava i l

,

to soften h er hea rt Onl y when h e showed h imsel f to h er i n

.

h i s true li k enes s a s a y ou th of u nb lemished be a u ty d id sh e

, ,

re l ent ; a n d from th a t time on they were never seen a pa rt .

 P L AT E LX

G E N I US AN D L AR Es

In t he c e n t re s ta n ds t he G e n i us p re s um ably o f t h e
,

h e a d o f t h e h o us e h o l d i n h um a n fo r m w h i l e b e l o w h e
, ,

a p pe a rs in t h e gui s e o f a se rp e n t a p p ro a c h i n g a n alta r
t o de v o ur t h e O ffe r i n gs p la c e d t h e re o n I n his r i gh t
.

ha n d t h e G e n i us h o l ds a s a c r ifi c ial s a uc e r an d in h is
l e ft a b o x o f i nc e ns e an d o n e ith e r s i de o f him da n c e
,

t w o L a re s e a c h ho l di n g a r hyt on r i n k i n g h o rn
, (d ) an d
-

a s m all b ro n z e pail F ro m a wal l p ai n ti n g i n t he

.
-

Ho use o f t he Ve tt ii Po m p e ii (He r m a n n Bruc k m a n n

,
-
,

D e n hma ler der Ma ler ei des z f /t er t um s N o ,

. Se e

pp 99
—
.
2 92 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
Mater I n certai n rites she wa s held to b e a d ivinity of th e
.

u n derworl d for when th e bo dies of th e dea d were entru sted

, ,

l i k e th e see d gr a i n to h er c are sh e wa s sim p ly ta ki ng b ac k

-
, ,

wh a t she h erse l f h a d given I n myt h sh e stood of cou rse for

.
, , ,

G ai a (G e ) .

Lib e r Liber first arose a s an epithet of I up p it e r to de sig

.

n a te the am p litu d e of h i s p ro du ctive powers i n th e fertiliza

tion of the seed of p la nts a nd a nimals bu t l ater th e adj ective ,

became detached a n d i nvested with p ersonality the resu lting ,

divi nit y being then identified a s D ionysos a nd appoi nted a s the

’

p rotector of th e vi ne L iber s female cou

. nter p a rt Libera wa s , ,

equ ate d with Kore a nd wa s thu s d rawn i nto th e ci rcle of Ceres .

“
S a tur n us From th e a ncient p romi nenc e of S atu rnu s ( t h e
.
—

”
Sower ; cf se r e r e ) or i n E nglis h S atu rn I taly wa s often
.
, , , ,

known i n myth a s S atu rni a T h e n ative fu nction of S atu rnu s

.

i s tra ns p arent i n h i s n ame b u t t h i s wa s gra du ally b roa dened

,

so a s to i nclu de practic ally a ll agri cu ltu ra l operations h i s ,

great December festival t h e S atu rnali a h avi ng for i ts obj ect

, ,

t h e germi nation of th e seed j u st sown w h ile t h e s i c kle a s h i s , ,

ch ief symbol marked h i s i ntimate rel ation to h arvesting

, .

For some reason u nknown to u s h e wa s given a h ig h p lace

i n Itali c myt h where h e wa s th e h u sb a nd of Op s T h roug h
, .

h i s a ssoci ation with h er he a ss imil ated some of h er c h t h oni c

traits a nd fu rth er t h roug h h er identific ation a s Rh ea wa s i n
, , , ,

his tu rn identified with Kronos t h u s comi ng to be exalted a s ,

th e ru ler of th e Golden Age .

Co n sus a n d Op s Th e speci al p rovi nce of Consu s (cf

.
—
.

“
co n de r e to , a p u rely Italic god wa s t h e s afe ga rner ,

i ng of th e fru its of the field a nd the u ndergrou nd location of ,

h is alta r a t Rome is a sort of myth wi t h ou t word s symbolizing ,

a s it did th e common cu stom of storing th e grai n i n p its His .

most intimate com p a nion i n cu lt wa s Op s who seems p rima ,

ri l y to h a ve been the p ersonal embodi ment of a bou ntiful h a r

vest though sh e as su med th e second a ry fu nction o f p rotecting
,

th e p rivate a n d p ub l ic gr a na ries a ga i nst des tru ction by fi re .

 NAT I VE I T A LI C G OD S 2 93

Ma rs . The g o d M a rs (Ma v o rs Ma rs p iter Mas p i t e r )

-
, ,

wa s known to a l l th e p r im i tive stoc k s I n h is l a ter c a r ee r h e

.

wa s certai nly th e g o d of w a r a n d i n th e Ro m a n ve r si o ns of
,

G ree k legend s h is n a me regu l a r l y r e p l ace d th a t of A r es but ,

th at wa r wa s h i s r i fle from the b egi nning i s not gener a l ly a d

m it t e d for h e ma y h ave been a g o d of vegetation a n d o f th e
,

borderla n ds lyi ng betwee n the f a r m ste a d a nd th e wil d a n d h a ve ,

pos sessed th e doub le fu nction of fostering the cro p s a n d her ds

a n d of defendi ng th em aga inst the a tt a c ks of enemies from

withou t Ju st a s the G ree k s as soci ate d the horse a n d the bu l l

.

with P oseidon so th e I ta l i a n s v a riou sly connecte d th e woo d

,

pec ker th e ox a n d the wol f with Ma rs

, ,
.

Fa un us N O Roma n god i ncor p orated in h is single p e r

.
—

so n more featu res of terrestri al n a tu re th a n did Fau nu s

“
(cf f a oe r e
. to ,
T here i s no doubt th at h e h a d
b een estab lish e d i n th e life O f th e p eo p le of the fold and th e
h amlet from a very remote age a n d so familia r were the y ,

with h i m th at th ey cou ld ta ke some of those liberties with h i s

person al ity su ch a s mytholog y allows He wa s th ei r l egen ds .
,

ra n the ki ndly s p i rit of out o f doors who cau se d cro p a n d

,
- -

h erd to flou ris h a nd who warded O ff wolves being Lu p ercu s ,

i n th i s l atter a spect I t w a s h e who wa s the s p e a ker of th e

.

weird pro p h eti c voices wh ich men hea rd i n th e forest a n d ,

l ate legend s a id th at h e c ast h i s p ro p h ecies i n th e form

of verse a n d thu s bec ame th e i nventor of p oetr y Y et
,
.

there wa s a m isch ievou s s ide to h i s n a tu re a s wel l a s a seri

ou s for h e wa s th e s p irit who sent the Nightmare (I ncub o)
,
.

F au na a d ivi nity of fertility pas sed now a s h i s wife now a s

, , ,

h is s ister .

S i l va n us S ilvanu s seems to h ave sp ru ng i nto being from

.

t h e detached a nd divi nized e p ith et of either M a rs or Fau nu s ,

a nd h i s domain tru e to h i s n ame wa s the woo dlan d He

, ,
.

b estowed h i s favou r on h u nter a n d sh e p herd a n d on a l l th e

i nterests of th e h u sb andma n who h ad won a title to h is ac res
th rou gh clearing aw a y th e wi l d timber He w a s h imself .
2 94 G REE K AND RO MAN MYT HO LOGY
m y thologica l ly conceived a s a h u nter or a s a n idea l ga rd ener ,

a n d ma ny stories of P a n were tra nsferred to h im .

D ia n a . Th e earliest of th e I tali c divi nities to b e adopted

-

b y Rome wa s D ian a a nd h er cu lt on th e Aventine Hill wa s

,

s im p ly a tra nsference of her cu lt at Aric ia of Latiu m Th e .

common belief of a later p erio d th at sh e wa s th e s ame a s

Artemi s obscu red h er origin a l natu re bu t h er affili ation at ,

Ar ic ia with the s p ri ng nymph Egeri a a nd with Vi rbiu s bot h

-
, ,

d ivi nities of ch ild b i rth a rou ses the su s p icion th at her fu nction
-
,

was a s imil ar one .

Ve n us . The p roces s wh ich converted th e n ative Itali an

-

Venu s i nto a go ddess of love a nd the Roma n doub le of Aph

rodite i s ve ry i nteresting He r p ersona lity seems to h ave b een
.

a n e fflo re sc e n c e of h er n a me wh ich fi rs t denoted th e element of

,

a ttractivenes s i n general then a s it n a rrowed th i s qu ali t y

, , ,

i n n atu re a nd i n the end the goddes s who elabora ted it To

, , ,
.

the utilitari a n Roma n the ch ief fiel d of her a ctivity wa s th e

market gardens on wh ich the c ity d e p ended for a la rge p ro
-

p ortion of its food stu ff

-
s a n d it was i n thi s ca p acity no doubt
, , ,

th at s he wa s recognized a s the s ame a s Aph rodite Wit h th i s . .

i dentification sh e too k over A p h rod ite s a ttribu te of love ’

,

b ut in so doi ng a rrested her own develo p ment a long i ts o rigina l

li nes At a n early d ate i n Rome sh e wa s accorded s p eci a l
.

hom a ge a s the mother of Aeneas a nd l ater a s th e d ivi ne a n , , ,

c e st r e ss of the Julia n fami l y the tem p le of Venu s G e netrix

,

built b y Ju liu s C a es a r a nd th at of Venu s a n d Rome c o n

structe d b y Ha dri a n b eing m ate ri a l evi dences of h er h ig h
st a nding Cu p i do beca me h er comp anion i n myth a s Eros
.

w a s th a t of A p h rodite .

Fl o r a —
F l ora wa s a n a ncient god des s of s p ri ngtime a nd
flowe rs giving be a u t y a nd fragr a nce to the blos som sweet
, ,

nes s to hone y a rom a to wi ne a nd ch a rm to you th He r

, ,
.

A p r il festiv a l w a s mar ke d b y th e u nsti nted a nd va ried use of

fl o wers a nd b y the p ractice of p u rsu ing a ni mal s ofte n ritu ally
,

a s soci a te d with fe rtilit y .

 P LAT E LX I

AR ET H O US A

T he h e a d o f Are t ho us a m ay b e di s ti n g ui s he d fr o m
t hat o f Pe r s e h o n e
p ( se e Plat e I V, F i g in t h at it
.

la c k s t he di a de m o f stal k s a n d e a rs o f g rai n T he .

do l p h i n s i n di c at e t h at t he n y m p h dw e ll s by t h e se a .

F ro m a de c a dra c h m o f Sy rac us e o f t h e fo urt h c e n t ury

e n la rg e d t w o dia m e t e rs S
B C
. .
( ) . ee p 25
7 . .

I AN US BI F R O N S

T hi s c o i n typ e de l i n e at e s t h e Ro m a n c o n c e p ti o n o f
t h e t w o fa c e d g o d o f e n t ra n c e s
- E a c h fa c e is t hat o f
.

a n o ld m an with b ushy hai r a n d b e a rd an d is i n k e e p ,

in g wit h t h e i de a re c o r de d in O vi d t h at I a n us w as t h e
o l de s t o f t h e g o ds . F ro m a Ro m a n b ro n z e c o i n o f
t h e fo urt h c e n t ury B C G F H ill H st or ica l Rom a n
.
(. . .
,
i
Coin s Plat e I Fi g I )
, ,
. .Se e p 2 9 7 . .
2 96 G REEK AN D ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
evi dence of th e ten a ciou s power of n atu re religio n ove r -
t he

mas ses of the Roman p eo p le .

(d ) N a tur e Go ds: Of Fi r e ,
-
f
o the Un der w o r ld ,
and o f Dise a se

V l o c a n us Th e fi re god Volca nus w a s fa r les s cons p icuou s

.
— -

th a n o ne wou ld h ave exp ected h im to b e i n th e l an d of Vesu

v ius a n d doubtles s bec au se the volca no h a d been qu ies cent
,

fo r many centu ries p rior to 7 9 A D Although th e god wore . .

th e m a s k of Hep h ai stos i n th e Lati n renderings of Gree k

myth h e wa s by natu re only p a rti a lly qu al ified to do so I n
,
.

th e old Roman grou p of go ds h e wa s th e s p i rit of destru ctive

r a ther th a n of u sefu l fi re a n d wa s re p u ted to b e of a n i ra s cib le
,

dis p os ition wh ic h a lways nee ded p la c ation whence th e p res ,

ence of many doc ks a nd valu ab le stores at Osti a led to t h e

wide extension of h i s worsh ip i n th at p lace .

Vedi o vis Left to h imself a nd with h i s imagi nation um

.
—
,

p rodded by the G ree k s p irit of wonder th e Roma n gave little ,

time to s p ecu lating on th e lot of ma n after deat h His ch ief .

i nterest wa s i n th e living a n d those yet to be born so th at one ,

i s not su r p rised to fi n d h i s d ivi nities of the u nde rworld few

a n d onl y vaguely ou tli ned Th e ch ief one wa s Ved iovi s (Vei
.

o v is Ve dius) who seems to h ave b een given h i s p l a ce i n th e

, ,

lower worl d l argely for th e reason th at the logic of th e Roma n

religiou s system c alle d for a s p i ritu a l a nd p hysi ca l o p p os ite
to I up p it e r Little i s known of h im beyon d the fa ct th at h e
.

w a s i nvoked i n o a th s a l ong with Tellu s .

Fe b r i s . T h e d isea se wh ic h the Roma ns fea red t h e mos t

—

w a s of cou rse m a la ri a wh ic h wa s the feve r (f eb r is) p a r ex

, , ,

c e lle n c e ; a n d so concrete a nd u niform were it s ma nifestation s

th at we u tterl y lose th e Roma n s p oi nt of view if we rega rd ’

Feb ris th e d i v inity a s born of a n a b str a ction Th i s hold s

, , .

equ a l l y true of the o ff shoots of Feb ris De a T ertia n a a nd D ea ,

Q u a r t a n a th e one s ta nding for the ma la ri al ch i lls wh i ch

, ,

a cco r ding to ou r mode of rec koni ng retu rn every second d ay

, ,

the othe r for those wh ich recu r eve r y th i rd d ay .

 NAT IVE I T A LI C G O D S 2 97

(e ) Go ds f Hum a n
o S o c ie ty

I a n us . obs cu re w a s the ori g i n o f I a nu s th a t th e

So
Roma n p oets took a l l m a nner of l i b e r ties with h im u s i n g the ,

j oi nt a p p ea ra nce of h i s he a d a n d o f a shi p on coi ns a s da ta fo r

a m y th ic a l h i stor y of th i s g o d He w a s s a i d one of the m a n
.
, ,

a borigin a l king who rule d on Mou nt I a n ic ul um a t fi r st s h a r ing ,

h i s th rone with a noble whose n a me w a s C a m ese but l a te r , ,

whe n I up p it e r s divi ne r eg i m e beg a n being b a ni she d a l ong

’
,

with S atu rnu s a n d t a ki ng up h is a bo de i n L a tium I n a nothe r .

a c cou nt he wa s re p rese nted a s h a ving come to L a tiu m from the

l a nd of the P e r r h a ib o ia n s togeth er with h i s si ste r wife C a mese -
, ,

who bore h im th ree sons one of them being T iberi nu s a fter

, ,

whom the Tiber was n ame d T h e legen ds did not stint I a nu s

.

with wives B esi des C a mese he i s sai d to h a v e ma r r ie d eithe r

.

th e wate r n y m p h Ve n ilia a nd b y h er to h ave b ecome th e f a ther

-

of Ca nens o r the water n y m p h I ut ur n a who bore to h i m Fons

,
-
,

(o r Fontu s ) Ag a i n he i s s ai d to h a v e concei v e d a p a s sion for a

.

c ertai n d ivi nit y C a rn a whom he seize d i n a grotto after a

,
.

long p u rsu it p romi sing to a p p oi nt her the G o ddess of Hi nges

,

s hou ld sh e y ield to h im Up on he r com p l i a nce he ren a me d he r

.

Ca rdo or Ca rdea
,
a nd gave her the wh ite thorn
with which to b a nis h evi l from doorwa y s .

Of all th e th eories to accou nt for the origi n of I a nu s none

i s more p rob a b le th a n th at wh ic h com p rehen ds h im a s a p e r
so n a l it y gradu a ll y evolve d from a p riv a te ritua l of a m a gic a l

o r der d es igned to d rive evi l i nfluences from the doors of dwe l l

i ngs. Th e ver y va gueness of thi s g o d even with the Rom a ns
,

th emselves in dic ates th at thei r interes t w a s r a ther i n the con

,

c rete valu es associ ated with th e doorw a y a nd i n the p rac t ic a l

ex p edients necess a r y in gu a r ding it ” 3
As the s tate w a s s i m p l y
.

a n enl arged domes tic ci rcle it wa s not u nnatu r a l th a t I a nu s

,

s hou l d b e connecte d with the a ncient g a tes or a rches i n th e

Foru m wh ich bore h i s n a me a n d there i n the l a te Re p ublica n
, ,

p eriod ,
stood a n image of th e g o d with two faces one of wh ich ,
2 98 G RE EK AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
w a s tu rned towa rd th e east a nd the other towa rd t h e west .

Th i s i ntimation th at h i s domai n l ay both before a nd b e h ind

h im m a y h a ve s p ru ng from the very obviou s fact t h a t every
entrance h a s two s ides From being a god of entra nces it wa s
.

not a f a r cry to become a deity of begi nnings and a s su ch h e ,

w a s i nvoked a t th e b egi nning of each yea r each month a nd , ,

each da y T h e p rominence of h i s n ame a nd of h i s ep ithet

.
,

p a te r ,
i n a ncient ceremoni al formu l a e attests h i s great age .

Vesta —
By reaso n of h er fixed ch a racter Vesta h ad no
lace i n form al myth S h e was t h e n um en of th e h earth firs t
p .
,

of the home and then of th e state a nd s ince t h e fu nctions a nd

,

s y mbolism of the h earth never ch anged from centu ry to cen

tu r y neither cou ld Vesta va ry a j ot or a tittle from h er origin al
,

conce p tion a ny alteration wou ld h ave b ro ke n t h e th rea d

—

of continu ity i n the religiou s sentiment of the Roma n a s a

member of a family a nd a s a c itizen I n th e home Ve sta t yp i
.

fi e d an d p rotected th e life of t h e family ; th e food i n th e l arder ,

destined to b e subj ected to the heat of th e h ea rth fla m e w a s -

,

u n der h er ca re ; th e matron wa s h er p riestes s The Tem p l e .

(or better the Hou se ) of V esta i n th e Foru m wa s not h ing

, ,

les s th a n th e h ome a nd fi res ide of t h e s tate a n d o n its h ea rth

,

th e six Vestal Vi rgi ns p re p a red sa crifici a l offeri ngs i n beh alf

of th e state with food ta ken from t h e s acred l arder wh ile t h e ,

i nviol ab i l ity of th e home a nd the i ntegrity of th e state were

p ictu re d i n the p u rity of Vesta h erself a nd of her Vi rgi ns He r .

tit l e m a ter wa s su ggestive of h er graciou snes s

, ,
.

Di P e n a te s; La r e s Also closely connected wit h family

.
—

l ife were th e D i P enates t h e nu merou s d ivi nities of th e p en us

, ,

or l a r der thou gh they were so d imly conceived th at th ey were

,

end ue d with neither se x nor personality th ei r p lu rality bei ng

,

doubt l es s derive d from the va riety a nd the ch anging ch a racte r

of th e stoc k of food stu ff s From th e time of Ju liu s Caes a r a nd
-
.

Au gu stu s th e myth i ca l i dea of th e T roj a n o rigi n of the P en a tes

p r evai l ed Th e La re s a re linked with th e Pen a tes i n po p u la r
.

p h ra se j oi ntl y cons ti tuti ng a synonym for hou sehold p ro p erty

, ,
 O
3 O G R E E K AN D ROMAN MYT HO LOGY

( ) Mo m e n ta r y
g an d D ep a r tm e n ta l Go ds

The great hos t of the Roman s momenta ry an d d ep a rtmental

’

divinities commonly known to s chol a rs as S o n der g otte r s eem

'

, ,

at fi rs t g l a nce to b e an a rgu ment wh ich d is p roves the l ac k of

p l i ab i l it y i n th e Roma n s h abits of ’
religious thought A s a .

matter of fact howeve r the y confirm th e re al ity of th is c h a r

, ,

a c t e r ist ic fo r a s a cl a s s they are noth ing more th a n an a gg r e

,

gate O f the most s im p ly conceived u n its wh ic h s us tain to one

a noth er th e s a me imme di ate rel ations t h at exis t between the
p ractical i nte res ts a nd activities of a p rimitive peo p le S ome .

“
O f thes e d ivinities s u ch as Mes so r ( Harves te r
,
Convecto r
a nd S a rit o r s p i ri tu alize h u ma n
a cts wh ile othe rs s p i ritu al ize certai n p roces ses of natu re wh ich
,

a re cons picuou s e ith er i n th em selves o r i n thei r res ults A .

chosen few of th is l atter o rder will be am p le for the p u rp os e

of illus tration : S e l a S eges ta N o dut us P a t e l a n a a nd Matu ra
, , , ,

a re n um i n a th at p resi de s u cc ess ively over th e sowing and S p rou t

i ng of th e corn the form ation of th e j oints on its stem th e un
, ,

fol ding of le a f and flowe r and fi n al ly th e ripeni ng O f s traw

, , ,

a nd ea r S imil arly each s tage of a c h il d s growth from c o n c e p

.
’

tion to adult statu re i s gu ard ed by a n um en whos e fu nction i s

trans p arent i n it s commonly acce p ted n ame In b rief no nat .
,

u ral p roces s of moment to the Rom an s well being fails to ’

-

receive recogni tion a s a d ivi nity .

III . G OD S OF F ORE I G N ORI G I N

Ap o ll o A p ollo wa s from th e beginning fra n kly a loa n

—

from the G reek worl d He wa s b rou ght to Rome i n the fifth

.

centu ry b y wa y of Cu mae a s a god of h e a ling to pu t a n end

to a gre a t p l a gue wh ich th reatened to extermin a te the po p u lace ,

a n d i n h is tr a in c a me the books of th e S ib y lli ne o racles In th e .

Augu st a n a ge th e ave r a ge Rom a n knew h i m only a s the god

of p oetr y a n d mu sic a r éle wh ich wa s first a s signed h i m i n
,
 P L AT E LX I I

MA G NA MA T ER
T h e i m a ge o f Kyb e l e , o r, as know n t o t he Ro m a n s ,
Ma gn a Mat e r ,
is s e at e d o n
a t h ro n e p la c e d i n a c r a

draw n by li s on O n he r h e a d is t h e so c all e d m ural

.
-

c ro w n o n t h e ba c k o f w h i c h a n e n d f he r b im t
'

,
o a z on

ha s b e e n so c a ught up as t o ha n g b e h i n d h e r l i k e a
v e il In h e r lap she ho l ds a tymp n on o n e dge T h i s
. a .

g ro up is c o m m e m o rativ e o f a n a n n ual Ro m a n r it ual i n

w h i c h t he i m age o f t he G re at Mo th e r w a s c o n v eye d
i n he r c a r fro m he r s h ri n e in t he c ity t o a n e i gh b o ur
i g s t re a m w h e re b o t h w e re c e re m o n ially bat h e d
n
, .

F r m a b ro n z e f t h e s e c o n d c e n t ury A D fo un d in
o o . .
,

R m e a n d n o w i t h e Me t ro p o lita n Mus e um o f Art

o n
,

N e w Y o rk hot o r a h
(p g p ) . Se e p p . 2 73 ff .
, 0
3 3 4
-
0 .
 THE NEW YORK
PUBLI C LIB RARY

AS TO R L E N O X
,

T I L D E N F O UN D AT IO N S
 FO REI G N G OD S 3 1
0

Rome , w h en tra ns lations of G reek l itera ry works beg a n to

a ttai n po p u larity Au gu stu s chose h i m a s th e di v i ne p a t ro n
.

O f h i s r eg i m e a n d d e dic a te d to h i m a be a uti fu l tem le on the

p
P a lati ne .

Aesc ul ap i us Th e ou tb re a k of a p estilence a t Rome i n

.
-

2 92 B C tu rned the Roma ns to a consu l tation of the S i b yl l i ne

. .

books wh ere they di scovere d di rection s enj o i ni ng th e m t o

,

sen d a de p u tation of citizen s to th e he a l ing sh ri ne of Ask l e i o s

p
a t Ep ida uro s the e nvoys b ri nging b a c k a se r p ent a s a l iving
,

symbol of th e god a nd at th e s ame time i nstructions fo r

,

e stab li sh ing the new worsh i

p It h a p p ene d th a t when thei r .

sh i p re a ched th e city th e ser ent lea ed overboard a nd swam

p p ,

to th e i s l a nd i n th e Tiber wh ere the new sh ri ne w a s bu ilt , ,

’
the go d s n ame b ei ng given the Lati n form of Aescu la p iu s .

W he n S alu s origi n ally a n abstra ct divinity of we l l being i n

,
-

gener a l b ec ame recognized a s the s ame a s Hy giei a

,

the matte r o f fact Roma n mind m a de h er the o ffi ci a l consort

- —

o f t h e new god of h ealing

.

Me r cur i us I n the ea rly fifth centu r y on the occ a sion of

.
,

a fa ilu re of c ro p s wh ich necess itate d the im p ortation of fo r eign

food stu ff s the Rom an s borrowe d one p h ase of th e cha r a cter
-
,

O f H ermes a nd exalting it to th e dignity of go dhead u se d i t

, , ,

to p rotect th e m aritime routes wh ich th e gra in sh ip s mu st fol

low N atu r a lly th i s p h ase wa s t h e favou r wh ich Hermes a c
.
,

corded to trade a nd traders a nd Mercu rius the n ame of the , ,

“
n ew god connected a s it i s with the L a ti n word s m er ces ( me r
,
”
c h a n dise ) a nd m e r c a to r serve d a s a p e r m a nent

register of h i s fu nction Wh i le Mercu riu s a lw a ys too k the .

p l ace of Hermes i n the Romanized G ree k l egen ds h is ch a r a cter ,

i n cu lt rema i ned u n a ltered th rou gh th e centu ries I n a r t h e .

w a s general l y d istingu is h ed by the ch ief s y mbo l s of Hermes

th e c a duceu s th e pou ch a nd th e winge d h a t

, ,
.

Ca sto r a n d P o ll ux — The worsh i of K a stor a nd P o ly de u

p .

kes a s C a stor an d P ol lux came to Ita l y at so early a da te th at

, ,

whe n the Roman s a cce p ted it a p p a rently from Tu scu lum the y , ,
30 2 G RE E K AN D ROMAN MYT HO LOGY

did u n der th e im p ress ion th a t it wa s of Italic origi n ; bu t t h e

so

ou tstand ing featu res of thes e d ivi nitie s at Rome th ei r a sso

c ia t io n with h orses a nd l a kes ,

a nd their p ower to give hel p i n

time of need were b rou gh t —

wit h th em from G reece I n .

myth it i s recorded th at t h e y
su ddenly ap p eared at th e b at
tles of La ke Re g illus P yd na , ,

a nd Veron a j u st i n time to
b ri ng V icto ry to th e Roma n
c au se After th e b attle of .

La ke Re g illus t h ey were see n

to water thei r horse s i n th e
b asi n of th e fou nta i n O f Iu
turna a nd on th i s spot th e ,

c itizen s erected a s h rine known

a s th e Tem p le O f t h e Ca stors ,

or th e Tem p le of Castor .

Her cules Under th e name .

—

of Hercu les the G ree k Hera kle s

F I G I I MA RRI A G E
. I UN O AND
wa s a dmitted i nto th e Rom an
family of god s a s though h e
we re a native I tali c d ivi nity
OF

H E R UL E
.
.

C S
At h i s very a ncient a lta r th e
Z u td l t l ik t h b
,

d w t h t w Ar a Ma xi m o near th e Foru m
e s, se a e on an a a r- e ro n e e

tw ee n Iu d H noul an e rc e s, ra s e o ,

d iv i iti t w d
n es o th t h u
ar t i Bo a r ium or the cattle—ma rket
o n e a no e r, s sa n c

fy i g t h i u i
n e rF m t h d ig i i d
n on ro e es n n c se
, ,

Et u
.

on th b k f
e ac O b an mi h e wa s worsh ipped a s a god
r sc an ro n z e r ro r

f t h f u th tu y w i th M t B C
O e o r

Mu um f A t N w Y k
ce n r
powerfu. .

l to
,
a i
no
d commerce n
a nde e

ro p lit
o an se o r ,
e or .

othe r p ra cti ca l p u rsu its ,

wh ence a ccor dingl y tith e s of p rofits i n trade a n d of t h e booty

, ,

of w a r were de dic ate d to h im .

T h e p o p ul ari ty wh ich He ra kles enj oyed i n G reece owing to ,

h i s u n p a r a l le l e d abilit y to b ring th ings to p as s so i nspi red th e ,

Roma n imagi n ation th at a lmost ou t of w h ole cloth it m a n ufa c

304 G REEK AND ROMAN MYTHO LOG Y

Of At t a lo s of Pergamon t h ey b rou g h t to Rome from P h rygi a

th e meteoric stone wh ich embodied h er a nd then estab lis h ed a
festival for th e r e enactment of the rites wh ich ch a racterize d
-

her worsh i p i n the east S h e ac com p lish ed th e p u r p ose for w h ic h

.

sh e h ad been b rou ght a nd d rove H a nnib al out of Ita ly b u t i n ,

S p ite of h i s gratitu de to h er th e sed ate Roma n never bec ame

,

thorou ghl y accu stomed to the wil d ab a ndon of h er votaries .

IV . MYT HS OF T HE E ARLY D AY S OF ROME

The Aen e id of Ver g il

I n thei r n ational e p i c s N a e v ius a nd
.

E nniu s h a d mad e the glory of th e city thei r centra l i nterest a n d

h ad p opu l a rized the idea th at th e fou nders O f Rome were of
Troj a n stoc k Vergi l too k over these motive s and by i nj ecting
.
, ,

i nto them h i s own deep love of h i s l an d a nd h i s b roodings o n

the life a nd desti ny of ma n a nd by l avi s h ing on them h i s ,

ch a stened p oeti cal s kill produ ced the gre atest of all Roma n
,

e p ics the Aen e id w h ic h tells t h e story of t h e wa nderi ngs of

, ,

Troj a n Aenea s .

Aenea s (Gree k Ain e ia s) a s we h ave read wa s t h e so n of

, ,

Anch ises a nd Venu s (i e Aph rodite ) Ami d the confu sion. . .

a ttend ant o n the s ac k of Troy h e made h i s way with h i s fat h e r ,

a n d little so n Iu lu s to th e shelter of t h e wooded h eig h ts nea r

, ,

the cit y a nd there gathered abou t h i m a nu mber of fugitives

, ,

whom h e led i n ma ki ng prep aration s to s ail away to a stra nge

l a nd a nd fou n d a new home After many bu sy wee ks t h ey set .

ou t fi rs t crossi ng to Th race a nd t h en steering sou t h wa rd to

,

D elos where at the sh ri ne of Apollo th ey were b idden by

, , ,

the oracle to see k t h e mot h erl a nd of t h ei r a ncestors a n d

there ma ke thei r abode Believi ng t h at t h i s referred to Crete
.
,

Aenea s le d h i s followers th it h er b u t a fter th e little colony ,

h a d sufl e re d ma n y mi s fortu nes h e wa s wa rned i n a d rea m to

establish i t i nstead i n th e western l a nd of Hes p eri a (i e Italy ) . . .

I n th e qu est of t h i s cou ntry h e agai n se t s a il with h i s follow

ers a n d m an y were th e vici s situ des of t h ei r long voyage T h ey
, .
 EA RLY DA Y S OF ROM E 3 5
0

c ame su ccessively to th e is l a n d of th e Ha r p ies to the home of ,

Helenu s a nd An dromach e on th e co a st of Ep i rus a n d to th e ,

l a nd of th e Cyclo p s where the y sa w th e b l inde d Po l y p hemu s

, .

I n a n endeavou r to avoid S cylla a n d Ch a r y b dis the y hugge d ,

t h e sou thern s hores O f S ic ily with th e i ntention of doub ling

th e western extremit y of th e islan d b u t I n no es p ie d them a n d
, , ,

u nab le to fo rget th at they belonge d to the T roj a n race wh ich

sh e h ated rou se d a great storm th at d rove them on th e co a st
,

of Ca rth age .

At th i s ti me Carth age wa s ru led by a Tyri a n qu een name d

D i do who welcomed the fugitives i nto h er cou rt ente r tai ning
, ,

them fo r ma ny month s a s thou gh they were a com p a ny of

ki ngs a nd at h er requ est Aenea s told th e sto ry of the fall of
,

h i s city a nd of h i s p erilou s voyage from land to la nd i n h i s

sea rch for a home His personal ch a rms won her love and sh e
.
,

O ff ered to sh a re h er kingdom with h im bu t when wea r y of

, ,

wa nderi ng longer a nd des p airi ng of fi nd ing h i s desti ned l and ,

Aenea s wa s on th e point of yieldi ng to her p assionate impor

t un it ie s I up p it e r th rou gh Mercu ry rou sed h i m from h i s
, , ,

leth argy a nd tu rned h i s face once more towa rd th e Sh ip s a nd

th e se a .

Re emb a rki ng t h e Troj a ns sailed no rthward a nd u nder the

-
,

p rotection of Neptu ne reached the shores of Hes p eri a nea r

Cu mae t h e h ome of t h e S ibyl Here li ke Odysseu s i n Kim
,
.
,

meri a Aenea s ma de t h e descent i nto Hades a nd saw m a ny

,

d i re mon sters a nd t h e sh a dowy troo p s of th e dead After con .

vers i ng with t h e sh ades of some whom h e h ad known i n life ,

h e tu rned to ma ke h i s way u pward to the light h i s p ath ,

lea ding h im t h rou gh Elys iu m where he fou nd the sh a de of

,

h i s fat h er Anch ises who h ad died si nce th e de p a rtu re from

, ,

Troy B y h im h e wa s led i nto the s p aciou s V a le O f Forget

.

fu l nes s a nd wa s shown th e vast a ssemblage of souls th at were

waiting to be im p la nted i n some human body a nd given life
u po n earth wh ile Anch ises also revealed to hi m th e trials
,

wh ich h e h ad yet to ex p erience i n est a b lis h ing h is colony i n

30 6 G REE K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOG Y
I taly a nd the glorie s of th e gre at n atio n i nto wh ic h t h e exiles
were desti ned to grow P ondering t h ese th i ngs i n h i s hea rt
.
,

Aenea s p u rsued h i s way b ac k to earth .

From Cu mae Aenea s s ailed northwa rd u nti l h e ca st a nc h or

i n the mout h of the Tiber o ff the coast of Latiu m at a time
wh en th e ki ng of th i s cou ntry wa s Lati nu s th e son of Fau nu s ,

a nd a gra nd son of S atu rn Recognizing i n Aenea s the ma n w h o

.
,

a ccording to a p roph ecy was to b e th e h u sb and of h i s only

,

d augh ter Lavi ni a h e entered i nto a politi ca l alli ance wit h

, ,

h i m a nd p romis ed to ma ke h i m h i s so n in l aw t h ereby a nnu l - -

,

ling Lavi nia s b etroth a l to Tu rnu s th e ki ng of t h e neig h bou ring

’
,

Rut ul ia n s Th rough the i nterference of th e imp l ac ab le I un o

.

th i s led to a long war between Tu rnu s a nd Lati nu s bu t t h ou g h ,

the latter wa s killed i n one of t h e early stru ggles h is forces , ,

a ided by Aenea s a nd h i s men succeeded i n winn ing a victory

,
.

Tu rnu s defeated bu t not d is cou raged called to h i s a ssi sta nce

, ,

Mezentiu s th e Etru sca n king a nd to su ch a n extent di d h e

, ,

th reaten th e su premacy of th e Troj a ns th at t h e l atter a sso

c ia t e d themselves with a b and of G ree k coloni sts who u nder ,

the leadersh i p O f Eva nder a nd h i s so n P a l la s were livi ng o n ,

th e h ill s desti ned to be i nclu ded i n th e c ity O f Rome I n t h e .

confl icts th at ensu ed Pa lla s wa s Sl ai n by Tu rnu s a nd later

, , , ,

Mezentiu s a nd Tu rnu s fell at th e h a nd of Aeneas t h e Troj a ns ,

a ch ieving th rough th e deat h of th i s l ast foe a victory w h ic h

, ,

gave th em u nd is p u ted posses sio n O f th e la nd At th i s p oi nt .

th e n arrative of th e Aen e id end s leaving th e reader to i nfer ,

th at th e nu pti al s of Aenea s a nd Lavi ni a were promptly con

su mmated .

Even ts sub se q uen t to those of the Ae n ei d — After h i s m a r .

r ia g e
, Aenea s fou nde d i n Latiu m a new c ity w h ich h e c alled
La v in ium after h i s wi fe a nd w h e n h e d ied a short time later
, ,

h i s subj ects regard ing h im a s a god gave h i m t h e title of

, ,

I up p it e r I n diges About th i rty yea rs sub sequent to th e fou nd

.

i ng of La v in ium Asc a niu s th e so n whom Lavi nia bore to

, ,

Aenea s with drew a p ortion of its p o p ulation a nd established

,
 P L AT E LX I I I

RO M ULUS AN D RE M US

T his a rc hai c I talia n b ro n z e is c o m m o n l y i nt e r p re t e d

a s re p re s e n ti ng t he sh e w o l f s uc k li n g Ro m ul us a n d
-

Re m us i n t h e wil d la n ds n e a r t h e T ib e t ; it m ay h av e
o ri g i n all r e fe r re d ho w e v e r t o o t h e r l e ge n da ry c h a r
y , ,

a c t e rs w h o w e re s ai d t o h av e b e e n s i m ila r ly re a re d .

F ro m a b ro n z e i n t h e C o n s e rvato ry Muse um Ro m e ,

B run n Bruc k m a n n r ie b s b
'

D al r
( h m u n d r om
'‘

— e c
,
en
g z c er

iscb er S culp t ur , N O . Se e p 30 7. .
312 G REEK AND ROMAN MYT HO LO G Y

p ro p o r ti o n o f S lav o n i c a n d o f He ll e n i c bl o o d in t h e v e i ns o f t he m o d
”
e rn G r e e k s is n o t a m att e r O f su p r e m e i m p o r ta n c e .

On ly in a f e w l o c al iti e s n o tab ly in C r e t e do e s a n y fo r m o f t h e
, ,

n a m e o f Z e u s su r viv e b u t t h e g o d still l iv e s u n de r t h e ti tl e O b s
,
e

a ti tl e so c o n v e n i e n tly e q u iv o c al t h at t h e C h r i sti a n c a n
use i t wi t h o u t h e r e sy a n d a t t h e sa m e ti m e sq ua r e p e r fe c tly w it h t he
a n c i e n t p a g a n b e l i e f Fo r i n sta n c e t h e m o de rn G r e e k say s flp éx
.
, , et
“
o r 6 6 63 p ixu v p o ( G o d is t h r o wi n g wat e r
“
a 6 6; ( G o d
6 ,
6 et e

j u st a s t h e a n c i e n t sai d Z u ,s b ( Ze u s
e
“
et W h e n i t t hu n de rs ,

t h e m o de r n e x c lai m s B dh y o t he ’
é h a d
‘

, p v iiv o ro r ot n ra 6 6 8
a n r o 7 0 60

h o o fs o f G o d s h o r se a re
’
a n e x p r e ssi o n w h i ch i n sta n tly
c all s t o m i n d t h e s t o r y o f P e g a s o s i n t h e stabl e s o f Oly m p o s o r h a r

n e sse d t o t h e r o lli n g c a r o f Z e u s T h e li g h t n i ng is G o d s p e cu li a r
’
.

r e r o g ativ e a n d a t ti m e s is e v en e m p l o y e d a s a n i n st r u m e n t O f
p
v e n g e a n c e o n o ffen di n g m o r tal s o r de vi l s a s o n t he T i ta n s a n d S a l
m o n e us o f o ld .

P o se i do n su r viv e s in func ti o n a n d a tt r ib u t e o n ly , th o u g h h e c a n
b e i de n tifi e d a s t h e divi n i ty wit h t h e t r i de n t all u de d t o in a st o ry o f
Za k yn t ho s w h i c h M r .L aw o n b o rro w s fro m Be rn h a r d S c h m i dt
s 2
.

A k i n g w ho w a s t h e st ro n g es t m a n o f h is ti m e m a de w a r o n a
n e i g h b o u r His st r e n g t h l ay i n th re e h ai r s o n h is b re a st He w a s
. .

o n t h e p o i n t o f c ru sh i n g his fo e s w he n h is wi fe w a s b r i b e d t o c ut O ff

t h e h ai r s, a n d h e wi t h t h i r t e e n c o m p a n i o n s w a s ta k e n p r i so n e r .

But t h e h ai rs b e g a n t o g ro w a g ai n , a n d so h is e n e m i e s t h r e w h im a n d
h is c o m p a n i o n s i n t o a p it T h e o t h e rs w e re k ill e d by t h e f all , b ut
.

h e b e i n g t h ro w n in l a st , fe ll u p o n t h e m a n d w a s unhu r t Ov e r t he .

it h i s e n e m i e s t h e n r ai se d a m o un d H e fo un d h o w e v e r in the p it
p .

a de a d b i rd, a n d h avi n g f a st e n e d it s wi n g s t o h is h a n ds fle w up a n d
c a rr i e d away m o u n d a n d all wi t h him T h e n h e so a r e d h i g h in t he .

a ir u n til a st o r m o f r ai n wa sh e d away t h e c lay t h a t h e l d t h e fe a th e r s

t o h is h a n ds, a n d h e fe ll i nt o t h e se a T h e n fr o m o ut t h e se a c a m e
‘
.

t h e g o d t h e r e o f (6 (l a th e r/ a s r fis OdA a oro a s) a n d st r u c k h im w i t h a t h r e e
r

p ro n g e d fo r k (uia n e t p o fiua né r p la 6t xak t a ) a n d c h a n g e d h im i n t o a

’

do l p h i n un til suc h ti m e a s h e sh o u l d fi n d a m ai de n r e a dy t o b e his

wi fe T h e do l p h i n a ft e r so m e ti m e sav e d a sh i p -w r e c k e d k i n g a n d
.

his da u g h t e r, a n d t h e p r i n c e ss by way o f r e wa r d t o o k h im fo r h e r
hu sb a n d a n d t h e sp e ll w a s b ro k e n ”
T h i s st o ry c o nt ai n s c l e a r
.

re m i n i sc e n c e s o f N i so s a n d I k a ro s a s we ll a s o f t he a n c i e n t o d
g
o f t h e se a .

T o t h e G re e k o f to day t h e Ar c h a n g e l Mi c h a e l is a s He r m e s t o t h e
p re -
C h r i sti a n G r e e k , b e i n g t h e p sy c ho p o m p , t h e divi n e e sco r t o f
so ul s t o t h e a f t e r w o r l d, w h i ch is still
p o p u l a r ly l o c at e d i n t h e h e a r t
o f e a rth . I n t h e Ma i n a , a t t h e so ut h e rn e xt r e m i ty o f t h e P e l o p o n n e s e ,
t h e b e li e f p re va il s t h at , wi t h dr aw n sw o r d in h a n d, Mi c h a e l k e e p s
 A PP E ND IX 31 3
se n t ry o n t he m o u t hs O f t he g re at c av e r n o f T a in a ro s w h i c h is still ,

t h e b e s t k n o w n a p p ro a c h t o t h e u n de rw o r l d .

T h e c h a r a c t e r a n d f un c ti o n s o f D i o n y so s a re t r a n sfe r re d t o S ai n t
D i o n y si o s in a l e g e n d t o l d in m a n y p la c e s O n c e U p o n a ti m e
.

S a i n t D i o n y si o s w a s o n h is way t o N ax o s : a n d a s h e w e n t h e e sp i e d a
sm all p la n t w h i c h e x c it e d h is w o n de r He d ug i t up a n d b e c a use t he
.
,

sun w a s h o t so u g h t w h e r e wi t h t o sh e lt e r i t As h e l o o k e d ab o ut h e
.
,

sa w t h e b o ne o f a bi r d s l e g a n d i n t h i s h e p ut t h e p la n t t o k e e
p it
’

sa f e . T o h is surp r i se t h e p la n t b e g a n t o g ro w a n d h e so ug h t a g ai n ,

a l a rg e r c o v e r i n g fo r i t T h i s ti m e h e fo un d t he le g b o n e O f a li o n
.
-
,

a n d a s h e c o ul d n o t de ta c h t h e p l a n t f ro m t h e b i r d s l e g h e
p ut b o t h
’

t o g e t h e r in t h at o f t h e l i o n Y e t a g ai n i t g r e w a n d t h i s ti m e h e fo un d
.

t h e l e g b o n e o f a n a ss a n d p ut p la n t a n d all i n t o t h at
-
An d so h e .

c a m e t o N ax o s . An d w h e n h e c a m e t o p la n t t he vi n e fo r t h e —

p l a n t w a s i n f a c t t h e fi r st vi n e h e c o u l d n o t se v e r i t f ro m t h e b o n e s

t h at sh e lt e re d i t b u t p la n t e d t h e m all t o g e t h e r T h e n t he vi n e g re w
,
.

a n d b o re g r a p e s a n d m e n m a de wi n e a n d dr a n k t h e re o f An d fi rst .

w hen t h e y dr a n k t h e y sa n g li k e b i r ds a n d w h e n t h e y dr a n k m o re ,

t h e y g re w st ro n g a s li o n s a n d a f t e r wa r ds fo o li sh a s a sse s A si m ila r ” 3
.
,

p po u l a r i d e n ti fi c ati o n O f t h i s b e n e fi c e n t sa i n t wi t h D i o n y so s is al so

t o b e i n fe r r e d f ro m t h e f a c t t h a t t h e ro a d w h i c h sk i r t s t h e so u t h si de
O f t he At h e n i a n Ac r o p o li s a n d t h e a n c i e n t t h e at re o f D i o n y so s is at

p r e s e n t k n o w n a s t h e st r e e t o f S ai n t D i o n y si o s .

Of all t h e su r vival s o f t h e g r e at e r g o dde sse s t h e m o st c o n sp i c u o us ,

i s D e m e t e r w h o liv e s o n in t h r e e fo r m s
,
I n o n e o f t h e se sh e r e tai n s
.

h e r a g r a r i a n r e l ati o n s b ut h a s c h a n g e d h e r se x a n d ta k e n o n t h e
,

n a m e o f S ai n t D e m e t r i o s w h e r e a s at E l e usi s sh e h a s w e ll m ai n tai n e d
,

h e r o ld c h a r a c t e r un de r t h e n a m e o f S ai n t D e m e t r a T h e r e is a .

p po u la r m yt h c o n c e r n i n g t h e sa i n t w h i c h ,
i n sp i t e o f it s m a n y c o n
,

t a m in a t io n s o f a n c i e n t a n d m e di a e val e l e m e n t s is di sti n c tly r e m in is ,

c e n t o f t h e sa d wa n de r i n g s O f D e m e t e r in h e r se a r c h fo r t h e l o st

P e r se p h o n e Al o n g wi t h Ap h ro dit e a n d P y r r h a D e m e t e r c o n tr ib u t e s
. ,

t r ai t s t o t h e m o de r n G o dde ss o f t h e S e a a n d E a r t h T h i s h yb r i d .

divi n i ty t h e st o ry r un s dr o w n e d all m a n k i n d by se n di n g a fl o o d up o n
, ,

t h e e a r t h a s a p un i sh m e n t O f hu m a n sin b u t o n t h e su b si de n c e O f ,

t h e wat e r s sh e c r e at e d a n e w r a c e by so wi n g st o n e s .

I n Ai t o li a t h e l a n d o f Atala n t e t h e hu n t r e ss Ar t e m i s sur v i v e s a s
, ,

p a y al a ti tl e w h i c h se e m s t o b e m o r e t h a n a
-
“
15 Ku a K a A w ( L d K o

m er e e c h o o f t h e d ivi n e K a lli st e a n d h e r m yt h i c d o ub l e K alli st o ,

.

I n so m e l o c al i ti e s ,
h o w e v e r A r,
t e m i s li k e D
,
e m e t e r h a s go n e o ve r
t o ,

t he O ppo s
i t e se x a n d i s n o w k n o w n a s S ai n t A r t e m id o ro s w ho i n his , ,

a
c p c a i ty a s sp e c i al p at r o n o f w e a k l i n g c h i l d re n i s p la i n ly t h e di r e c t
,

s uc c e s so r o f t h e a n c i e n t ”
A p eu s r a éo p é p s
t r t r c o .

A t E l e u si s Ap h ro dit e () m p h 7 h a s b e co m e t h e b e a u t i ful
314 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YT HO LOGY
da ug h t e r o f S ai n t D e m e t r a , alt h o u g h sh e i s al so a ss o c i a t e d wi th
D a p h n i a n d t h e h e i g h t s o f C o r i n t h , a t b o t h o f w h i c h p l a c e s sh e h a d
sh r i n e s in a n c i e n t ti m e s, wh il e t he p e o p l e o f Za k y n t h o s s till k n o w

h e r a s t h e m o t he r o f E ro s T h e c h a st e At h en e , o n t h e
o t h e r h a n d, sur viv es o n ly i n t h e re c o ll ec ti o n t h at t he P a r t h e n o n w a s

a t o n e ti m e c o n v e r t e d i n t o a c hu rch o f t h e Bl e s se d V i rg i n .

Al t h o ug h t h e N e r e i ds w e r e t o t he a n c i e n t G re e k s a l e ss e r o rde r o f
d ivi n i ti e s,
t h e y a r e p e r h a p s t h e c h i e f e st i n t h e i ll —co - o r di n at e d
p an
t h e o n o f t h e m o de rn T h e i r c o ll e c tiv e n a m e, N ep al ées, a p p e a r s in
'

n um e ro u s dial e c ti c fo r m s, a n d t h i s t e r m , li k e t he a nc i e n t de si g n a

ti o n N bu! a t , is b ro a dly i n c l u siv e o f all typ es o f fe m al e s p ir it s o f t he

wil d — o f wat e r , w o o d, m o u n tai n , s p r i n g , a n d st re a m T h e p re s .

enc e o f t h e N e re i ds is su sp e c t e d e v e ryw he r e in t h e g re at o ut -Of

“
do o rs, a n d t h e y a re c o n c e iv e d a s w o m e n h al f-divi n e y e t n o t i m
m o r tal , alway s yo un g alway s b e a u ti fu l c a p r i c i o us at b e st a n d a t
, , ,

t h e i r w o rst c ru e l 4 I n s o m e di st r i c t s t h e y h av e b o r ro w ed fro m t he
.
”

s aty r s t he fe e t o f g o at s o r o f a sse s Hu m a n b e i ng s a n d a n i m al s ali k e

.

a re liab l e t o f all u n de r t h e i r sp e ll s a n d li k e T h e ti s a n d h e r k i n dr e d
,

fo l k o f t he se a t h e y h av e t h e p o w e r O f t r a nsfo r m i ng t h e m se lv e s at
p l e a su r e T h e N e re i ds o f t h e sp r i n g s s o m e ti m e s st e al ch il dr e n a s
.

t h e n y m p hs o f o l d c a r r i e d O ff Hyla s a n d wh e n t h e y p a ss o v e r the
,

la n d t h e i r p at h s a re m a r k e d by w h i r lwi n ds So c l o se a re t hey s till

,
.

t o t h e liv e s o f t he c o m m o n p e o p l e th at they a re b e li e v e d t o c o n so rt
wi t h m e n a n d t o b e a r t h e m c h il dre n .

T h e g r i m g re y fe r ry m a n C h a ro n is n o w k n o w n a s C h a ro s o r l e ss , ,

fre q ue n tly Ch a ro n da s b u t in t h e p ro c e ss o f c e n tu r i e s h e h a s b e e n
, ,

al m o st u tt e r ly de s p o il e d o f h is c r a f t a n d o a r a n d a s t he g o d o f de at h
, , ,

h a s a ssu m e d t h e sce p t r e o f t h e u n de r w o r l d Ha des b e i n g n o l o n g e r a

,

p e r so n b u t a p la c e w h i t h e r C h a ro s re c e iv e s t h e s o u l s o f t h e de
,

p a r t e d Asso c i at e d wi t h C h a ro s a re his wi fe C h a r i ssa o r Ch a ro n dissa

.
, ,

a m e re ly n o m i n al f e m al e co u n t e r p a r t a n d a t h r e e h e a de d sn a k e
,
-
,

al t h o ug h a c co r di n g t o a Ma c e do n i a n st o ry his a n i m al c o m p a n i o n
,

is a t h r e e h e a de d do g w h i c h c a n b e n o n e o t h e r t h a n t he he ll h o un d
-
,
-

K e r b e ro s T h e re e xi st o n ly sp o r a di c t r a c e s o f t h e o l d c u st o m o f
.

p la c i n g a c o i n in t h e m o u t h o f a c o r p se a s p a s sa g e m o n e y due t o
-

C h a ro n T h e p ro m i n e n t p la c e o c c u p i e d by C h a ro s in t h e t h o u g h t
.

o f t h e m o de r n G r e e k su g g e st s t h a t his p r o t o ty p e w a s a m u c h m o r e

i m p o r ta n t p e r so n a g e in t h e p o p u la r m yt h o l o g y o f t he a nc i e nt t h a n
t h e l i t e r at ure w o u l d l e a d o n e t o b e li e v e a n d i t m a y b e t h a t a m o n g
,

t h e r a n k a n d fi le o f t h e p e o p l e C h a r o n r at h e r t h a n Ha de s w a s the
, ,

Lo rd o f t h e D e a d .

T h e m o st m o n st ro us o f t h e m yt h i c al c r e at u re s l ivi n g in t h e
i m a g i n a ti o n o f t h e m o de rn He ll e n e s a re t h e K a lli k a n t z a ro i wh o se ,

n a m e l i k e t h at o f t h e N e re i ds a p p e a r s in m a n y di al ec ti c fo r m s a n d
, , ,
 3 6
1 G REE K AND RO MAN MYTHO LOGY

II . S URV I VALS OF D I V I N I T I ES AND MYT H S OF THE E TRUS CAN S

AND ROMAN S I N THE ROMAG N OLA

Alt ho u g h C h a r l e s G o dfre y Le l a n d s bo o k -Ro m a n Re

’
,
E t r usc o

m a i n s, fi r st a p p e a re d a s l o n g a g o a s 1 8 92 , it i s still t h e b e st c o m p il a
ti o n o f t he m o de r n survival s o f a n y a n c i e n t I tali a n r e li g i o n It m u st ,
.

h o w e v e r, b e u se d wi t h g r e at c a u ti o n I n t he fi r st p la c e , i t t re at s
.

m e r e ly o f o n e sm al l di st r i c t in t h e n o r t h o f I taly , t h e T usc a n RO
m a g n a , o r Ro m a g n o l a , w h o se i n h ab ita n t s S p e a k a r u de fo r m o f t h e
Bo l o g n e se di al e c t , so t h at o n e m u st r e f r ai n f ro m a p p lyi n g t h e a u
t h o r s r e m a r k s a n d de du c ti o ns t o t h e w h o l e I tali a n p e o p l e o f t o day
’
.

I n t h e n e xt p la c e , Le l a n d w a s n o t a sch o la r in t h e b e st se n se , fo r h is
k n o wl e dg e o f t h e a n c i e n t r e l i g i o n a n d m yt h o l o g y w a s o n ly su p e r fi c ial ,
a n d h is j u dg e m e n t s a r e , c o n se q u e n tly , v e r y f a r f ro m sa fe . His b o o k
i s w r i tt e n t h ro ug h o ut in a j o u r n ali sti c styl e , i n ti m at e a n d sp i r i t e d,
b u t c a r e l e ss a n d un c r i ti c al N e v e r t h e l e ss, Le l a n d m u st b e g iv e n
.

c re di t fo r h avi n g b e e n a n e n t hu si a sti c a n d e n t e rp r i si n g i n v e st i g at o r,
a n d f o r h avi n g sh o w n a r e m a r k abl e f a cu lty i n wi n n i n g t he co n fi

de n c e o f t h e si m p l e b u t su sp i c i o us fo l k o f t h e Ro m a g n o l a a n d in
i n du c i n g t h e m t o yi e l d t o h im t he sec re t s o f la ve cchi a re lig i o n e ,
w h e n c e sc h o la r s sh o u l d b e g r at e fu l t o h im fo r bl a z i ng a t r ail fo r t he m
t h ro u g h a w il de r n e ss h i t h e r t o al m o s t un k n o w n I t is t o b e h o p e d, a s
.

P r o fe sso r W Wa rde F o wl e r s ay s , t h at t h e p i o n e e r w o r k o f Le la n d
.

will l e a d so m e r e ally q u al ifi e d i n v e sti g a t o r t o un de r ta k e a st u dy in

I tal ia n su r vival s si m il a r t o t h at m a de by Law so n in t h e va g u e t r a ce s
o f G re e k m yt h s still e xi sti n g in m o de r n ti m e s .

T h e r e li g i o n s o f t h e E t ru sc a n s a n d t h e Ro m a n s a p p e a r to day
m e r e ly a s disj ecta m e m b r a , a n d e v e n w h e n t he divi n i ti e s c a n b e re c o g
n iz e d, t h e y h av e l o st t h e sh a r p de fi n iti o n o f c h a r a c t e r a n d fu n c ti o n

w h i c h di sti n g u i sh e d t h e m o f o ld b e c a u se o f t he u tt e r di sa p p e a r a n c e
,

o f so m e t r a it s a n d t h ro ug h t h e o b sc u r ati o n o f o t h e r s . An e x p la n a
ti o n m a y b e re a dily se e n i f o n e re fl e c t s t h at t h i s vecchia r el i gi o n e , o r
“
o ld r e li g i o n , is re ally m u c h l e ss a re li g i o n t h a n a s y st e m o f m a g i c ,
”

a str eg er ia , a s i n de e d it is f r a n k ly c all e d by t h e p e o p l e wh o m i t se r v e s,
t h e t e n de n c y o f m a g i c b e i n g t o n a r r o w do w n t h e fun c ti o n s o f divi n i
ti e s a s f a r a s p o ssi bl e .

I n n a m e I up p it e r is de a d, b u t h is p r e r o g a tiv e o f co n t ro l o v e r t h e
p h e n o m e n a o f li g h t n i n g , t hu n de r , a n d h ail is still h e l d by t h e g re a t
f o lle tto T i n i a , w h o c a n n o t w e ll b e o t h e r t h a n T i n a (o r
T i n i a ) , t h e h e a d o f t h e E t r usc a n p a n t h e o n , a n d t h e p e o p l e dr e a d t h i s
S p i r i t s p o w e r o f de st r uc ti o n o n h o m e a n d fi e l d a n d fl o c k a s t h e i r
’

p r i m i tiv e a n c e st o r s fe a re d I up p it e r a n d T i n a T e r m i n u s, t h e g o d o f
.

b o un da r i e s, b o r n o f a n e p i t h e t o f I up p it e r, su rviv e s u n de r t h e n a m e
 A P P E N D IX 31 7

o f S e n ti e r o ,
t he sp i r i t o f t h e b o u n da ry st o n e a n d t h o s e w ho wa n t o n ly
-
,

re m o v e such l a n dm a r k s e x p o se t h e m se lv e s t o t h e vi n di c tiv e a tta c k s

o f t h e S e n ti e r i .

I n J a n o wi t h h is t w o h e a ds o n e h um a n a n d t h e o t h e r a n i m al w e
, ,

m a y e a sily r e c o g n i z e t he a n c i e n t I a nu s b if o n s o f t h e F o r um a n d t he r

c o i n s a n d J a n o s f un c ti o n o f p r e si di n g o v e r c h a n c e is si m p ly a n at u
’

r a l de v e l o p m e n t o f I a n us s o v e r si g h t o f i n c i p i e n t u n de r ta k i n g s
’
.

Ma so a v e r y g r e a t f o lle tto w ho p ro t e c t s t he c o p s m a y de iv e
“
,
”
r ,
r

h is n a m e a n d o ffi c e f r o m t h o se o f t h e p r i m i tiv e Ma r s w h o is b e li e v e d ,

by m a n y t o h av e b e e n a de i ty o f t h e fi e l ds a n d m a r c h la n ds b e fo re
w a r b e c a m e h is sp e c i al sp h e r e o f O p e r ati o n s .

T h e r e c a n b e n o do u b t t h at Fa n i o is t h e su c c e ss o r o f Fa u n u s in
t he latt e r s r 6le o f t h e p r a c ti c al j o k e r o f t h e w o o dla n d sp it e s Fa n i o
’
r .

su dde n ly c o m e s o n p e a sa n t s in t h e t h i c k e t s f r i g h t e n i n g t h e m o ut ,

o f t h e i r wit s a n d l a u g h i n g at t h e c o n st e rn ati o n h e h a s c a u se d w h il e ,

a t w e ddi n g s h e o ft e n a n ti c i p at e s t he b i de g ro o m in h is e m b r a c e s r ,

a n d w h e n t h e y o un g hu sb a n d b u r st s i n t o a r a g e h e i n t e r ru p t s h im ,

w it h a l a u g h sayi n g :
,

W ho am I? if yo u w o u ld k no w ,
I m
’
t he s p tir i Fa n io l
W h a t in g v m bl i
l ife o n ce a e e ss,

Pl m
e a se s mu h th i ;
e as c as s

A d I th i k t h t t h k
n n du a an s a re e

U t m f h l p i g y u!
” 6
n o e or e n o

As Fa unus h a d S ilva nu s fo r h is do u bl e so Fa n i o h a s Silv a n io w ho , ,

i s g o o d n at u r e d b u t v e ry se n sitiv e t o o ff e n c e He is t h e S p e c i al b o g e y
-
,
.

o f t h e ch a r c o al b u r n e r s w h o s e p i l e s o f w o o d h e sc att e r s w h e n m o v e d
-
,

by c a p r i c e so t o do .

T h e La ssi o r La ss i e a s sp i r i t s o f a n c e st o r s w ho a re h e a r d o r se e n
, ,

in a h o use a f t e r t h e de at h o f a m e m b e r o f t he f a m ily m u st sur e ly ,

b e in o r i g i n t h e La r e s (t h e La sa o f t h e Arval Br e t h r e n ) T h e y a re .

r e g a r de d a s b o t h m al e a n d f e m al e La r u n da t h e m yt h i c al m o t h e r
.
,

o f t he L a r es Co m p it a l e s i s n o w La r o n da t h e S p i r it o f t h e b a r r a c k s
, , ,

w h o m a n i fe st s a sp e c i al fo n dn e ss fo r so l di e rs .

T h e t w o p e c u li a r ly E t r usc a n divi n iti e s T a g e s a n d Be g o e r e a p p e a r , ,

in T a g o a n d Be rg o ia T a g o w h o r e m ai n s a sp i r i to b a m b i n o a n d is
.
,

in v o k e d t o b r i n g h e al i n g t o a ff l i c t e d c h il dre n is sa i d t o e m e rg e f ro m ,

th e g r o u n d at ti m e s a n d p r e d i c t t h e f ut ur e B e r g o ia re tai n B ego s . s e
’

p o w e r o v e r t h e t hun de r a n d t h e li g h t n i n g b u t se e m s t o h av e l o st h e r ,

g
i f t o f a ug u r y alt h
,
o u g h t h i s di m i n uti o n o f h e r p o w e r is o ff se t by

h e r ab i lity t o a ssu m e hu m a n fo r m a n d t hu s m i n g l e wi t h m e n a n d
wo m en .
31 8 G REE K AND RO MAN MYTHO LOGY
Of t he de iti e s w h i c h t o t he a nc i e n t Ro m a ns we r e f r a n k ly G r e e k
a f e w a re s till fo un d in fo rm s n o t di ffi cu lt t o r eco g n i z e Ap lu (c f . .

t h e E t r u sc a n Ap l u, Ap lun , Ap ul u) p o s se sse s n o t o n ly t r a it s o f his

o r i g i n al , Ap o ll o , b u t al s o so m e b o r r o w e d f r o m Ar t e m i s
“
Ap lu is .

t h e m o st b e a u ti fu l o f all t he m al e sp i r i t s He is al so a sp i r i t o f m u si c ,
.

a n d w he n a n y o n e wo u l d b e co m e a g o o d hun t e r, o r g o o d m us i c i a n ,
o r a l e a rne d m a n n u uo m o do tto e di ta l e n to h e sh o u l d r ep e a t
t h i s:
‘
Ap l u Ap lu Ap lu!
, ,

T h o u w ho a r t so g d oo and w ise ,
So l e a rn e d an dt l t d
a en e ,

Ap lu Ap lu Ap lu!
, ,

T h o u w ho a rt so g d
oo

An d t h ro ug h a ll t he w o rl d r en o w n e d;
An d sp o k e n o f by a ll,
Ap lu Ap lu Ap lu!
, ,

Ev en a s p i it h ul d b g
r s o e e n e ro us,

G ra n t i g u f tu
n s dt or n e an l
a en t .

Ap lu Ap lu Ap l u!
, ,

I (t h e re fo re ) p y t h giv
ra ee e me
F o rtun e an d
7

T h e k n avi sh a n d n i m b l e Me r cu r i u s is rep r esente d in the Ro m a

g n o l a by T e r a m O (E t r u sc a n T u r m s) H e i s n o t o n ly n o t o r i o us a s a
.

de c e iv e r o f i nn o cent m ai e s , b ut
d n i s al so
—
an d p i a ily
r m r -
the
f r i e n d o f t h i e v e s, t r a de r s , a n d m essen g e rs; in f a c t , h e is h i m s e l f a
sp i r i to m essa g i e r o w h o c a n fl i t w it h ne w s f ro m p la ce t o p l a ce in t he

twi n k li ng o f a n ey e A c o n sta n t co m p a n i o n o f h is, Bo schet by n a m e,

.

m a y b e in o r i g i n a fo r m o f Ap o ll o .

T h e sp i r i t o f t h e vi n e s i s n o l o n g e r Lib e r , b ut Fa flo n (E t rusc a n
Fuflun s, Fuflun u) , w h o i s p ro b ab ly t h e e q u ival e n t o f D i o n y s o s .

At t h e vi n ta g e h e o f t e n sc att e rs t h e g at h e re d g r a p es , a n d i f t he
vi n ta g e rs b e c o m e a n g ry a t h is p r a n k s , he u tt e r ly de st ro y s t he fru i t ;
b u t i f t h e y ta k e h is m i sch i e f g o o d- n at u redly , he p u t s the g r a p es
b a c k in t h e b a sk e t s Le la n d t hus r e n de r s i nto E ng li sh a p r ay e r
.

o ff e r e d t o Fa flo n fo r a g o o d vi n ta g e

Fa flo n , Fa flo n , Fa flo n !
Oh , l i sten
p y to m y ra er .

I h v a t y vi t g
e a sc a n n a e,

My v i th i y ne s b ; s e a r a re a re

Oh l i t,
t my p y !
s en o ra er

A d p ut i
n th u t d , s n ce o c an s o

A b tt vi t g t h
e er ! n a e e re
 2
3 0 G REEK AND ROMAN M YTHO LOGY
t he a n c i e n t li t e r at u re I n de e d i t m a y w e ll b e th a t m a ny o r e v e n
.
, ,

m o st o f t h e t r a i t s o f t h e divi n i ti e s w h o m Le l a n d h a s r e scu e d fro m

,

o blivi o n w e r e p o sse ssi o n s o f t h e se sa m e divi n i ti e s a s t h e y l iv e d in

t h e r e li g i o u s f a nc y o f t h e c o m m o n p eo p l e o f a nc i e n t Ro m e a n d
I taly .
32 4 G RE E K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOG Y

4 M. il t o n, P d i s e L o s t , vi
a ra2 1 1 —
14 . .

P e f a c e t o t h e P r o m e the us Un b o un d
5 .r .

6 P r o m e the us Un b o un d, Ac t I
.
.

7 A. B . C o o k ( Z
. e u s, i 3 5 3
2 0 ) r e g a r d s P r o m e th.e u s a s essent i ally
—

a g o d o f fi re .

8 I t is m o r e in a c c o r d wi t h P a n do r a s o r i g i n a s a fo r m o f t h e E a r t h
’
.

G o dde ss t o i n t e r p r e t h e r n a m e a s m e a n i n g All G ivi n g

“ ”
— .

E u r i p i de s, I p h i ge n e i a i n Ta u r i s ll 4 1 4
—
1 5 (t r a n sl at e d by G ilb e rt
9 .
,
.

t r ra y , N e w Yo r k ,

10 S t r i c tly , Aa o i m e a ns t he su bj ec t s o f a p r i n c e
. .

C H A PT ER I I

1 . G ru p p e p p 9 1 8 2 0 su g g e st s t h at t h i s m yt h is b a s e d o n t h e
,
.
—
,

b e l i e f t h a t a m a n w ho h a d O ff e re d a h um a n sa c r ifi c e a n d m a de h i m se l f
o n e wi t h t h e g o d by p a r ta k i n g o f hu m a n fl e sh w a s h i m se l f a w o l f ,

i e h e w a s b a n i sh e d fr o m t h e so c i e ty o f m e n a n d b e c a m e a wa n de r e r
. .

l i k e a w o l f T h e si m ila r b u t m u c h m o re p e n e t r ati n g e x p l a n ati o n o f

.

f e r e d by A B C o o k (Z e us i 70— 8 1 ) i s t o o e l ab o r a t e a n d de tail e d t o
. .
,
.

b e e v e n su m m a r i z e d h e r e .

2 . D escr ip ti o n of Gr ee ce V III xxvi i i 6 ,

. . .

T i s c a n n o t b e t h e fl o w e r w h ic h w e k n o w a s t h e h ya c i n t h
3 h: .

4 S t e p h en Ph illi p s
. in P o e m s Lo n do n a n d N e w Yo r k
, , ,

1 8 98 , pp . 2 6— 2 9 .

5 . F r i e dla n de r ,
Ar g .
, pp .
5 ff ; G r u p p e , p p
. . 168 ff .

6 .S e e i nf r a , p 1 93 . .

7 T h e n a m e o f t h e K im m e r ia n (i e C r i m e a n ) Bo sp o r o s w a s S im
. . .

il a r l y e x p lai n e d As f a r a s t h e T h r a c i a n st r ai t i s c o n c e r n e d t he de r i
.

vati o n is w ro n g Bé m ro p o s is r e ally a di al ect i c al fo r m o f w o cpép o s

.

“
( Li g h t a ti tl e o f He k at e .

8 A H S ay c e (The Re l i g i o n s of An c i e n t Egyp t a n d Ba b yl o n i a ,
. . .

E di n b u rg h , 1 903, p 55) de r iv e s Aig y p t o s f ro m Ha -k a -P ta h

.
“
t he
t e m p l e o f t h e k a o f P ta h, t h e sa c re d n a m e o f t h e c i ty o f Me m p h i s .

I n t h e T e l l e l-Am a rn a l e tt e r s t h i s i s K h i k up ta kh .

S G u p p , p p 8 3 3 ; F r i e l n e r , p p 1 5 1 6 , 2 5 30
d a d If w e
— — —
9 . e e r e 1 2 . . .

m a y t r u st Eust a t hius, i t w a s t h e c ust o m t o p l a c e o n t h e g r av e o f

‘

t h o s e w ho di e d u n m a r r i e d a wat e r j a r c all e d Lo utr o p ho r os i n t o k e n

t h a t t h e de a d h a d di e d un b at h e d a n d wi t ho u t o ff sp r i n g P ro b ably
’
.

t h e se va se s, a s D r F r a z e r su g g e st s [ i e o n P a u sa n i a s X x xxi
. w e re . . . .

a t fi rst p l a c e d o n t h e g r av e s o f t h e u n m a r r i e d wi t h t h e k i n dly i n t e n t o f
h e l p i n g t h e de so la t e un m a rr i e d g h o st t o a c co m p li sh h is w e ddi ng i n t he
w o r l d b e l o w But o n c e t h e c u st o m fix e d, i t m i g h t e a sily b e i n t e rp re t e d
.

a s t h e sy m b o l o f a n un de r w o r l d
p un i sh m e n t (Ha r r i so n , P ro leg o
”

m en a, p .
 N OT E S 3 5
0
(

10 S e e F r i e dla n de r , p p 36 — 37
. . .

11 I n o t h e r v e r si o n s t h e w e a p o n e m p l o y e d by P e rse us w a s a st o n e ,
.

o r a s w o r d ,
o r h is sc i m i ta r (si c k l e -
sw o r d) .

12 T h e st o ry o f P e r se us in it s b e a r i n g s o n p r i m i tiv e fo l k - tal e a n d
.

r e l i g i o n is e x h a ustiv e ly t r e at e d by E S Ha r tla n d, Le ge n d of P e rse us, . .

3 v o l s ,
L o n.d o n ,
1 8 94 9 6
—
.

1 3 Ho m e r , Odysse y, xi 593— 600 (t r a n sla t e d by S H Bu t c h e r a n d

. . . .

A La n g , Lo n do n ,
.

14 Fi c k (Ha ttide n un d D a n ub ie r i n G r ie c he n la n d, p p 4 3 ff ) sug g e st s

. . .

t h at t h e n a m e a n d p e r so n o f S isy p h o s a re de r iv e d f ro m T iSup (o r
T ish ub , T e sh ub ) , t h e p r i n c i p al m al e de i ty o f t h e Hi tti t e s so o ft e n
de p i c t e d o n t h e i r m o n um e n t s .

1 5 Fo r a si m il a r st o r y se e t h at o f Ky k n o s a n d T e n n e s in P a usa n i a s,
.

X xiv
. .

On e is p ro b ab ly n e a r e r
16 . t he t ru t h i n c o n n e c ti n g i t wi t h i n n/ 6s

(c f m r yvvut ) , st ro n g
’ ”
. .

C H A PT ER III

1 . C h r i st o p h e r Ma r l o w e D i do , Ac t II .

Fo r a di sc ussi o n o f t h e p r o bl e m s i n v o lv e d co n sul t T G T uc k e r ,
2 . . .

Aeschyl us, The S e ve n a ga i n st The b e s, C a m b r i dg e , 1 90 8 , l n t ro d ; .

G o m m e , T h e Le g e n d o f C a dm u s, e t c ; a n d T h e T o p o g r a p h y o f
“ ” “
.

Bo e o ti a , etc .

3 Fo r
. t y o f Ak tai o n se e i nf a p 2 52 ; o f I n o p 2 6 2 ; o f
t he s o r r ,
.
,
.

S e m e l e a n d D i o n y so s p 2 1 7 ,
. .

4 S o
.
p h o k l e s Oi di p o us K o l o n e us
,
11 1 6 1 1 ff (t r a n slat e d by E H ,
. . . .

P l um p t r e Bo st o n , ,

5 A lli
. n so n G r ee k La n ds a n d Le tte r s p
, 332 ,
. .

6 C f T uc k e r p p xxxiv xxxvii ; Allin so n p

. .
,
.
—
,
. 2 92 .

H m I l i a d i x 57 3 9 9
—
7 o
. e r , ,
. .

C H A PT ER IV

1 I n C re ta n m yt h t h e sun w a s c o n c e iv e d a s a b u ll On t h e o t h e r
.
.

h a n d, in C r e ta n r i t ual t h e Laby r i n t h w a s a n o r chestr a o f so la r p att e r n

re sum ab ly m a de f o r a m i m e ti c da n c e I t w o ul d se e m h i g h ly
p
.

p ro b ab l e t h at t h e d a n c e r i m i tati n g t h e sun m a s
q u e r a de d in t h e L a by
r in t h a s a b ull (A B C o o k , Z e us, i 4 90
”
.
. .

2 P a usa n i a s, II iv 5 (t r a n slat e d by J G F r a z e r)
.
. .
. . .

M i ss Ha r r i so n ( M t h a n d Mo n , p p xxxiii xx x v ) a dva n c e s t h e
3 .
y , . . .

v e ry p ro b ab l e sug g e sti o n t h a t t h i s st o y is p r i m a ily a e ti o l o g i c al n r r i

ch a r a c t e r b e i n g i n t e n de d a s a n e x p l a n ati o n o f t h e r it ual o f t h e Ar e
,
r

h
p or
i a ( o r H e r se p h o r ia ) T h e f at e o f t h e d i so b e di e n t si st e r s is a de ta i l
.
32 6 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
a dde d fo r t h e p u rp o se o f fr i g h t e n i n g o ffi c i ati n g m ai de n s i n t o st r i c t
o b se r va n c e o f t h e r u l e s g o v e r n i n g t h e r it u al .

4 . A n o t h e r e ty m o l o g y de r iv e s t he w o r d f r o m dp c
i w i ra
'

mo s
, h ill of

c u r se s cf p p 1 89
’
1 02 . .
,
.

5 I xxx 3
. . . .

C H A PT E R V

1 . Fo r t he de v e l o p m e n t o f He r a k l e s as a m yt h o l o g i c al ch a r a cte r
se e e sp e c i ally F r i e dl a n de r, He r a k les .

2 . xix .
90
—
1 33 .

T h d e o f t he lab o u r s w h i c h w e sh all fo ll o w is t h a t g iv e n by
3 . e o r r

Ap o llo do ro s .

F o r di sc u ssi o n s o f t h e i de n ti ty a n d c h a r a c t e r o f t h e Am a z o ns se e
4 .

e sp e c i ally t h e a r ti c l e s by Ado l p h e Re i n a c h li st e d in t h e Bib li o g r a p h y .

5 . P i n da r , Olym p i a n Odes, xi ( x ) 44 ff . . .

C H A PT E R V I I

1 . Ap o ll o n i o s o f Rh o de s, A r
g o n a ut i k a , i . 1 1 3 14 —
.

2 . ib i 544 4 5
. .
—
.

3 . ib ii 7 9
—
. 8 0 . .

T h w i t e r i s t e m p t e d, in a g r e e m en t w i t h A B C o o k (Z e us, i
4 . e r . . .

7 3
2 t o se e i n t h e p e rso n o f T al o s a r efe r e n ce t o the c i r e p e r due
m e t h o d o f h o ll o w - c a sti n g in b r o n z e .

C H A PT ER V III

1 . A B C o o k (Z e us,
. . i . 1 —
4 4 19 is s t ro n g ly i n c li n e d t o b e li e v e t h a t
)
b o t h t h i s g o l de n l a m b a n d t h e g o l de n r a m o f P h r ixo s a r e ep i p h a n i e s
o f Ze u s .

2 . T h e m o st a c c e ssi bl e c o ll e c ti o n o f t h e f r a g m e n t s an d a n c i e n t sum
m a r i e s o f t h e C y c li c E p i c s i s t o b e fo u n d in t h e S c r i p to r um Cl a ssi co r um
Bib l io theca Ox o n ien sis H o m e r i Op e r a v (Ox fo r d , T h e fr a g ,
.
,

m e n t o f t h e K yp r i a j us t q uo t e d a p p e a rs o n p 1 1 8 . .

3 . E u r i p i de s T j
ro a n W o m en ll 8 92 9 3 (t r a ns l a te d by G ilb e r t
, ,
.
—

Mu r r ay N e w Yo r k , ,

4 . ib 11 9 2 4— 33. . .

5 . E u r i p i de s, I p hige n e i a i n Ta ur is, l . 15 (t r a n sl a te d by G ilb e r t

Mu r r ay ) .

6 . i .
52 (t r a n sl a t e d by A . La n g , W . Le a f, and E . Mye rs ,
Lo n do n ,

7 . vi 48 6 8 9 (t r a n sl at e d by La n g Le a f a n d Mye rs)
.
—
, , .

8 . xi x 6 7 70 (t r a n sl at e d by La n g Le a f a n d Mye rs)
.
—
, , .

9 . S e e Ox fo r d t e xt o f Ho m e r v p p 1 2 5 2 7 ,
. .
—
.
32 8 G REE K AND ROMAN MYTHO LOGY

I G r up p e , p 1 102
. . .

2 S e e A B C o o k , Z e us, i 1 8
. .
—
. . .

3 I
. n ti m e t h i s p r o c e ss o f g e n e r ali z i n g t he p e r so n al ch a r a c t e r i sti c s
o f t h e g o ds p r a c ti c ally n e u t r ali z e d all o t h e r p r o c e sse s o f t h e i r de v e l

Op m en t .

4 He r a w e r in t h i s sp h e re w a s do u b tl e ss de r iv e d fro m h e r u n i o n
’
. s po
wi t h Z e us ,
w h il e t h at o f P o se i do n c a m e f ro m h is t r a diti o n al a sso c i ati o n
wi t h t h e se a .

5 T
. h e u n q u alifi e d u se o f t h e e p it h e t O> bu s in Ho m e r i n va r i ab ly
’
\ 7r t o

de si g n at e s Z e us .

6 P o r p h y r i o s Lif e of P ytha g o r a s 1 7 ; cf T ati a n TIp oS EAMva s

.
, ,
.
, ,

27 ( Mi g n e P a tr o l o g i a Gr a e ca vi
, ,
.

7 Mo st o f t h e se m yt h i c al m a r r i a g e s c a n p r o b ab ly b e e x p l ai n e d a s
.

att e m p t s t o se c ure sa n c ti o n f o r t h e r e c o g n i ti o n o f Z e u s in l o c al iti e s

i n t o w h i c h h e w a s n e wly i n t r o du c e d a n d in w h i c h t h e c h i e f n ativ e
divi n i ty w a s a g o dde ss T h e i de n tifi c ati o n o f t h e n e w g o d a s t h e
.

h usb a n d o f t h e O ld g o dde ss i m m e di at e ly g av e t he fo r m e r a s ta n di n g
wit h t h e l o c al w o r sh i p p e r .

8 I dyl ls iv 43; c f xvii 7 8

.
,
. . . .

9 On ly in t h i s se n se c a n h e b e re g a r de d a s t he C r e at o r ; in t h e
.

Or p h i c p h il o so p h y h e w a s l i fe it se l f .

10 T h i s sc h o o l w o ul d se e t h e sa m e e a r t h g o dde ss in t he o r i g i n al o f
.

t h e E l e usi n i a n D e m e t e r Fo r a di sc u ssi o n o f t h e p ro b l e m se e Fa r n e ll
.
,

C ults i 1 9 2 a n d The H i gher Asp e cts e t c p 1 4

,
.
, ,
.
,
. .

11 A B Co o k
. . W h o w a s t h e Wi fe o f Z e u s ? in CR xx 36 5 7 8
.
,
”
.
—
,

4 16

C H A PT E R II

1 . t h i s de r ivati o n is c o rre c t i t m a y p o ss ibly g o b a c k t o a m yth

If ,

w h i c h se t fo r t h o n e o r o t h e r o f t h e se c h a r a c t e r i sti c s o f At hene .

2 Ho m e i c Hy m n to Athe n e xxvi ii 9 1 6
. r ,
.
—
.

3 .E ur i p i de s Tr oj a n W o m e n 11 8 0 1
,
—0 2
(t r a n sl at e d by G il b e r t ,
.

Murr ay ) .

C H A PT E R III
1 . Ho m e r i c Hym n s ,
i ii .

Cf m sBea B
“
b e co m e tt e n
'
2 . . at, to ro ,
t o ro t .

3 S e e S wi n dl e r, C r e ta n Ele m e n ts, e t c
. .

4 T h ro ug h it s f a m o us e n i g m ati c re fe re n c e
. to w o o de n wall s w h i ch
,

T h e m i st o k l e s i n t e r p re t e d t o m e a n sh i p s, t h e o r a c l e fo r e t o l d t h e suc

c e ssf ul de fe n c e o f G r e e c e a ai n st t h e P e rsia n s
g .
 NOT E S 32 9
5 T h e stat e m e n t t h a t Ap o ll o
.
is t h e so la r w o rd o f Z e us c o n c e i v e d
a s t h e e t e r n al a n d i n fi n i t e
g o d a n d t h ro ug h h im t h e re v e al e r o f t h e a r
(S c h ure , Le Mi r a c l e h e ll é n i q ue L Ap o llo n de
”
c h e t yp e s o f t h i n s
“ ’
g .

D e lp h e s e t l a P yt h o n i sse , i n Revue des de ux lll o n des 6 t h er vi i

”

p , . .

—
34 4 4 5 i g n o re s t h e p ro g re ssiv e de v e l o p m e n t o f A o ll o f ro m a p
s im p le to a
l e x p e rso ali tyco mp n .

6 Oc c a si o n ally Ar t e m i s w a s a g o dde ss o f c o u n e l t h a t is t o sa s
y
.

, ,

o f h e alt h o f m i n d a n e xt e n si o n o f h e r f un c ti o n a s t h e dd h alt h
,
g o e ss o f e
o f b o dy .

7 He k a t e s a sso c i ati o n wi t h so c e ry is a m p l e e x p la n a ti o n o f t h e
’
.
r

f a c t t h at sh e fi g u r e d m o re p ro m i n e n tly in p r ivat e t h a n in p ubli c c ult .

C H A PT E R I V

IT h e sa m e k i n d o f m a g i c al i m p r i so n m e n t se e m s
.
h e re t o b e in
vo lv e d a s t h a t t o w h i c h t h e g e n i e w a s subj e c t e d in t he st o r y o f Ala d

din a n d t h e W o n de r f ul La m p .

C H A PT ER V

1 T h i s w a s p re s e n t e d by P r o fe sso r A L F r o t h i n g h a m in a p a p e r
. . .

r e a d b e fo r e t h e Ar c h a e o l o g i c al I n sti t ut e o f Am e r i c a a t i t s a n n ual m e e t

in g h e l d a t H av e rfo rd C o ll e g e , D e c 1 9 1 4 S O f a r a s t h e p re se n t w r it e r
. .

k n o w s, t h e p a p e r is n o t y e t in p r i n t .

S h e ll e y s t r a n slati o n o f t h e Ho m e r ic Hy m n to He r m es, ix
’
2 . .

3 ib xlv
. . .

4 ib x c vi i
. . .

5 T h e u n i o n o f He r m e s wi t h b o t h He r se a n d P a n dro so s in Atti c
.

l e g e n d p r o b ab ly si g n ifi e s t h at at l e a st in At h e n s h e h a d a c o n n e xi o n
wit h c e r tai n p h a se s o f t h e w e a t h e r , b u t suc h a n a sso c i ati o n do e s n o t
se em to h av e b ee n g e n e r al .

C H A PT ER V I

Si nce
t he m a nu sc r i p t h a s l e f t t h e a ut h o r s h a n ds h e h a s c o m e t o ’
1 .

t h e c o n c l u si o n t h a t Fa r n e ll is r i g h t in re g a r di n g t h e n a m e a s w h o lly
fo re i g n I n t h e fo r t h c o m i n g v o l um e o f t h e Tra sa ct io s a d P o ce ed
. n n n r

i n gs of the Am e r i ca n P hil o l o g i ca l Asso c i a t i o n t h e w i t e r p e se n t s a p r r re

li m i n a ry stat e m e n t o f w h a t h e b e l i e v s t o b e t h e c o r r e c t de r i vat i o n
e ,

a n d l at e r h e h o p e s t o p ubli sh a n a r ti c l e sup p o r ti g t h e e ty m o l o g y in n

de tail .

T h e a fli n it y is due t o Ap h ro di t e s p r i m itiv e co n n e x i o n w i t h v e g e
’
2 .

t a t io n .

3 T h
. e m att e r- o f—f a c t m i n d c an e a sily de t e c t an o v e la p p i n g
r of t he
330 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
fun c ti o n s o f Ap h ro di t e o n t h o se o f o t her divi n i ti e s o f fe r tili ty Y e t .

t h i s n e e d di st u r b n o o n e fo r t h e G r e e k g o ds we r e n o t m e c h a n i c al
,

c r e a ti o n s T o i n si st u p o n a p r e c i se di ff e r e n ti ati o n a m o n g t h e G re e k
.

divi n i ti e s is t o m i ss t h e G r e e k s r e l i g i o us p o i n t o f vi e w a n d t o b e
’

i n se n si ti v e t o t h e m yt h m a k i ng sp i r i t -
.

4 .A L a n
.
g Th e N e w P yg m a li o n
,
.

5 .I n p h i l o so p h i c al c i r c l e s t h e e p i t h e t s Ou r a n i a a n d P a n de m o s w e r e

t h o ug h t t o si g n i fy t h e r e l ati o n s o f Ap h ro di t e t o p u re c e l e sti al l o v e a n d
de g r a di n g se n su ali ty r e sp e c tiv e ly ; a n d c o m m o n k n o wl e dg e o f t h e
li c e n ti o u s ch a r a c t e r o f c e r tai n r it e s o f the g o ddess g av e co l o u r t o th i s
i n t e r p re tati o n o f t he s e co n d e p i t h e t .

C HA PT E R V I I
1 . i 59 1 ff
I li a d, . .

2 . Mu rr ay Fo ur , S ta ges o f Gr Rel
. .
, p . 66 .

3 . xxiv .

4 . v 2 1 ff
. .

C H A PT ER V III

1 S e e Bli n k e n b e rg , The Thun de r w e a p o n ; P o w e ll , Er i c htho n i us a n d

.

the Thr ee D a ug hte rs of Ce cr o p s, p 12 . .

2 T h e ti dal wav e w h i c h su b m e rg e d He l ik e i n t h e fo u r t h c entu ry

.

B C w a s re g a r de d a s a de m o n st r ati o n o f P o s e i do n s p o w e r
’
. . .

3 If t h e n a m e o f P o se i do n s so n Bo io t o s m e a ns a n yt h i n g a t all in
’
.

t h i s c o n n e xi o n , i t i m p li es th at P o s e i do n w a s i n the fo rm o f a b u ll
w h e n h e b e g a t t h i s so n .

C H A PT ER IX

1I l i a d, v i 1 30 ff (t r a n sl at e d by La n g , Le a f, a n d My e r s )
. . . .

2 S e e i nf r a , p 2 2 1
. . .

3 T h i s m yt h c o n tai n s u n m i sta k abl e e vi de nce o f hu m a n

. s a c r ifi c e
in c e r tai n o f t h e e a r li e r D i o n y si a c r it e s .

4 . vi i .

5 I t is still a m o o t p o i n t w h e t h e r t h e a p p e a r a n ce o f the sh i p in t h i s
.

m yt h o f D i o n y so s re fl e c t s t h e i n fl u e n ce o f c e r tai n Or i e nt al v e g e ta t i o n
r i t e s in w h i c h a sh i p w a s a
p ro m i n e nt fe at u r e .

6 S e e i nf r a , p 2 2 4
. . .

7 T h e use o f t h e p h alli c e m bl e m in t h e r i t e s o f D e m e t e r t o a ro u se
.

fe r tili ty in t h e e a r t h w a s o n e o f a n u m b e r o f f a c t o rs in b r i n g i n g ab o u t
a n a sso c i a ti o n o f D e m e t e r a n d D i o n y so s .

8 T o r e g a r d D i o n y so s un q ua l ifi e dly a s a r ai n —g o d is t o e xa g g e r a te
.

t h e i n fl ue n c e o f O si r i s o n h is de v e l o m e n t
p .

9 E
. u r i p i de s,
Ba cc h a i ,
ll 379 8 1
—
. .
332 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YT HO LOG Y

4 . a T hi s
sso c i ati o n o f P r o t e u s wi t h E g y p t i s se c o n da r y ; h is n a t iv e

h ab itat se e m s t o h av e b e e n C h al k i s .

H e r Odysse y x i i 39 54
—
5 o m
.
, ,
. .

6 Theo g o n y l 8 7 1
.
,
. .

A E Zi m m e rn Th e Gree k Co m m o n w ea l th Ox fo r d 1 9 1 1 p 35
7 . . .
, , , ,
. .

8 Odes I i i i 1 4
.
,
. . .

A B C o o k (Z e us i 30 2 ff ) h o l ds t h e o n e e y e d K y k l o p es t o b e -
9 . . .
,
. .

m o n st ro u s i n c a rn ati o n s o f t h e di sk o f t he sun .

10 H o m er i.c H y m n s xix 6 —2 1
,
. .

C H A P T ER X III
I . C h a r l e s L O D o n n e ll Ode f o r P a n a m a D a y
.
’
,
.

2 iv 10 ; se e al so v s 1 1
. . . .

3 E u r i p i de s I p hige n e ia i n T a ur s, i ll 2 85 (tr a n sl a te d by G ilb e rt

—
.
,
.
91
Mu r r ay) .

C H A PT E R X IV

1 . xxvi 4 5 (t r a n s l at e d by F r a ze r I st
II . .
-
,

2 . t h i s r i t e se e L D eu b n e r D e i n cub a ti o n e Le i p z i g 1900 a n d
On .
, , , ,

Ma ry Ha m ilt o n I n cub a ti o n Lo n do n 1 906 , , ,

.

3 S o in He si o d The o go n y l 904 ; b u t ib l 2 1 7 th e y a re the da ug h

.
, ,
. . .

t e rs o f N yx .

4 S
. O U se n e r Go tter n a m en p 37 1 A B C o o k (Z e us i
, ho w , . . . .
,
.

e v e r h o l ds N e m e s i s li k e D ia n a t o h av e b een fi r st o f all a g o dde ss o f

'

, , ,
“
t h e g r e e n w o o d (cf véu g l a de
”
os véuew to .
, , ,

5 S
. w i n b u r ne A t a l a n ta i n Ca lydo n ,
.

PART III
1 . l o n g b e en t h e p r a c ti ce t o a s su m e t h a t v i r t u ally all It ali c
It h a s
m yt h s w e r e c o r r up ti o n s o r a da p tati o n s o f G r ee k m yt h s N o w h o w .
,

e v e r t h e r e is a g r o wi n g t e n denc y t o a cc o un t fo r t h e m a s i n de e n de nt
, p
p ro du c t s o f I tali a n re l i g i o u s e x p e r i ence S e e es p ec i ally E tto r e P a i s .

An ci e n t Le ge n ds, etc .

2 D e Re r um N a tur a ,
. v .6 55 56 —
.

3 K i n g , D evel of Rel
. . .
, p 1 30 . .

APP E N D I X

1 .
p . 27 .
4 ih pp
. 1 2 —
3 33 . . .
7 ib p p 37— 38 .

2 Law so n , p
. .
75 .
5 1b p p 7 7 78
.
—
. . . 8 . ib p 69
. . .

3 i b p 43
. . . . 6 Le l a n d, p 10 1
. . .
9 ib p 6 1 . .
336 G RE E K AND RO MAN MYTHO LOGY
Re v ue a rc h éo l o g i q u e .

Re v ue de s é t u de s a n c i e n n e s .

Re v u e d h ist o ir e e t de li tt é r at u r e r e li g i e u se
’
.

Re v u e de l h ist o ir e de s r e l i g i o ns
’
.

Rh e i n i sc h e s Mu se u m f ii r P h il o l o g i e .

Mit t h e il un g e n de s k ai s e r li c h de ut sc h e n a rc h a o lo g isch e n
I n sti t u t s: rOm isc h e Ab t h e ilun g .

S t u di i tali a n i di filo lo g ia c l a ssi c a .

S o c r at e s Z e i t sc h r i f t f u
,
r G y m n a sia lw e se n .

S t u di st o r i c i p e r l a n t ic hit é c l a ss i c a
’
.

Wi e n e r S t u di e n .

II . G E N E RAL W ORK S
D AR E M B E R G a n d SAG LI O , D i cti o n n a i re des a n ti q ui tés gr ecq ues et r o m a i n es
d a p r és les textes e t l es m o n um en ts P a r i s, 1 8 92 ff
’
. .

F O RR E R R , Rea llex i k o n de r p r a e histo r ische n , kl a ssische n un d

,
.
f r uh
chr istli che n Al te r tii m er Be r l i n a n d S t ut t g a r t , 1 907 ff . .

HA S T I N G S E n cyclo p a edi a of Relig i o n

,
and Ethi cs . E di n b u rg h an d N ew
Yo r k 190 8 if ,
.

LI C HT E N B ER G ER E n cyclo p edi e des sci e n ces r eli g i e uses P a r i s 1 8 7 7 8 2

'
—
. .
, ,

P A U L Y W I S S O W A Rea l En cycl op cidie der cla ssischen Alter tum sw isse n

'

- -
,

schaf t S t uttg a r t 1 90 1 ff
.
,
.

RO S C H E R W H Ausf u hr l i ches Lexik o n der gr i echischen un d r o m ischen

'

. .
, ,

Mytho lo gi e Le i p z i g 1 8 8 4 ff .
,
.

S C H RAD ER O Re a l lexi k on der i n do ge r m a n ische n Alter tum sk un de

,
.
, .

S t r a ssb u rg 1 90 1 ,
.

S M I TH —MAR I N D I N A Cl a ssi ca l D icti o n a ry of Gr eek a n d Ro m a n Bi og

,

r a p hy Mythol o gy a n d G eo g r a p hy
, Lo n do n 1 8 99 , .
,
.

I II . S P E C I AL W ORK S
a Gree k

AD AM J, The Rel igi o us Tea chers of Gree ce Lo n do n 1 90 8

,
. .
,
.

ALL E N T W ,
“
T h e D a t e o f He si o d
.
”
in ] H S xxxv 8 5 ff
.
, ,
. .

ALLE N T W a n d S I K E S E E The Ho m e r i c Hym n s Lo n do n 1 904

, . .
,
. .
, .
,
.

ALLI N S O N F G a n d A C E Gree k La n ds a n d Le tte rs Bo st o n , 1909

,
. . . . .
, . .

AL P E Rs J Hercules i n b ivi o G Ot t in g e n 1 9 1 2
,
.
,
.
,

ALY W D er k r etische Ap o l lo k ul t Le i p z i g 190 8

,
.
, .
,
.
 B I B LIO G RA P HY 337
ALY W ,
.
, Z ur Me t h o de de r g r i e c h i sc h e n Myt h o l o g i e , in D L x xxi .

2 6 1— 67
Ur sp r un g un d E n twi c k e l un g de r k r e ti sc h e n Z e usre l ig io n ,

in P hi l . lxx 4 57 7 8 .
—

AN C E Y G ,
.
, Q ue sti o n s m yt h i q ue s, in RA xxi . 2 09 —
82
AND RE S F D i e E n g e l un d D a m o n l e h r e de r g r ie c h isc he n Ap o lo ge te n
,
.
,

des 2 j a hr h un de r ts un d ihr Ve r lz a l t n is z ur g r ie c h isc h- r o m zsc he n

’

D a m o n o lo gie Br e sl a u, 1 9 1 3
'

AU B E R T H Les Le ge n des m ytho l o g i q ues de la G r e ce

,
.
, et de Ro m e . P a r i s,
1 909 .

BA K E R , E K . .
,
S to r i es f
o Old G r e ece a nd Ro m e . N ew Yo r k 1 9 1 3 ,
.

BA P P , K P r o m e the us, Ei n Be i t r a g z ur g r i e ch ische n

.
, Mytho l o g ie Ol de n .

b urg , 1 8 96 (Ost e rp ro g r a m m de s G y m n a si e n ) .

BAssr, D , Mi to l o g i a g r e ca e r o m a n a a d uso de lle sc uo le

. e de lle p e rso n e
c o lte Fl o r e n c e , 1 9 1 2
. .

BA U M E I S T ER , A , D e n k m cile r des k l assisc he n Alte r tum s z ur Er l a ute r un g

'

des Leb e n s de r Gr i ec he n un d Rom e r i n Re l i g i o n , K un st un d S itte

'

3 v o l s Mu n i c h a n d Le i p z i g 1 8 8 5 8 8
—
. .
,

BA UR P V C Ce n t a urs i n An ci e n t Ar t the
,
. . .
, ,
Ar cha ic P e r io d Be r li n .
,

1 9 12 .

BE ND E R , W Mytho l o gie un d Me ta p hysi k S tu tt g a r t 1 8 99

.
,
.
,
.

BE N N E TT F L O RE N C E M Rel ig i o us C ults a sso ci a ted w i th the Am a z o ns

,
.
, .

N e w Yo r k 1 9 1 2 ,
.

BER A R D V D e l o r i g i n e des c ul tes a r ca dien s (Bib l io théq ue des e co les

’
.
, ,

A e Ro m e lxvii ) P a r i s 1 8 94
’

f r a n ga ises d t he n es e t d ,
.
,
.

Les P hén i ci en s e t l Odyssee 2 v o l s P a r i s 1 902 0 3

’ —
. .
,
.

BE R G E R D e b e ll i da e m o n ib us q ui i n ca r m i n ib us Gra e c o r um e t Ro m a
,
.
,

n o r um i n ven i un tur Le i p z i g 1 8 94 .
,

BER G ER E H Mythische K osm o g r a p h ie de r G r ie c he n (S up p l e m e n t t o

,
. .
,

Ro sc h e r s Le i p z i g 1 904
’
.
,

BE TH E E Ho m e r D i chtun g un d S a ge i (I lia s) Le i p z i g 1 9 14
,
.
, , ,
.
,
.

BLI N K E N B ER G C The Th un de r w e a p o n i n Reli g i o n a n d Fo l k l o r e

,
.
,
.

C a m b r i dg e 1 9 1 1 ,
.

BLU M G ,
“
MEIAIX I OE in MB xv n 31 3 2 0
.
, ,
.
—

BO D R E R O , E .
,
I G i a r di n i di Ado n ide . Ro m e ,
19 1 3 .

BO E H M , J, . S ym b o l a e ad He r c ul is histo r i a m f a b ul a r e m vasc ulis p ict is

p e t i ta e Kon i g sb e rg , 1 909 .

BO E TT I C H E R ,
K ,
B a um k u l t u s de r He ll e n en u n d Ro m e r
.
. Be r l i n , 1 8 56 .

BO E T Z K E S ,
R ,
D a s K e r y k e i o n M un s t e r, 19 13
.
.

BO U C H E LE C L-E R Q A H isto i r e de l a
,
.
,
divi n a ti o n da n s l
’
a n t i q ui tE .
4 vo l s .

P a r i s 1 8 79 8 2 ,
—
.
338 G RE E K AND ROMAN MYT HO LOGY
BO U C H E LE C L E R Q , A , L Astr o l o g ie gr ec q ue P a r i s,
’
-
. . 1 8 99 .

Le co n s d histo i re g r e c q ue P a r i s, 1 9 1 3
’
. .

BRA U N , E , Gr ieclt isc he Mytho l o gie Ha m b u r g

. . an d G o th a , 1 8 50 .

BR EA L , l\4 .
,
Méla n ges de m ytho l o g i e et de l i n g uisti q ue . P a ri s, 1 8 77 .

BR I N T O N , D G . .
,
Reli gi o n s of P r i m i tive P eo p les . N ew Yo r k 1 8 99 , .

BR O W N , R .
,
S e m iti c I nfluen ce i n Helle n i c Mytholo gy . Lo n do n 1 8 98 , .

BRU C H MA N N , C F H , Ep i the ta deo r um q ua e a p ud p o e ta s Gra ecos le

. . .

g u n tur (S u pp l e m e n t t o Ro sc h e
’
r s Le i p z i g , 1 8 93 .

BU B B E , G UA LT E RUS , D e m e ta m o rp hosib us Gr a e co r um ca p i ta selecta .

Hall e ,
19 1 3

BURS I AN , C Ue b er de n li g i cise n Cha r a k ter des g r i echische n Mythos

'

.
,
re .

Mun i c h ,
1 8 75 .

BUTT MA N N , P . K , Mytho l o g us, Ge sa m m e lte Ab ha n dl un ge n ub er die

.

S a gen des Alter thum s 2 v o l s Be r li n , 1 8 2 8 2 9 . .

—
.

C AM P B E LL , L , Reli gi o n i n Greek Li tera tur e

. . Lo n do n an d N ew Yo r k ,

1 8 98 .

CARO LI D I S , P .
,
Be m er k un ge n z u de n a lten k l e i n a sia tische n S p ra chen un d
Mythe n . S t r a ssb u rg , 19 1 3 .

C E RQ UA N D , J . F .
,
Etudes de m ytho l o g ie gr ecq ue : Ulysse et Ci r ce; Les
S i r e n es . P a r i s, 18 73 .

C H AD W I C K H ,
. M .
,
The Her o i c Age . C a m b r i dg e , 1 9 12 .

C L A R K E , H EL E N A , An ci en t Myths i n . Mo der n P o ets . N ew Yo r k ,

1 9 10 .

C O LL I G N O N M Ma n ua l of Mytho l o gy i n Rel a ti o n to Gre e k Ar t (t r a ns

,
.
,

l at e d a n d e n l a rg e d by J E Ha rr i so n ) Lo n do n 1 8 99 . . .
, .

C O N S T AN T B D e l a r eli gi o n co n sider ee da n s sa so ur ce ses f o r m es e t ses

,
.
, ,

déve l o p p e m e n ts . P a r i s, 1 8 31 .

C O N Z E , A , Her o e n un d Gb tte r gesta lte n der gr i echische n K un st Vi e nn a ,

'

. .

1875 .

C OO K , A B , . . Z e us i ,
. C a m b r i dg e , 1 9 14 .

COO K, S A ,
“
. . T h e E v o l u ti o n o f P r i m i tiv e T h o u g ht , in Essa ys a n d
S t udi es p re sen te d t o W i l l i a m Ridg ew a y, p p 37 5 ff C a m b r i dg e , . .

19 13 .

The Fo un da ti o n s o f Relig i o n . Lo n do n , 1 9 14 .

CO R B E L L I N I , C A T ER I NA , a rg ivi n e ll a Bo io t ia e l in t re cc io G l i E ro i
“ ’

de l c i c l o t ro ia n o c o l t e b a n o i n S I FC x ix 337 49
” —
,
.

“
G li E ro i de l c i c l o e r a c l e o n e l c atal o g o o m e r i co de ll e n avi in ,

S I F C xix 350 59 .
—

CO R N F O R D F M “
He r m e s P a n Lo g o s in CQ i ii 2 8 1 8 4
,
. .
, , , , .
—

Fr o m Rel ig i o n to P hi lo so p hy Lo n do n 1 9 1 2 .
, .
34 0 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
E N G E L MAN N , R .
,
Bi lde r - Atl a s z um Ho m e r . Le i p z i g , 1 8 89 .

E V E L Y N -W H I T E , H G . .
,
“
T he Myt h o f t h e N o st o i ,
”
i n CR xxiv . 2 0 1—0 5

“
He sio de a in CQ v n 2 1 7 if ,
. .

FA I R BAN K S A A Ha n db o o k of Gr ee k Rel igi o n

,
.
,
. N ew Yo r k , 1 91 0 .

The Mytho l o gy of Yo r k 1 9 1 2 Gre e ce and Ro m e . N ew ,

.

FA R N E LL L R Cults of the Gree k S ta tes 5 v o l s Ox fo r d 1 8 96 1 908

,
. .
,
. .
,
—
.

“
E vi de n c e o f G r e e k Re li g i o n in t h e T e x t a n d In t e r p r e tati o n
o f Atti c T r a g e dy in CQ iv 1 7 8 90 ,
.
—

G reece a n d Ba b yl o n E di n b u r g h 1 9 1 1 .
,
.

The Hi g he r Asp ects of Gr ee k Re l i g i o n N e w Yo r k 1 9 1 2 .

,
.

FE RRA B I N O A K a lyp so : S a gg i o d un a sto r i a de l m ito T ur i n 1 9 14

’
. . .
, , ,

F I C K A Vo r gr ie chische Or tsn a m e n G o tti ng e n 1 90 5

,
.
,
.
,
.

Ha ttide n un d D a n ub ier i n Gr i eche n l a n d G otti n g en 1 909 .

, .

F I S K E J Myths a n d Myth Ma k e rs Bo st o n 1 8 96
,
.
,
-
.
,
.

F O S T E R B O T h e D u r ati o n o f t h e T ro j a n W a r i n A] P xxxv
,
“
. .
, , .

30 8
—
2 94

F O UCART , P , Les Myste res d Ele usis P a r i s 19 14

.
’
.
,
.

“
F ox W S
,
T h e J o h n s Ho p k i ns T ab e ll a e D e fi xio n um
. .
, , in A] P
Su p p l e m e n t xxxiii p a r t 1 ,

F RA Z ER J G The Go lden Bo ugh 3r d e d

,
. .
, ,

P a r t i The Ma g i c Ar t a n d the Evo l uti o n of K i n gs 2 v o l s

. . . Lo n do n ,
19 1 1 .

P a rt ii . Ta b o o a n d the P er i ls of the S o ul Lon do n , 19 1 1 . .

P ar t i ii . The D yi n g Go d Lo n do n , 19 1 1 . .

Pa rt iv . Ado n is, Attis, Osi r is 2 v o l s Lo n do n , 1 9 14 . . .

Part v . S p i r i ts of the Co r n a n d of the W ild 2 v o l s Lo n do n , . . 19 1 2 .

P a rt vi . The S c a p e g o a t Lo n do n , 1 9 1 3 . .

P a rt vii . Ba lde r the Be a utif ul 2 v o l s Lo n do n , 1 9 1 3 . . .

f Gr eece t r a n sl at e d wi t h a m m on
’
P a usa n i as s D esc r ip ti o n o , co

ta r y by J G F r a z e r 2 md . . . ed . c o r re c e d t . 6 vo ls . Lo n do n , 19 13 .

F R I E D L AND ER ,
P .
,
Ar g o l i ca . Be r li n , 1 90 5

He r a kles: S a ge n ge schi c htl i che Un te rsuchun ge n . Be r li n , 1 90 7 .

“
K r i ti sc h e Un t e r such un g e n z ur G e sc h i c h t e de r He l de n sa g e
(1 ) Arg o n a u t e n ; (2 ) D e r K r i e g um T h e b e n ; (3) l a Ma s axio m s
”
,

i n RM lxix 2 99— 34 1 .

FRI E S C, ,
.
“
Ba byl o n i sc h e un d g r i e ch i sche Myt h o l o g i e ,
in N] ix .

6 8 9 if .

S t udi e n z ur Ody s se e , i D a s Z a g m uk fe st a uf S cher i a

“
un d de r
Ur sp ru n g de s D r a m a s, i n MVG xv
”
.
 B I BLI OG RA P HY 34 1
FRI ES C ,
.
,
S t udi e n z ur Od y sse e ii ,
Ody sse us de r b h i k sh u , in Al l/ G
xvi .

FRI E S C,
D i e g r ie c hisc he G o tte r un d Il e r o e n
.
, vo m a st r a l m t ho l o
y g isc he n
S ta n dp un k t a us b e t r a c hte t Be r l i n , 1 9 1 1 . .

F R O TH I N G H AM ,
A L . .
,
“
Me dusa Ap o ll o , ,
an d t he G re a t Mo t h e r ,

in Aj A xv 34 9 7 7 .
—

l\ Ie dusa , t h e Ve g e tati o n G o rg o n e i o n ,
/

in Aj A xix . 1 3— 2 3

FU RT W AN G L E R , A , . C h a ro n ,
in AR viii . 19 1 ff .

G A R D I N ER , A , Ta les of Old, b e i n g . Myths an d Le ge n ds f

o G r ee ce and

Ro m e Lo n do n , 1 909
. .

G A R D N ER , E , Re lig i o n . and Ar t i n An c ie n t G r ee ce . Lo n do n an d N ew
Yo r k , 1 9 10 .

G A RD N E R, P .
,
Or i g i n s o f Myth . Ox fo rd, 1 8 96 .

G AY L E Y , C . The Cl a ssi c Myths i n Li te r a t ur e a n d i n Ar t, ba se d

or i g i n ally on Bullfi n c h , Age of Fa b le Bo st o n a n d N e w . Yo r k ,

19 1 1 .

M
G E L DA R T , E . .
,
Fo l k l o r e f Mo de r n
o G r ee ce . Lo n do n , 18 84 .

G E N N E P A VA N ,
.
,
La Fo r m a ti o n des lé g e n des . P a r i s, 1 9 10 .

Ri tes de p assa ge . P a r i s, 19 1 1 .

De l a m é t h o de
51 su iv r e da n s l e t u de de s r i t e s e t de s m yt h e s,
in Re vue de l U e B e lles, xvi
’
n i v er s i t de r u x
50 5 2 3 (19 10
—
.

G E R HA R D , E , G i
r e c h i sc h e M y t h.o l o g i e B e li n , 1 8 54 55
r —
. .

G E RL AND , G .
,
D er Mythus vo n de r S i n tfl ut . Bo n n , 19 1 2 .

G I L B ER T , O , G r ie chische Gdtte r le hre i n ihr e n Gr un dz ii gen da r geste ll t

. .

Le i p z i g , 1 8 9 8 .

G r i e c hisc he Re li g i o n sp hi l oso p hie . Le i p z i g , 19 1 1 .

G I R A R D , J, Le S e n ti m e n t G r e ce d Ho m ére d Eschyle P a ri s,
’
. re lig i e ux en .

1 8 69 .

G O MM E , A W , T o p o g r a p h y o f Bo e o ti a a n d
. . t he T h e o ri e s of M .

B e r a r d,
”
i n ABS A xvi ii 1 8 9 2 10 (19 1 1
—
.

T h e Le g e n d o f C a dm u s a n d t h e Lo g o g r a p h i, i n ] HS xxxi i i
“
.

53 7 4 ,
-
2 2 3 45 ( 1 9 1 3)
-

G o w , A S F , E l p i s a n d P a n do r a in He si o d s W o r k s a n d D ay s, in
“ ’
. . .

Essa ys a n d S tudi es p r ese n ted to W i ll ia m Ridg ew a y, p p 99 ff . .

C a m b r i dg e ,
19 13 .

G RU PP E , 0 D i e r i e c hi sc he K ul te un d Mythe n L ei p z ig , 1887
, g . .

Gr iechische Mytho l o g i e un d Re l ig i o n sgeschic hte (Ha n db uch de r

kl a ssischen Alter tum sw isse n sc haf t, h e r a u sg e g e b e n v o n D r I wa n .

v o n Mu ll e r , V Ba n d, 2 Ab t e il un g ) 2 vo l s Mun i c h , 1 906
. . . . .
 34 2 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M Y THO LO G Y

G RU PP E O , D ie m ytho l o gische Li
,
.
te r a tur , a us de n J ah re n 1 8 98 — 1 90 5

f u Al m i h f Su p p l Le i p z i g ,
'

h b i h t u w t
(j a r es e r c t r t e r s sse n sc a . .

1 90 8 .

“
D ie e h e rn e S c h w e ll e un d de r t h o r i k isc h e Ste i n , in AR xv .

359 79
-
( 19 1 2 )
G U E RB E R, G .
,
The Myths of Gr ee ce a n d Ro m e Lo n do n 1907 .
, .

G UMME R E , F . B, . Myth a n d Allego r y Hav e r fo r d C o ll eg e S t udi e s

.
,
1 8 92 .

U N N I N l i i ssi m is q ua est i o n es se lecta e

G G P G D e C
,
e o r u m f a b u
.
s a n t i q u .
,
.

Am st e r da m 1 9 1 2 ,

H AB E R T O L,
a R e l i g i o n d.
e l a
,
G r E ce a n ti q ue P a r i s 1 9 10 .
,
.

HA H N J G V O N
,
.
S a g e n w is s e
.
n sc h af tl i c h e S t u di en
,
J ena 1 876 .
,
.

Gr i e c hisch e u n d a l b a n e si sc h e M a r che n 2 v o ls L e i p zig 1 8 64 . .

, .

H A LL I DA Y W R Gr e e k D i vi n a t i o n L o n d o n 1 1
9 3 .
.
,
.

,
.
,

H A RRI S J R,
Th e C u l.
t of t h e H ea v en
.
l
,
y T w i n s C a m b r i dg e 1 906 .
, ,

Bo a n e r g es C a m b r i dg e 1 9 1 3 .
,
.

”
T h e D i o scu r i in By z a n ti um a n d t he N e i g h b o u r h o o d in
“
,

Essa ys S tudi es p r ese n ted to W i ll i a m Ridg ew a y, p p 54 7 ff

and . .

C a m b r i dg e , 1 9 1 3 .

HA RR I S O N , JAN E E LLE N , Mytho l o gy a n d Mo n um e n ts of An cie n t Athen s .

Lo n do n a n d N e w Yo r k , 1 8 90 .

Rel i gi o n of An cie n t Gr ee ce . Lo n do n , 1 906 .

P r o le g o m en a to the S tudy of Gre e k Re l ig i o n . 2 md e d . C a m b r i dg e,

1 90 8 .

The m is, A S tudy of the S oci a l Or i g i n s of Gr ee k Re l ig i o n , wit h

a n e x c u r sus o n t h e r i t u al fo r m s p r e se r v e d in G r e e k t r a g e dy by

P ro fe sso r G ilb e r t Nl urr a y , a n d a c h a p t e r o n t h e o r i g i n o f t h e

Oly m p i c g a m e s by Mr F M C o r n fo r d C a m b r i dg e , 19 12 . . . . .

HA R T L AND E S Mytho lo gy a n d Fo l k ,
. .
,
-
Ta les . Lo n do n , 1 900 .

HA R T MAN N W D e q ui n q ue a e ta tib us ,
.
,
Hesi ode is . F re ib u rg - im -Bre i s
g a u, 19 1 5 .

HA R T U N G , J . A Die Rel ig i o n
.
,
un d Mytho lo g ie de r Gr ieche n .
4 p a rts .

Le i p z i g , 1 8 65 —
73.

HA UR Y I D a s e l e usi n ische Fest

,
.
,
ursp r un gli ch ide n tisch m i t de m La ub
hutte nf est de r ] ude n . Mu n i ch ,
1 9 14 .

H E D EN E II o m e r ische G 6tte rstudie n Up sal a 19 1 2

,
.
,
.
,
.

H E I D E MAN N L Z um e thn ische n P r o b le m Gr ie che n la n ds

,
.
, . Be r li n , 19 14 .

H EI N E MAN N K ,
.
,
Tha n a tos i n P o esi e un d K un st de r Gr ie che n . Mun i ch ,

19 1 3 .

HE P D I N G , H .
,
Attis se i n e Mythe n un d se i n K ult . G i es se n , 1 903 .
344 G RE E K AND RO MAN M YT HO LOG Y
LAN G , A Custo m a n d Myth N e w Yo r k 1 9 10
.
,
.
,
.

The W o r ld of Ho m e r Lo n do n 1 9 10 .
,
.

“
Myt h o l o g y ,
in E n cycl o p a edi a Br i ta n n i ca (l 1t h ed .
) xi x .

12 8 ff .

LA Q U EUR , R , Z ur g r i e c h i sch e n S a g e n c h ro n o g r a p h ie ,
. in H x li i .

5 3
1 —
32 (190 7 )
LA W S O N , J . C , Mo de r n Gree k F o lk l o re a n d An c ie n t Greek Reli gi o n
. .

C a m b r i dg e ,
1 9 10 .

LE A F , W .
,
Tr o y, A S tudy i n Ho m er i c Geo gr a p hy Lo n do n 1 9 1 2 .
, .

LE C L E R c D ES S E PT C H EN ES Essa i sur l a r e li gi o n des a n cie n s Grecs

-
, .

P a r i s, 17 8 7 .

LE O N H A R D , W , He tti te r un d Am a z o n e n D i e g r i echische Tr a di ti o n uber

'

. .

di e Cha tti un d e i n Ve r such z u i hr e r histo r ische n Ve r w er t un g .

Le i p z i g a n d Be r li n , 1 9 1 1 .

LO B E C K , C A , Agl a o p ha m us si ve de the o l o gi a e m ysti ca e Gr a eco r um

. .

ca n sis 2 vo l s Kon i g sb e rg , 1 8 2 9
. . .

LO I S Y A D i o n y so s iv
”
et Or p h é e , i n RHLR . 1 30— 54

Cyb el e et Atti s ,
in RHLR iv . 2 8 9— 32 6

LO RE N Z , F , D a s T i ta n e n —Mo tiv in all g e m e i n e n Myt h o l o g i e

“
. de r ,

in I m a g o ii 2 2 — 7 2 .

LO W Y ,
E .
,
“
Z ur Ait hio p is,
”
in N ] xxxii i . 8 1— 9 4
LU N G , G . E .
,
Me m n o n ,
arc hdo l o g isc he S tudie n z ur Ai thi op is . Bo n n ,
19 1 2

Mc D A N I E L W ,
. B, . S o m e G r e e k , Ro m a n an d E n g li sh T it y re t us,
in A] P xxxv .
52 6 6
—

MA L T E N ,
L , K yr e n e , S a ge n g eschi chtl i che un d histo r ische
. Un tersuchun
g en . Be r li n , 1 9 1 1 .

He p h ai st o s BAI
”
,
in ] xxv n . 2 32 —6 4

Ely sio n un d Ra da m a n t h y s,
] xxvi i i 35 51 ”
in BAI .
—

D a s P fe r d im T o t e n g la u b e n in ] BAI xxix 1 7 9 2 55 ,
.
—

MAN N H A R D T W An ti k e W a ld un d Fe ldk ulte 2 v o l s Be r li n 1904—0 5

,
.
,
. .
, .

MA R E TT R R The Thr esho ld of Re l igi o n Lo n do n 1909

,
. .
,
.
,
.

MAT z F D ie N a tur p erso n ifi k a ti o n i n de r gr iechische n K un st G o tti n

,
.
, .

gen, 19 1 3

MA UR Y A ,
.
,
Histo i r e des re li g i o n s de l a Gr éce a n ti q ue .
3 vo l s . P a ri s
1 8 57— 59
MA Y E R M Die Gi ga n te n un d Ti ta n e n i n der a n ti ke n
,
.
, S a g e un d K un st .

Be r li n 1 8 8 7 ,
.

MENA R D R J La Mythol o gie da n s l a r t a n cie n e t

,
. .
,
’
m o de r n e . P a r i s,
18 78 .
 B I B LIO G RA P HY 34 5

ME N RA D J D e r Ur m yth us de r Odyssee un d se i n e dic hte r z sc he Er ne ue

,
.
,

r un g : D es S o n n e n g o ttes E r de nf a h r t Mun i c h , 19 10 . .

l\ l E Y E R , E , G esc hic hte des Alte r t um s

'
. . 2 nd ed . Vo l . i , p a r t 2 . S t utt g a rt
a n d Be r li n , 1 909 .

ME Y E R E H I n do ge r m a n ische Mythe n 2 v o l s Be rli n 1 8 8 3 8 7

,
. . .
,
—
.

MI C H E L C Le C ul t e d Esc ula p e da n s l a r e li g i o n de la G r e c e a n
’
.
,

c ienn e i n RHLR i 44 ff
,
. .

MO MM S E N A Feste de r S ta dt Athe n i m Al te r t um Le i p z i g 1 8 98
,
.
,
.
, .

MOS S N E R O D ie Mytho l o g ie i n de r do r ische n un d a lta tt ische n K o

,
.
,

m o di e E r la n g e n 1 90 7
.
,

“
l\/IU E L D E R D D a s K y k lo p e n g e dic h t de r Ody sse e
,
.
, in H xxxviii , .

1
4 4
—
55 (190 3)
MU LL ER F M ,
. .
, C o m p a r ativ e Myt h o l o g y ,
in Chip s f r o m a Ge r m a n
W o r ksho p . Vo l . ii . Lo n do n , 1 8 58 .

MULL E R H ,
. D .
,
Mytho lo gie de r g r i ec hisc he n S ta m m e . 2 vo ls .
G o tti n
gen , 1 8 57
—
61 .

MU LL E R ,
K O . .
,
P r o le g o m e n a z u ei n er w isse n sc ha tli che n f Mytho l og ie .

G o tti n g e n , 182 5 .

MU LL ER ,
P F ,
D i e a n t.ik e n O d y ss e e
.
-
I ll ustr a ti o n e n i n ihr e r k un sthisto
r isc he n E n tw i c k l un g Be r li n , 1 9 1 3 . .

MULLE R ,
V . K .
,
D er P o lo s, die g r i e c hisc he Go tte r k r o ne . Be r li n ,
19 1 5 .

MULLE R W M ,
. .
,
Ma r sya s ,
in OL 4 33— 36
h I U R RAY , G .
,
The Rise f
o Gr ee k Ep i c Ox fo r d,
t he . 1 90 7 .

Fo ur S ta ges o f Gr ee k Re li g io n N e w Yo r k , . 19 1 2 .

N A E G E L S BA C H , C F V O N , D i e n a chho m er ische The o l o gie des gr iech

. .

ische n Vo lksgl a ub e n s bis a uf Alex a n de r N urn b e rg , 1 8 57 .

,

Ho m e r isc he The ol o g ie (3rd ed . re vi se d by G . Aut e n rie t h) .

N ur n b e rg ,
1884 .

N EU S T AD T , E .
,
D e I o ve Cr e tic o . Be r li n , 1 90 6 .

N I CHO LS O N W ,
.
,
Myth an d Re li g i o n . He l si n g fo rs ,
1 8 92 .

N I L LS O N , M . P .
,
Gr i e c hische F este vo n re lig i dse r Be de utun g . Le i p z i g ,
190 6 .

D ie a l t e st e g r ech i i sc h e Z e i t re c hn un g ,
Ap o ll o un d de r Or ien t ,

in AR xiv .
4 3 48
2 —

Der Ursp ru n g de r T r a g o die , in N ] xxv n . 609 ff ,

6 7 3 ff .

N O C E RA V ,
.
,
I S i m b o li m i to l o g i c i n egl i ste m m i e d e m b l e m i g r ec i e ro

mane . T e r r a n o va , S i c ily , 1 9 1 3 .
34 6 G RE E K AND ROMAN M YTHO LO G Y
OH N E F A L S C H-RI C HT E R , M .
,
K yp r os, the Bible and Ho m e r . 2 vo l s .

Lo n do n , 1 8 93 .

OLD F A I H E R , W A , Lo k r i k a
’ ‘
. . . Mun i c h ,
1 90 8

OR E L LI , C . V ON , Allge m e i n e Reli gi o n sgeschi chte . 2n d ed . 2 vo l s . Bo nn ,

19 1 3 .

OS TH O F F , H ,
E ty m o l o g i sc.h e Be i t r a g e z ur Myt h o l o g i e un d Re l i g i o n s
g e sc h i c h t e , in AR x 44 74
—
.

OV E R B E C K , J .
,
Gr ie c hische K un stm ytho l o g ie . Le i p z i g , 187 1 ff .

Ue b e r di e Gr un dl a ge n des idea le n i h h i GOtterbildes Le i p

'

g r e c sc en .

Z ig , 1 8 7 5 .

PA S CA L , C .
,
S tudi di a n ti c hi td e m i to l o g i a . Mila n ,
1 8 96 .

P E N KA , K D ie vo r he lle n ische Be vb lk er un g Gr i eche n l a n ds Hil db urg s

’

. .
,

h a u se n 1 9 1 1 ,
.

P H I L P O T Mrs JH
,
. . .
,
The S a cred Tr ee, or The Tree i n Rel i gi o n an d Myth .

Lo n do n 1 8 97 ,
.

P O E RN E R , J .
,
D e Cur e tib us et Co r yb a n tib us . Hall e , 19 1 3

P O W E LL , B , E r i chtho n i us a n d the Thr ee D a ug hters

. o f Cecr o p s . N ew
Yo r k , 1906 (di ss Co rn e ll Un iv e rsity) . .

P RE LLE R , L -RO B ER T , C . .
,
Gr i echische Mytho logie i ,
.
4t h ed . Be r li n ,
1 8 94 .

P R E ME R S T E I N , A . VON , Kleo b is un d Bi t o n , in ] HAI x iii .

—
4 1 49

Q U AND T G , D e Ba ccho
,
. ad Alexa n dr i a e ta te m i n Asi a Mi n are cul to .

H all e 1 9 1 3 ,

RAD E RMA CH E R, L .
,
“
Myt hic a ,
in W S x xxi v . 28 —
36 xxxvi .

32 0 —
28

in RM 1x 58 4— 93
“
Z ur Ha de sm y t ho lo g ie , .

RAD ET , G Cyb éb é, Etude sur les tr a n sf o r m a ti o n s p l a sti q ues d un typ e

’
.
,

di vi n . Bo r de a u x , 1 909 .

Q ue l q ue s re m a r q u e s n o u v e ll e s la dé e s se C yb eb e ,
“ ”
sur in
REA xi ii 7 5 7 8 .
—

RAMO RI N O , F . Mila n 1 9 1 1
,
IlI i to l o gi a cl a ss ca i i l l ustr a ta .
,
.

RE I C H E L W Ueb er vo r helle n ische Go tte r k ulte V i e n n a 1 8 97

'

, ,
. . .
,

RE I NAC H A L Or ig in e de s Am a z o n s in RHR lxvi ii 2 7 7 30 7

,
.
”
,
’
,
.
—

“
L Or ig in e de de u x l ég e n de s h o m é r i q ue s i n RHR lxi x
’ ” —
,
. 12 33

RE I NAC H , S .
, Ae t o s P ro m e t h e u s, in RA, 4t h se r e i s x ,
.
59
—8 1

Cultes ,
m ythes et re l ig i o n s .
4 v o l s P.a r i s 1 90 8 — 12
,
.

Le a ifi c e de s cr T y n da re , i n RHR lxvii i 1 33 4 5 .
—

Orp he us P a r i s .
,
19 14 .
34 8 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y
S E I F F E R T, O .
,
D ie To te n schl a n ge au f l a k o n isc hen Relief s . Br e s l a u
1 11

g
.

S EY M U R, T D . .
,
Lif e i n the Ho m e r i c Ag e . N ew Yo r k ,
1 90 8 .

S H E W AN , A , T h e W at e r fo wl G o dde ss, P e n e l o p e
“
. an d h e r S o n Fa n ,
in C xxix 37 40
R —
.

SI E C K E, E . Mythus S a ge Ma r che n
, , ,
i n ihr e n Bez i e hun gen z ur Geg e n
w a rt . Le i p z i g 1 906 ,
.

D ra che n k am pf e : Un tersuchun g en z ur i n do g e r m a n ische n S a ge n

k un de Le i p z i g , 1 90 7 . .

S M I TH , S C K . . .
,
The El e m e n ts o f Gr ee k W o rship . Lo n do n , 19 1 5 .

S O MM ER , L .
,
D a s Ha a r i n Rel i g i o n un d Ab er gl a ub e n der G r i eche n .

Mti n st e r ,
19 1 2

S O UR D I L L E , C , .
“
Un e T h éo r i e r é c e n t e sur l a fo r m ati o n du m yt he
in REA xiv 2 6 7 ff
’

d Ep a p h o s,
’
. .

ST E UD I N G , H Gr i e chische un d r b m ische Mytho lo gie Le i p z i g ,

’

.
,
. 191 1 .

STO R C K , K Di e ci lteste n S a ge n der I n sel K e os G i e sse n ,

'

.
,
. 19 1 2

SWA I N , J . S S e e D UR KH E I M , EM I LE
. .

S W I ND LER M H Cr e ta n El e m e n ts i n the Cults a n d Ri tua l of Ap o l lo

,
. .
, .

Bry n Maw r P a 1 9 1 3 ,
.
,

S Y B E L L V O N D i e Mytho l o gi e de r I li as Ma r b u rg 1 8 77
,
.
,
.
,
.

T H O M P S O N J A K S tudi es i n the Odysse y Ox fo r d 1 9 14

,
. . .
, .
,
.

T OP F E E R J Attisc he Ge n e a lo gi e Be r li n 1 8 8 9
,
.
,
.
,

11 S a c r ifi c io di Po li sse n a in AtR xv 11 1 9 38
“
T OS I T
”
—
,
.
, , .

T O U T A I N J Et udes de m ytho l o g ie e t d histo i r e des r eli gi o n s a n ti q ues

’
,
.
, .

P a r i s 1 909 ,
.

US E N E R H K Go tter n a m en Bo n n 1 8 96
,
. .
,
.
, .

Die S i n tfluthsa ge n . Bo n n , 1 8 99 .

Myt h o l o g i e in AR V ii 6 ff
“
,
”
. .

V I G N I O LI T Myth a n d S ci e n ce Lo n do n
,
.
,
.
,
1882 .

V O L L G RA F F W
“
D i o n y so s El e ut h e re us
,
.
, ,
i n A M x x xn 56 7 7 5
—
”
.

V URT H E I M, J, D e Ai a c is . o r i g i n e c ul t u p a t r i a , a cce dun t c o m m e n ta t i o n es

tr es: de Am a z o n ib us, de Ca r n e is, de Te l eg o n i a Le y de n , 1 90 7 . .

Te uk r os un d Te uk r e r . Ro tt e r da m , 19 1 3 .

“
WA R D W ,
H , T h e G re e k a n d t h e Hi tti t e G o ds, in Essa ys p rese n ted
. .

to C A Br i ggs N e w Yo r k 1 9 1 1
. . .
,
.

Asi ati c I n fl u e n c e in G re e k Myt h o l o g y , in S tudies p r ese n ted

to C . 11 To y . . N ew Yo r k ,
19 1 2 .

WA S ER O ,
.
,
Ub e r die i usse re E r sc h e i n u n g de r S e e l e in de n Vo rst e l
L
'

l un g e n de r Vol k e r , z um al de r al t e n G r i e c h e n ,
”
in AR xvi 336 —8 3 .
 B I B LI OG RA P HY 34 9
WA S ER ,
O .
,
T h e se u s un d P r o k ro ust e s, in AA xxix . 2
3 3
— 8

Agyp tisc h
’

WEBER , \V .
,
-
g r i ec h isc he Cot te r i n Il e l le n ism us . G ro n i n g e n ,

19 1 2 .

W E I C K ER , G .
,
D e r S e el e n vo g e l i n de r a lte n Li te r a tur un d K un st . Le i p z i g ,
1 90 2 .

W E L C K ER F G ,
. .
,
G r i e c hische G o tte r le hr e 3 v o l s G o tti n g e
.
1 8 57 6 3 . n ,
—

W E LL MA N N M ,
.
,
“
Be i t r a g z ur G e sc h i c h t e de r a tti s he n Ko n ig sl ist e c
,

in H (
554 6 3 1 9 10 ) xlv .
—
.

W I D E , S , La k o n ische K ulte Le i p z i g , 1 8 93
. . .

Ar ti c l e o n G re e k Re l i g i o n , in G e rc k e a n d N o r de n s Ei n
” ’

l e i t un g i n di e Al te r t um sw isse n c haf t , iii 1 9 1— 2 55 Le i p z i g , 19 10 . . .

W I LAM O W I I Z —MO E LLE N D O R F F , U V O N , G re e k Histo r ica l W r it i n g a n d

’ ‘

Ap o ll o , T w o l e c t ur e s de l iv e re d b e fo r e t h e Un iv e rsi ty o f Ox fo rd .

Ox fo r d, 1 90 8
VU N DT , W
V Ma rc h e n S a g e un d Le g e n de
.
,
“
, a ls E n twi c k l un g sfo r m e n
de s Myt hu s in AR xi 2 00 2 3
”
—
,
.

Le i p z i g , 1 909
VOl k e r p sycho l o g i e . .

“
W U N S C H , R , G r i e c h i sc h e un d rOm isc he Re l i g i o n
. 1 90 6— 1 9 10 , in
A xiv 5 1 7 60 2
R —
.

(b ) Ro m a n
AG AHD R ,
M T e r e n t n Va r ro n is a n t iq uit a t um r e ru m div in a r um
.
,
.

l ib r i i xiv xv xvi in ] P S up p l e m e n tb a n d xxiv 1 2 2 0

, , , ,
”
.
—

AL B E R T M Le Cul te de Ca sto r e t P o ll ux e n I ta l ie P a r i s 1 8 8 3
,
.
,
.
,
.

ALLE N KA TH A R I N E The Tr e a tm e n t of N a tur e i n the P o e tr y of the Ro m a n

, ,

Rep ubli c Un iv e r sity o f W i sc o n si n 1 8 99 .

,

AN Z I AN I D D é m o n o l o g i e é t r usq ue in MAH xxx 2 57 7 7

” —
. .
, , ,

AU S T E Di e Re li g i o n de r Ro m e r Mun st e r 1 8 99
,
.
,
.
,
.

AX T E LL H L The D e ifi ca ti o n of Abstra ct I de a s i n Ro m a n Lite r a t ure

,
. .
,

a n d I n scr i p ti o n s C h i c a g o 1 90 7 .
,
.

BI ND E R J D ie P l e b s Le i p z i g 1 909
,
.
,
.
,
.

BI R T T K ul tur gesc hi chte Ro m s Le i p z i g 1 9 1 1

,
.
,
.
,
.

BO I S S I E R G La Re l ig i o n r o m a i n e 2 v o l s P a r i s 1 90 6
,
.
,
. .
,
.

C A R T ER J B D e de o r um Ro m a n o r um co g n o m i n ib us q ua estio n e s se le c
,
. .
,

ta e Hall e 1 8 98
.
,

Ep i the ta de o r um q ua e a p ud p o e ta s La t i n os l eg un t ur (S up p l e
m e n t t o Ro sc h e r s Le i p z i g 1 90 2
’
.
,

T h e C o g n o m i n a o f t h e G o dde ss F o r t un a
“ H
in Tr a n sa ct io n s
‘ ’
,

a n d P r o ce edi n gs of the Am e r i ca n P h i l o l o g i ca l Asso c i a t i o n x xx 60 ,

.

68
350 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M Y THO LO G Y
CA R T E R , J . B .
,
The Re li g i o n f
o N um a . Lo n do n , 1 90 6 .

The Rel ig i o us Lif e o f An ci e n t Ro m e . Bo st o n an d N ew Yo r k ,

19 1 1 .

D ie E t ru sk e r un d die Re l i g i o n , in RMi tt xxv

“
r o m isc h e . .

74 8 8
—

C ata n i a , 1 9 1 1
’
CI AC E RI , E .
,
Cul ti e m i ti ne ll a sto r i a de ll a n t cai S i ci l i a . .

Su ll a p r e t e sa i g i ne e t ese u lt o
“
or cr de l c di Ve n e re e r e c in a , in
A
SS C v 1 6 4 80
—
.

Buch de r Ae n e i s,
“
CO R S S E N , P .
,
D ie S ibyll e im sechs t e n in S, n ew

i
se r e s, i . 1 16
—

C UM O N T ,
F .
,
Les Re l ig i o n s o r i e n ta les da n s le p a g a n ism e r oma in . P a r i s,
1 909 .

La The o l o g ie l i
so a r e du p a ga n ism e ro m a n i . P a r i s, 1 909 .

D E lVIAR CH I , A , l l Culto p r iva to di Ro m a

. a n t i ca . 2 v o l s Mil a n .
, 1 8 96

1 903 .

D EU B N ER , L .
,
Lu p e rc al i a ,
i n AR x i i i 4 8 1 50 8 .
—

“
Z ur E n twi c k l un g sg esch i c h t e de r a lt rOm isc h e n Re l i g i o n , in
N] xiv .
32 1 —
35
“
D OMA S Z E W S K I , A V O N , Eig e n sc h a ft sg o t t e r de r a lt ro m isc h e m Re
.

li g i o n , in Festschr if t z u Otto Hi rschf e ld, p p 2 43 ff Be r li n , 1903

”
. . .

Ab ha n dlun ge n z ur i
r o m sche n Rel i g i o n . Le i p z i g , 1 909 .

D OU G LA S , E . M .
,
“
I n
n o S o sp i ta of La n uv ium ,
”
in ] RS ii i . 6 1 72 —

F O R NA RI F La v a t io Mat r i s D eu m i n BAAR 11 8 7
,
.
, ,
.
—
89
F O W LE R W W The Ro m a n Festiva ls of the P e r i o d of
,
. .
,
the Rep ub lic .

Lo n do n , 1 8 99 .

S o c i a l Lif e Ro m e i n the Age of Ci cer o N e w at . Yo r k ,

1 909 .

The Reli g i o us Exp e r ie n ce of the Ro m a n P e o p le . Lo n do n , 191 1 .

“
T he Oa k a n d t h e T hun de r G o d, -
”
i n AR x vi . 1 —
3 7 20
Ro m a n I dea s of D e i ty N e w Yo r k , 1 9 1 4 . .

F R I E D L AN D ER , L , S i tte n geschi chte Ro m s, 8 t h e d 3 v o l s Le i p z i g , 1 9 10

. . . .

Ro m a n Lif e a n d Ma n n e r s un de r the Ea r ly Em p i r e (E n g li sh
t r a n sl ati o n o f t he 7 t h e d o f t h e fo re g o i n g by L A Ma g n u s) . . . .

3 v o l s L o n
. do n a n d N e w Y o r k 1 90 8 —
09 ,
.

G A LI ET I A,
“
S ul se r p e n t e g e n i o di G i u n o n e S o sp i ta
.
,
i n BAAR i i i ,
.

10— 1 1

G ER C K E , A , . F e ti sc h i sm u s im al t e n Ro m , in D R c l x 78 . 2 68 —

C L O V ER ,
T . R .
,
Co nfl i ct of Re l ig i o n s i n the Ea r ly Ro m a n E m p ir e .

Lo n do n , 1 909 .
352 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LO G Y

S O L TA U , W .
,
D ie E n t st e hu n g de r Ro m ul usl e g e n de , in AR xi i .

—
100 25

T O U TA I N , P a r i s,
’

J . F .
,
Les Cul tes p a t e n s da n s l e m p i r e r om a n i .

1 90 7 .

US E N E R H , ,
. I tal i sc he Myt h e n ,
in RM xx . 182 ff .

V ACCA I , G .
,
Le Feste di Ro m a . T u ri n , 1 90 2 .

V O L L G R AF F ,W D e Ovi di o m ythop o e i a Be r l i n 1 90 1
.
,
.
,

W 1D E S Ar ti c l e o n Ro m a n Re li g i o n in G e r c k e a n d N o r de n s
“ ” ’
,
.
, ,

Ei n l e i tun g i n di e Al ter t um sw i sse n sc haf t i i i 2 5 8 8 Le i p z i g

6 —
,
. .
,

19 10 .

W I N T E R J G The Myth of He r cules a t Ro m e (Un iv e r si ty o f Mi ch i g a n

,
. .
,

S t u di e s Hu m a n i sti c S e r i e s iv p a r t
,
N e w Yo r k 1 9 10 , ,
.

W I S S OW A G ROm isc h e S a g e n in P h il o l o g ische Abha n dl un ge n

“ ”
, ,
.
,

Ma r ti n He r tz z um si eb z igste n Geb ur tsta g da r geb r a cht p p 1 56 6 8 ,

.
—
.

Be r li n 1 8 8 8 ,
.

Gesa m m elte Abha n dl un ge n z ur r o m sch e n i Religi o n un d S ta dt

g esc hi c h te Mu n i c h , 1 904 . .

Rel i g i o n un d K ul tus der Ro m er . 2 n d ed . Mu n i ch ,

19 1 2 .

Z E LLE R ,
E .
,
Reli gi o n un d P hil osop hie b e i den Ro m e r n . Be r l i n ,
1872 .

IV . ART I C LE S ON G RE E K AN D ROMAN RE LI G I ON IN
T HE E N CY C LOPAE D I A OF RE LI G I ON AN D E T HI C S
(V O LS I V I I I ) .
—

BE TH E , E .
,
Ag ra ulids, i . 2 2 5 -2 6 .

“
Am p h i a r a u s, ”
i .
393 9 4
—
.

C e c ro p s i i i
”
,
. 2 70 .

D a n a i ds, iv
'

—
. 2
39 9 3 .

BE V AN , E R . .
,
D e ifi c a t io n (G re e k an d Ro m a n ) , iv . 2 —
5 5 33 .

BL A K I S T O N ,
“
H E D . . .
, G r a ia i,
”
vi 38 4 8 5
.
—
.

BL O O M F I E L D , M .
,
“
C e rb eru s ,
”
iii .
31 6 —
18 .

BO S A N Q U E T , Mi ta u r vi i i 6 74 7 6
R C . .
,
no ,
”
.
—
.

BUR N S I F ,
C h a r i t e s i i i 37 2 7 3
.
, ,
”
.
-
.

Co sm o g o n y a n d Co s m o l o g y (G re e k ) ,
iv 14 5 51
.
—
.

Co sm o g o n y a n d Co s m o l o g y iv 1 75 7 6
.
—
.

Fa i t h (G re e k ) v 694 9 5 ,
.
—
.

Fa i t h v 6 97 . .

Ho l i n e ss vi 7 4 1 43 .
—
.

C AM P B ELL L “
Go d , vi 2 79 8 2
.
, .
—
.
 B I BLI OG RA P HY 353
C A R T ER , J B, . .
“
An c e st o r VVo r ship -
an d Cu l t o f t h e D e a d (Ro m a n ) ,
i 4 6 1— 6 6
. .

Ar val Bro t h e r s 11 .
7
—
11 .

Lo v e (Ro m a n ) , vii i . 1 7 8— 80 .

C UR T I S , C D I n i ti ati o n “
.
v u 32 7 2 8.
, .
—
.

D E U B N ER L C h a r m s a n d Am u l e t s (G r e e k ) i i i 4 33 39
,
.
, , .
—
.

“
Fl e e c e (G re e k a n d vi 5 1 52 .
—
.

D UFF J W ,
“
Co m m un i o n wi t h D e ity (G re e k a n d Ro m a n )
. .
,
,
6 —
7 3 71
FA I R BAN K S A Am a z o n s i 370 7 1 ,
.
, ,
.
—
.

FA R N E LL L R G r e e k Re li g i o n vi 392 4 2 5
“
,
. .
, ,
”
.
—
.

F O W LE R W W ,
“
Fo r tu n e . vi 9 8 104 .
, .
—
.

G ARD N E R E A C e n ta u r i i i 306
,
.
,
”
. .

G A R D N ER P I m a g e s a n d I do l s (G re e k a n d Ro m a n ) v n 133 38
,
.
, ,
.
—
.

G RA Y L H , I n c ub ati o n vi i 2 06—0 7
. .
, ,
. .

HA LL F W
, Ab o de o f t h e Bl e st i i 696 9 8
. .
, ,
”
.
—
.

HA RR I S O N J E “
G o rg o n
, vi 330 32 . .
, ,
”
.
—
.

“
H a r p i e s v i 5 1 7 19 ,
.
—
.

I n i ti ati o n V ll 32 2 2 3 .
—
.

K o ur e t e s a n d K o r y b a n t e s vii 7 58 6 0 ,
”
.
—
.

Mo u n tai n Mo t h e r v i ii 8 6 8 6 9 -
,
—
.

HE R B I G G
“
,
E t rusc a n Re li g i o n
.
,
v 532 40 ,
.
—
.

HO G A R TH D G
“
Ae g e a n Re li g i o n i 1 4 1 4 8
,
. .
, ,
”
.
—
.

HO P K I N S E W Hy p e b o re a n s vii 58 59 ” —
,
. .
,
r ,
. .

K R O LL W ,
“
Mo m e n ta ry G o ds vii i 7 7 7 79
.
, ,
”
.
—
.

LA TT E K a n d P E A RS O N A G
,
. Lo v e (G r e e k ) vi ii 1 6 8 7 3 ,
.
, ,
.
—
.

MA I R A W He si o d vi 6 6 8 7 1
. .
, ,
”
.
—
.

Li fe a n d D e at h (G re e k a n d Ro m a n ) vi ii 2 5 31 ,
.
—
.

P E A RS O N A C Ac h e l o u s i 7 3 ”
.
,
. . .
, ,

“
Ac h ill e s i 7 3 7 4 ” —
. .
,

D e m o n s a n d S p i i t s (G r e e k ) iv 590 94 r ,
.
—
.

He ro e s a n d He ro G o ds (G re e k a n d Ro m a n ) V i 6 52 56 —
. .
—
.

Hum a n S a c r ifi c e vi 8 4 7 49 .
—
.

Mo t h e r o f t h e G o ds (G re e k a n d Ro m a n ) vi ii 8 4 7 5 1 , .
—
.

RE I D J S D e m o n s a n d S p i ri t s iv 6 2 0 2 2
'
“ —
. .
,
.
,

Li g h t a n d D a r k n e ss (G e e k a n d vii i 56 60 r .
—
.

RO S E H J F e stiv al s a n d Fa st s v 8 57 6 3
“ -
. .
,
. .
,
”
S AY C E A H C h a o s ii i 36 3 64 —
. .

,
. .
, ,
354 G RE E K AN D ROMAN M YT HO LOG Y
S C O TT , W .
, G i a n t s (G r e e k an d Ro m a n ) ,
S H O RE Y , P , Ho p e (G re e k a n d Ro m a n ) ,
“
.

S H O W E RMAN , G , Atti s, i i 2 1 7 1 8
“ ” —
. . .

“
C yb e l e ,
iv 37 7 7 8 .
—
.

SI KE S E E He a r t h a n d He a r t h G o ds (G r e e k ) vi 56 2 63
“ - —
.
,
. . .
, ,

S M I TH K F
,
“
Ag e s o f t h e W o r l d (G re e k a n d Ro m a n ) i 192 — 2 00
. .
, , . .

He c at e s S u p p e r s v i 565 6 7
“ ” ’
—
. .
,

Ma g i c (G r e e k a n d vi ii 2 69 8 9 .
—
.

“
ST O C K ST G F at e (G r e e k a n d
. .
,
v 7 8 6 90 .
—
.

Fo r tun e vi 93 9 6 .
—
.

I n c a rn a ti o n (G r e e k a n d Ro m a n ) V l l 1 92 9 3 ,
.
—
.

“
T H R AM E R E He al t h a n d G o ds o f He ali n g
,
.
,
vi 540 53 .
-
.

“
He al t h a n d G o ds o f He al i n g vi 553 56 .
—
.

W I S S OW A G D ivi n ati o n (Ro m a n )

,
.
,
iv 8 2 0 2 7 ,
.
—
.

“
He a r t h a n d He a r t h G o ds vi 563 6 5 -
.
—
.

“
W O O D H O US E W J Ap h ro di si a i 604 0 5
,
.
,
”
.
—
.

“
Ap o ll o n i a i 60 8 0 9 ,
—
.

C i m m e r i a n s ii i 6 55 57 ,
.
—
.

”
K e re s, Vll . 687 88—
.

W O O D S F H D e l u g e iv 54 5 57
,
. .
,
.
—
.

W UN S C H R C h a rm s a n d Am u l e t s (Ro m a n ) ii i
,
.
, ,
.
4 6 1—6
5 .

“
C ro ss Ro a ds i v 335 36 -
.
—
.

Hu m a n S a c r ifi c e (Ro m a n ) vi 8 58 6 2 , .
—
.