SYLVES′TER. The name of Mars when he was invoked to protect cultivated
land from the ravages of war.
SYRINX. The name of the nymph who, to escape from the importunities
of Pan, was by Diana changed into reeds, out of which he made his
celebrated pipes, and named them “The Syrinx.”
TAC′ITA. The goddess of Silence. See Harpocrates.
TAN′TALUS. Father of Niobe and Pelops, who, as a punishment for serving
up his son Pelops as meat at a feast given to the gods, was placed in
a pool of water in the infernal regions; but the waters receded from
him whenever he attempted to quench his burning thirst. Hence the word
tantalising.
Speaking of this god, Homer’s Ulysses says, “I saw the severe
punishment of Tantalus. In a lake, whose waters approached to his
lips, he stood burning with thirst, without the power to drink.
Whenever he inclined his head to the stream, some deity commanded it
to be dry, and the dark earth appeared at his feet. Around him lofty
trees spread their fruits to view; the pear, the pomegranate, and the
apple, the green olive, and the luscious fig quivered before him,
which, whenever he extended his hand to seize them, were snatched by
the winds into clouds and obscurity.”
“There, Tantalus, along the Stygian bound,
Pours out deep groans,--his groans through hell resound.
E’en in the circling flood refreshment craves
And pines with thirst amidst a sea of waves.”
“... And of itself the water flies
All taste of living wight, as once it fled
The lip of Tantalus.” MILTON.
TAR′TARUS. An inner region of hell, to which the gods sent the
exceptionally depraved.
TELCHI′NES. Priests of Cybele, who were famous magicians.
TEL′LUS. A name of Cybele, wife of Saturn.
TEMPESTS, see Fro.
TEMPLE. An edifice erected to the honour of a god or goddess in which
the sacrifices were offered.
TENTH MUSE. Sappho was so called.
TER′EUS was a son of Mars. He married Progne, daughter of the king of
Athens, but became enamoured of her sister Philomela, who, however,
resented his attentions, which so enraged him that he cut out her
tongue. When Progne heard of her husband’s unfaithfulness she took
a terrible revenge (see Itys). Progne was turned into a swallow,
Philomela into a nightingale, Itys into a pheasant, and Tereus into a
hoopoo, a kind of vulture, some say an owl.
TERGEMI′NA. A name of Diana, alluding to her triform divinity as
goddess of heaven, earth, and hell.
TER′MINUS. The Roman god of boundaries.
TERPSICH′ORE. One of the nine Muses; she presided over dancing.
TERRA. The earth; one of the most ancient of the Grecian goddesses.
THALES′TRIS. A queen of the Amazons.
THALI′A. One of the nine Muses; she presided over festivals and comedy.
THALI′A. One of the Graces.
THAN′YRIS. A skilful singer, who presumed to challenge the Muses to
sing, upon condition that if he did not sing best they might inflict
any penalty they pleased. He was, of course, defeated, and the Muses
made him blind.
THE′IA. A daughter of Cœlus and Terra, wife of Hyperion.
THE′MIS, a daughter of Cœlus and Terra, and wife of Jupiter, was the
Roman goddess of laws, ceremonies, and oracles.
THE′SEUS. One of the most famous of the Greek heroes. He was a son of
Ægeus, King of Athens.
“Breasts that with sympathising ardour glowed,
And holy friendship such as Theseus vowed.”