Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE STUDENT'S MYTHOLOGY

A Compendium of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian, Hindoo, Chinese, Thibetian, Scandinavian, Celtic, Aztec, and Peruvian Mythologies,

In Accordance with Standard Authorities.

Arranged for the Use of Schools and Academies.

by

C. A. WHITE.

New Edition, Revised and Corrected.

New York. A. C. Armstrong & Son, 714 Broadway. 1889.

Entered According to Act of Congress in the year 1870, by W. J. Widdleton, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. Copyright, 1882, by W. C. Bush.

PREFATORY NOTE.

The Student's Mythology has been in use in manuscript for nearly three years in one of our largest academies, where it has been received with much favor by both teachers and pupils. Even in that form, which subjected them to the inconvenience of long dictations, it was preferred to any of the ordinary text-books on the subject. Copies were sought for the use of other institutions, and the principals of the academy referred to, consented that the work should be prepared for the press.

In carrying out the plan, the subject matter was carefully classified, and such additions made as were deemed necessary for completeness. As a farther precaution, the whole was submitted to the revision of an eminent classical scholar.

Mythology is a subject which needs to be treated with peculiar care; and text-books are often objected to by parents and teachers as still retaining the taint of pagan corruption, and presenting dangerous images to the youthful mind. It was this difficulty which first led to the preparation of the present work. The Student's Mythology lays no claim to any superiority in point of erudition; the text-books already before the public leave nothing to be desired in this particular. It is a practical work, prepared by an experienced teacher, and already submitted to the decisive test of the schoolroom. It is not designed for young persons who are already advanced in classical studies, but rather for pupils who have not yet entered, or who, like the greater number of those attending our female academies, are not likely ever to enter upon any regular classical course. For the former, it may prove a useful introduction to these studies, while the latter will find in the work the most important and pleasing features of mythology.

With such views, it has been considered most judicious to present the classic fables in their simplest, which is also their most poetic form, giving the allegorical meaning attached to the ancient myths, only where their application is clear and simple. For the same reason the writer has avoided questions of comparative mythology, except in cases where the analogies are too obvious to be passed unnoticed. The work has been compiled with care from reliable sources, and will, perhaps, be found to contain much that is new and interesting; many articles, such as those on the public games, the theatrical entertainments of the Greeks, the Assyrian, Chinese and American mythologies, will be found a pleasing addition, as these subjects have not been treated in the ordinary text-books. The chapter on the "Poets of Classic Fable," and the "Supplement" containing a notice of the ancient writers whose names occur in the body of the work, will, it is hoped, be found generally useful.

Among the modern authors to whom the writer has been particularly indebted, we may mention Calmet, Anthon, Tooke, Bulfinch, Huc and Schlegel. In preparing the article on Druidism, Martin's "Histoire de France," and the "Monuments Celtiques" of Reynaud, have been consulted, together with the Irish Chroniclers and other standard authorities. The matter of the Mexican and Peruvian mythologies, has been chiefly taken from Clavigero and Prescott. Reference has been made throughout to the New American Cyclopædia.

The work now completed is offered to the public in the hope that it may render the subject of mythology more generally popular in our schools, and obviate the dangers attending this otherwise attractive study.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Origin of Mythology--Divinities called Celestial 15

CHAPTER II.

Greek and Roman Divinities--Jupiter--Juno--How represented--
Parentage and Actions--Probable Origin of these Fables--
Adventures of Jupiter--Story of Europa--Search of Cadmus--
Punishment of Lycaon 23

CHAPTER III.

Apollo--His Parentage and Exploits--How represented--Story of
Æsculapius--Banishment of Apollo from Heaven--Transformation
of Hyacinthus and Cyparissus--Story of Admetus and Alcestis--
Attributes of Apollo--Punishment inflicted on Marsyas and on
King Midas--Story of Midas--Death of Phæton--Transformation
of Daphne--Things Sacred to Apollo 29

CHAPTER IV.

Mars (Ares)--His Parentage--How represented--Animals Sacred to
Mars--Names given to Mars--His Temple--Priests called Salii 34

CHAPTER V.

Mercury (Hermes)--His Parentage--How represented--Offices of
Mercury--Benefits conferred by Mercury on Man--Why considered
the Patron of Thieves--Story of Io and Argus 36

CHAPTER VI.

Bacchus (Dionysus)--Parentage of the God--How represented--Story
of Semele--Infancy of Bacchus--Transformation of Nymphs into
Stars--Silenus--How represented--Exploits of Bacchus--How
worshipped--Plants Sacred to the God--Bacchanalia or Orgia--
Story of Pentheus--Punishment inflicted on Alcithoe and her
Sisters--Transformation of Mariners into Dolphins 39

CHAPTER VII.

Celestial Goddesses--Juno--Hera--Parentage of Juno--How
represented--Iris, Messenger of Juno--Children of Juno--
Jealousy of the Goddess--Transformation of Callista and
Arcas into Bears--Sacrifices offered to the Goddess--Plants
held Sacred to her 43

CHAPTER VIII.

Minerva--Pallas Athena--How represented--Origin of the Olive--
The Palladium--Minerva, as the Patroness of Female Industry--
Story of Arachne--The Bird of Minerva--Story of Medusa's Head 45

CHAPTER IX.

Venus--Aphrodite--Birth and Education of Venus--Marriage with
Vulcan--How represented--Temples of Venus--The Graces--Cupid
--Festivals of the Goddess--Birds and Plants Sacred to her--
Sacrifices--Temple of Venus Calva--The Apple of Discord--
Decision of Paris--Story of Hippomenes and Atalanta--Death of
Adonis--Origin of the Red Rose--Names of the Graces 49

CHAPTER X.

Latona--Leto--Her Parentage--Persecution of Juno--Birth of
Apollo and Diana--Transformation of Lycian Peasants into
Frogs--Punishment of Tityus--Latona a Personification of
Night--How represented by Painters and Sculptors 54

CHAPTER XI.

Aurora--Eos--Attributes of the Goddess--How represented--Story
of Cephalus and Procris--Marriage of Aurora with Tithonus--
Transformation of Tithonus--Memnon--His Death and Obsequies--
Vocal Statue 56

CHAPTER XII.

Terrestrial Gods--Saturn--His Parentage--How represented--His
History--The Golden Age--Sacrifices offered to Saturn--The
Saturnalia--Modern Carnival--Janus--Contradictory Accounts
of his Origin--Temple of Janus--Quirinus at Rome 61

CHAPTER XIII.

Vulcan--Hephæstus--Parentage of this God--Why banished from
Heaven--Occupation of Vulcan--His Most Celebrated Works--
Marriage with Venus--The Cyclops--Vulcania--Temple on Mount
Etna--Cacus--Cæculus--Other Works of Vulcan 64

CHAPTER XIV.

Æolus--Supposed origin of the Fable--Momus--His Parentage--
Criticisms passed on other Divinities--His Banishment from
Olympus 67

CHAPTER XV.

Terrestrial Goddesses--Vesta--Hestia--Her Parentage and
Attributes--How represented--Worship of Vesta at Rome--
Vestal Virgins--Their Obligations and Privileges--Anecdote 69

CHAPTER XVI.

Cybele--How called by the Greeks--Parentage and Attributes--How
represented--Temple of Cybele on Mount Dindymus--Sacred Image
--Festival of Megalesia--Galle and Corybantes--Bona Dea--
Story of the Vestal Claudia 72

CHAPTER XVII.

Ceres--Demeter--Parentage and Attributes--How represented--
Story of Proserpine--Eleusinian Mysteries--Rites practiced
--Story of Triptolemus--Sacrifices offered to Ceres--Feasts
called Ambarvalia--Described by Virgil 75

CHAPTER XVIII.

Themis--Origin and Attributes--Astræa changed into the
Constellation Virgo--Erigone--Nemesis--Her Office--Temple
of Nemesis at Rhamnus 80

CHAPTER XIX.

The Muses--Their Number, Names and Attributes--Why there are
Nine Muses--Punishment or the Daughters of Pierus 82

CHAPTER XX.

Gods of the Woods, and Rural Deities--Pan--Names given to this
Deity--His Origin--How represented--Famous Action related of
Pan--Origin of Pan's Reeds--Satyrs and Fauns--Terminus--
Vertumnus--Pales 84

CHAPTER XXI.

Goddesses of the Woods--Diana--Parentage and Attributes of this
Goddess--How represented--Habits of Diana--Her Attendants--
Punishment of Chione--Story of Niobe--Temple of Diana at
Ephesus--Burned by Erostratus--Despoiled by Nero--Plundered
by the Goths--Nymphs--Naiades--Oreades--Oceanides--Dryades
and Hamadryades--Arethusa--Story of Echo--Transformation of
Narcissus 87

CHAPTER XXII.

Gods of the Sea--Neptune--Poseidon--Parentage of the God--How
represented--Offices of Neptune--Feasts held at Rome in his
Honor--Children of Neptune--Triton--Phorcus or Proteus--
Sirens--Ulysses--Orpheus--Scylla and Charybdis--Melicertes--
Thetis--Glaucus 93

CHAPTER XXIII.

Infernal Deities--Pluto--Hades--Parentage of the God--His
Kingdom--Representations and Emblems--Dis--Plutus--Hell--
Cerberus--Fates--Furies--Judges of the Dead--Punishment
inflicted on the Condemned--Giants--Ixion--Sisyphus--
Tantalus--The Belides--Salmoneus--Elysium 99

CHAPTER XXIV.

Fabulous Monsters--Centaurs--Geryon--Harpies--Briareus--The
Chimæra--Explanation of this Fable--The Sphinx--Fabulous
History--Statue of the Sphinx in Egypt 105

CHAPTER XXV.

Household Divinities--Penates--Offices and Attributes--Lares--
Their Offices--Sacrifices offered to the Goddess Mania--
Honors paid to the Lares--Virtues worshipped as Divinities 108

CHAPTER XXVI.

Demigods and Heroes--Their Origin--Hercules--His Parentage--
Twelve Labors of the Hero--Field of Narbonne--Death of
Hercules 114

CHAPTER XXVII.

Jason--Expedition in search of the Golden Fleece--Medea--Her
Revenge--Theseus--Tribute imposed on the Athenians--Departure
of Theseus--Destruction of the Minotaur--Ariadne--Death of
Ægeus 119

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Castor And Pollux--Their Parentage--Death of Castor--
Constellation Gemini--Prometheus--His Parentage--His
Impiety--Pandora's Box--Punishment of Prometheus 123

CHAPTER XXIX.

Orpheus--Story of Eurydice--Death of Orpheus--Transformation
of Thracian Women into Trees--Arion--Amphion 125

CHAPTER XXX.

Atlas--His Parentage--Transformed by Perseus into a Mountain--
Explanation of the Fable--Pleiades--Hyades--Hesperides--Orion
--His Parentage, Exploits and Death--Transformation into a
Constellation--Perseus--His Parentage--Rescue of Andromeda--
Death of Acrisius 129

CHAPTER XXXI.

Bellerophon--Victory over the Chimæra--His Presumption and its
Punishment--Deucalion--Legend of the re-peopling of the Earth
after the Deluge--Probable Explanation--Dædalus--Labyrinth--
Death of Icarus--Ceyx--Alcyone--Halcyon Birds 134

CHAPTER XXXII.

Meleager--The Calydonian Hunt--Erisichthon, Nisus and Scylla 140

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Poets of Classic Fable--Homer--Hesiod--Virgil--Ovid 145

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Heroes Celebrated by the Poets--Agamemnon--Sacrifice of
Iphigenia--Quarrel with Achilles--Murder of Agamemnon by
Ægisthus and Clytemnestra--Achilles--His Parentage--
Discovered by Ulysses at the Court of Lycomedes--His
Quarrel with Agamemnon--Death of Patroclus--Exploits
during the Siege--Death of Achilles--Sacrifice of
Polyxena--Transformation of Hecuba 152

CHAPTER XXXV.

Ulysses--His Marriage with Penelope--Feigned Insanity--Exploits
during the Siege of Troy--Lotus Eaters--Slaying of the Sacred
Cattle by the Sailors--Their destruction--Ulysses in the
Island of Calypso--Cast on the Shores of Phæacia--His Arrival
in Ithaca--Suitors of Penelope--Her Deliverance by Ulysses 156

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Orestes--Education at the Court of Strophius--Pylades--Murder
of Clytemnestra--Orestes pursued by the Furies--Discovery of
Iphigenia at Tauris--Circumstances added by the Tragic Poets
--Hector--Character and Exploits of the Hero; his Death--Fate
of Astyanax--Oedipus--Eteocles and Polynices--Theban War--
Heroism of Antigone 164

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Æneas--His Parentage--His Flight from Troy--Interview with
Andromache at Epirus--Prophecy of Helenus--Æneas driven by a
Storm on the Coast of Africa--Received by Dido at Carthage--
Departure of Æneas--Death of Dido--Funeral Games--Descent
into the Infernal Regions--Landing of Æneas in Italy--War--
Death of Turnus and Marriage of Æneas with Lavinia--His Death 171

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Sibyls--Story of the Cumæan Sibyl--Legend of the Sibylline
Books--Their destruction--Opinions entertained regarding
these Verses--Divination by Omens--The Augurs--Different
Classes of Omens--Anecdote 176

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Oracles--Oracle of Jupiter at Dodona--Manner of giving
Responses--Oracle of Delphi--Account given by Diodorus--
The Pythia--Remarkable Responses--Unsuccessful attempts made
to plunder this Temple--Despoiled by Nero and others--Oracle
of Trophonius--Story of the Hero and his Brother--Agamedes--
Discovery of the Oracle--Peculiar Rites observed by the
Votaries--Oracle of Jupiter Ammon--Its Situation--Temple
founded by Bacchus--Expedition sent by Cambyses--Ruins still
existing--Fons Solis--Account given by Belzoni--Oracle of
Esculapius at Epidaurus--Remarkable Embassy sent to Epidaurus
by the Roman Senate--Treatment of Votaries in the different
Oracles of Esculapius--Oracle of the Castalian Fount--Anecdote
of the Emperor Hadrian--Opinions entertained with regard to
these Oracles--Quotation from Milton 180

CHAPTER XL.

Classic Games--Why connected with Mythology--Olympic Games--By
Whom instituted--Time and Manner of their celebration--
Olympiads--Nature of the Contests--Qualifications required of
the Competitors--Prize awarded to the Victors--Honors bestowed
--Horse and Chariot Races--Philip of Macedon--Alcibiades--
Cynisca--Intellectual Contests--Herodotus--Dionysius--Pythian
Games--By whom instituted--Time of their Celebration--Prize--
Nemean Games--Crowns bestowed--Isthmian Games--Why so called--
Instituted in Honor of Melicertes--Garland bestowed on the
Victor 191

CHAPTER XLI.

The Greek Drama--Peculiarities of the Greek Theatre--Description
of the Theatre of Bacchus at Athens--Stage Machinery--Dress of
the Actors--Masks--The Chorus--Measures of the Choral Dance--
Chorus of the Furies--Story of Ibycus--Attempt made to revive
the Ancient Chorus--Time occupied by Theatrical Entertainments
--Their cost--Comparison with the Roman Amphitheatre 197

CHAPTER XLII.

Celebrated Statues--The Olympian Jupiter--Minerva of the
Parthenon--Subsequent Fate of this Temple--Apollo Belvidere
--Diana à la Biche 206

_PART II._

CHAPTER I.

Egyptian Divinities--Osiris--Apis and Serapis--Parentage of
Osiris--His Death and Sepulture--Isis--Attributes--Emblematic
representation--Rites of Isis forbidden at Rome--Condemned by
Juvenal--Apis--Manner of transmigration--Festivals in Honor
of Apis--Discovery of a Successor--Oracles obtained from this
Divinity--Germanicus--Harpocrates--Quotation 209

CHAPTER II.

Eastern Mythology--Divinities of the Assyrians--Baal or Bel--
Tower of Babel--Proper Names of the Phoenicians and
Carthaginians--Worship of Baal introduced among the
Israelites by Achab--Reproaches of Jeremias--Moloch--Nations
devoted to his Worship--Human Sacrifices--Representation of
this God--His Worship forbidden by Moses--Valley of Hinnom--
Quotation from Milton--Astaroth or Astarte--Sacrifices in
Honor of this Goddess--Abuses attending her Festivals--Thammuz
identical with Adonis--Mourned by the Assyrian Women--Lines
from Milton--Vision of Ezekiel--Oannes--Dagon 213

CHAPTER III.

Persia--The Zend-avesta--Doctrines of Zoroaster--Ormuzd or
Ormasdes--Ahriman--Worship of Fire--The Guebers--Perpetual
Fires--Bakoo--Magic and Astrology--Parsees of Hindostan 218

CHAPTER IV.

Hindoo Mythology--Brahma--The Vedas--Doctrine of the Vedas--
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva--Offices of these Deities--Avatars of
Vishnu--Krishna--Siva--Doctrines regarding the Soul--
Metempsychosis--Castes--Buddha--His Doctrines--Buddhism
suppressed in India 222

CHAPTER V.

China--Absence of any State Religion in China--Doctrine of the
Lettered--Confucius--His Writings--Honors paid him in China--
Difficulties occasioned among Christian Missionaries--Lao-tze,
founder of the Religion of Tao or Reason--His Writings--
Chinese Buddhists--Temple of Buddha at Pou-tou--General
Feeling of the Chinese with regard to Religion 229

CHAPTER VI.

Thibet--The Grand Lama--Prevailing Religion of Thibet and
Tartary--Lamaseries--The Grand Lama, a Perpetual Incarnation
of Buddha--His transmigrations--Mode of discovering his
Successor 236

CHAPTER VII.

Mythology of Scandinavia--Compared with that of Greece and
Rome--The Eddas--Account of the Creation--Form of the Earth
--Asgard, Odin--Names of this Deity--Valhalla--Thor--Recovery
of Thor's Hammer--Frey and Freya--Bragi--Heimdall--Vidar--
Hodur--The Valkyrior--Loki and his Progeny--Death of Baldur--
His Funeral--Loki's Punishment--The Elves--Runic Letters--
Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods 238