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_A HAND-BOOK OF MYTHOLOGY._
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THE
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
OF
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME.
BY
E. M. BERENS.
_ILLUSTRATED FROM ANTIQUE SCULPTURES._
[Illustration]
NEW YORK:
MAYNARD, MERRILL, & CO.,
43, 45 AND 47 EAST TENTH STREET.
* * * * *
{i}
PREFACE.
* * * * *
The want of an interesting work on Greek and Roman mythology, suitable for
the requirements of both boys and girls, has long been recognized by the
principals of our advanced schools. The study of the classics themselves,
even where the attainments of the pupil have rendered this feasible, has
not been found altogether successful in giving to the student a clear and
succinct idea of the religious beliefs of the ancients, and it has been
suggested that a work which would so deal with the subject as to render it
at once interesting and instructive would be hailed as a valuable
introduction to the study of classic authors, and would be found to assist
materially the labours of both master and pupil.
In endeavouring to supply this want I have sought to place before the
reader a lifelike picture of the deities of classical times as they were
conceived and worshipped by the ancients themselves, and thereby to awaken
in the minds of young students a desire to become more intimately
acquainted with the noble productions of classical antiquity.
It has been my aim to render the Legends, which form the second portion of
the work, a picture, as it were, of old Greek life; its customs, its
superstitions, and its princely hospitalities, for which reason they are
given at somewhat greater length than is usual in works of the kind.
In a chapter devoted to the purpose some interesting particulars have been
collected respecting the public worship of the ancient Greeks and Romans
(more especially of the former), to which is subjoined an account of their
principal festivals.
I may add that no pains have been spared in order that, without passing
over details the omission of which would have {ii} marred the completeness
of the work, not a single passage should be found which could possibly
offend the most scrupulous delicacy; and also that I have purposely treated
the subject with that reverence which I consider due to every religious
system, however erroneous.
It is hardly necessary to dwell upon the importance of the study of
Mythology: our poems, our novels, and even our daily journals teem with
classical allusions; nor can a visit to our art galleries and museums be
fully enjoyed without something more than a mere superficial knowledge of a
subject which has in all ages inspired painters, sculptors, and poets. It
therefore only remains for me to express a hope that my little work may
prove useful, not only to teachers and scholars, but also to a large class
of general readers, who, in whiling away a leisure hour, may derive some
pleasure and profit from its perusal.
E. M. BERENS.
* * * * *
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CONTENTS.
PART I.--MYTHS.
Page
Introduction, 7
FIRST DYNASTY.
ORIGIN OF THE WORLD--
URANUS AND GAEA (Coelus and Terra), 11
SECOND DYNASTY.
CRONUS (Saturn), 14
RHEA (Ops), 18
DIVISION OF THE WORLD, 19
THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN, 21
THIRD DYNASTY.
OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES--
ZEUS (Jupiter), 26
HERA (Juno), 38
PALLAS-ATHENE (Minerva), 43
THEMIS, 48
HESTIA (Vesta), 48
DEMETER (Ceres), 50
APHRODITE (Venus), 58
HELIOS (Sol), 61
EOS (Aurora), 67
PHOEBUS-APOLLO, 68
HECATE, 85
SELENE (Luna), 86
ARTEMIS (Diana), 87
HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan), 97
POSEIDON (Neptune), 101
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SEA DIVINITIES--
OCEANUS, 107
NEREUS, 108
PROTEUS, 108
TRITON AND THE TRITONS, 109
GLAUCUS, 109
THETIS, 110
THAUMAS, PHORCYS, AND CETO, 111
LEUCOTHEA, 111
THE SIRENS, 112
ARES (Mars), 112
NIKE (Victoria), 117
HERMES (Mercury), 117
DIONYSUS (Bacchus or Liber), 124
AIDES (Pluto), 130
PLUTUS, 137
MINOR DIVINITIES--
THE HARPIES, 137
ERINYES, EUMENIDES (Furiae, Dirae), 138
MOIRAE OR FATES (Parcae), 139
NEMESIS, 141
NIGHT AND HER CHILDREN--
NYX (Nox), 142
THANATOS (Mors), HYPNUS (Somnus), 142
MORPHEUS, 143
THE GORGONS, 144
GRAEAE, 145
SPHINX, 146
TYCHE (Fortuna) and ANANKE (Necessitas), 147
KER, 149
ATE, 149
MOMUS, 149
EROS (Cupid, Amor) and PSYCHE, 150
HYMEN, 154
IRIS, 155
HEBE (Juventas), 156
GANYMEDES, 157
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THE MUSES, 157
PEGASUS, 162
THE HESPERIDES, 162
CHARITES OR GRACES, 163
HORAE (Seasons), 164
THE NYMPHS, 165
THE WINDS, 170
PAN (Faunus), 171
THE SATYRS, 174
PRIAPUS, 175
ASCLEPIAS (AEsculapius), 176
ROMAN DIVINITIES--
JANUS, 178
FLORA, 180
ROBIGUS, 180
POMONA, 180
VERTUMNUS, 181
PALES, 181
PICUS, 182
PICUMNUS AND PILUMNUS, 182
SILVANUS, 182
TERMINUS, 182
CONSUS, 183
LIBITINA, 183
LAVERNA, 184
COMUS, 184
CAMENAE, 184
GENII, 185
MANES, 185
PENATES, 187
PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS--
TEMPLES, 188
STATUES, 190
ALTARS, 191
PRIESTS, 191
SACRIFICES, 192
ORACLES, 194
SOOTHSAYERS, 195
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AUGURS, 196
FESTIVALS, 196
GREEK FESTIVALS--
ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES, 196
THESMOPHORIA, 197
DIONYSIA, 197
PANATHENAEA, 199
DAPHNEPHORIA, 200
ROMAN FESTIVALS--
SATURNALIA, 200
CEREALIA, 201
VESTALIA, 201