SOM′NUS. The god of sleep, son of Nox (Night). He was one of the
infernal deities, and resided in a gloomy cave, void of light and air.
SOS′PITA. A name of Juno, as the safeguard of women.
SO′TER. A Greek name of Jupiter, meaning deliverer.
SOUL, see Psyche.
SOUTH WIND, see Auster.
SPEAR, see Pelias.
SPHINX, THE. A monster having the head and breasts of a woman, the
body of a dog, the tail of a serpent, the wings of a bird, the paws of
a lion, and a human voice. She lived in the country near Thebes, and
proposed to every passer-by the following enigma:--“What animal is that
which walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the
evening.” Œdipus solved the riddle thus:--Man is the animal; for, when
an infant he crawls on his hands and feet, in the noontide of life he
walks erect, and as the evening of his existence sets in, he supports
himself with a stick. When the sphinx found her riddle solved she
destroyed herself.
SPIDER, see Arachne.
SPINDLE, see Pallas.
SPINNING, see Arachne, Ergotis.
SPRING, see Vertumnus.
STABLE, see Augæas.
STARS, see Aurora.
STEREN′TIUS. The Roman god who invented the art of manuring lands. See
also Picumnus.
STER′OPES. One of the Cyclopes.
STONE, see Medusa and Phlegyas.
STONE (rolling), see Sisyphus.
STREETS, see Apollo.
STYM′PHALI′DES. The carnivorous birds destroyed in the sixth labour of
Hercules.
STYX. A noted river of hell, which was held in such high esteem by the
gods that they always swore “By the Styx,” and such an oath was never
violated. See Achilles and Thetis.
“To seal his sacred vow by Styx he swore:--
The lake with liquid pitch,--the dreary shore.”