The Student's Mythology Part 5

Incense, fruits and flowers were the ordinary sacrifices laid on her altars but birds were sometimes offered.

_Ques._ What remarkable temple was raised to Venus in Rome?

_Ans._ There was a temple dedicated to Venus Calva, or the Bald; because when the Gauls besieged Rome, the inhabitants made ropes for their military engines with the long hair of the Roman women.

_Ques._ On what occasion was the prize of beauty adjudged to Venus?

_Ans._ All the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses had been invited to the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, Discordia, or Discord being the only one excluded.

This G.o.ddess was determined to revenge the slight; she entered secretly, when all were a.s.sembled, and threw among them a golden apple on which was written: "For the fairest." A violent quarrel immediately arose between the G.o.ddesses, for each believed herself to be the most beautiful. Juno, Minerva, and Venus disputed so eagerly, that Jupiter himself was not able to bring them to an agreement. He resolved, therefore, to refer the matter to the decision of Paris, who was then feeding his sheep on Mount Ida. This prince was the son of Priam, king of Troy. An oracle had foretold before his birth that he was destined to cause the destruction of his native city. He was, therefore, exposed on Mount Ida, where he was found and cared for by some shepherds. After he had grown up, he acquired a great reputation for the prudence with which he settled the most difficult disputes; hence the difference between the G.o.ddesses was referred to his decision.

When they appeared before him, they began to court his favor with promises. Juno offered him great power; Minerva, wisdom; but Venus promised to give him for a wife the most beautiful woman in the world.

Paris then p.r.o.nounced Venus the fairest. He was soon after acknowledged by his father, King Priam; and Venus fulfilled her engagement by aiding him to carry off Helen, the beautiful wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. This gave rise to the total destruction of Troy; and the prediction of the oracle with regard to Paris was accomplished.

_Ques._ What was the story of Hippomenes and Atalanta?

_Ans._ Atalanta was the daughter of King Cneus, and was equally renowned for her beauty and her swiftness in running. As an oracle had declared that marriage would be fatal to her, she freed herself from the importunity of her suitors by a singular expedient. She caused it to be proclaimed that any one who sought her hand should contend with her in running, with the understanding that she would marry him who should excel her in the race, but that those who were beaten should suffer death. Hard as were these conditions, many suitors presented themselves, but they were all unsuccessful, and were put to death without mercy. Hippomenes determined to undertake the race, but first, he had recourse to Venus. This G.o.ddess gave him three golden apples gathered in the garden of the Hesperides, and directed him as to their use. When Hippomenes saw that Atalanta was going to outstrip him in the race, he threw down a golden apple; the princess paused to admire and take up the glittering fruit, while Hippomenes pa.s.sed on. A second and a third time did he try the same expedient, and with such success that he reached the goal and won his bride.

Hippomenes was ungrateful to Venus, who revenged herself by changing him into a lion, and the beautiful Atalanta into a lioness.

_Ques._ Who was Adonis?

_Ans._ He was a beautiful youth, the son of Cinyras, king of Cyprus, and was beloved by Venus. He was killed by a wild boar, while hunting with that G.o.ddess. Venus grieved much for her favorite. To commemorate his cruel fate she caused the flower anemone to spring from his blood.

According to the poets, the rose was formerly white. When Venus was hastening to the a.s.sistance of Adonis, her foot was wounded by a thorn, and some drops of blood fell upon that flower, which then a.s.sumed its present crimson hue.

_Ques._ Who were the Graces?

_Ans._ They were inferior G.o.ddesses, who presided over the banquet, the dance and all social enjoyments and elegant arts.

_Ques._ How many were there?

_Ans._ They were three in number. Their names were Euphrosyne, Aglaia and Thalia. They are represented as beautiful young women, standing in graceful att.i.tudes with their hands joined.

CHAPTER X.

LATONA--LETO.

_Ques._ Who was Latona?

_Ans._ She was the daughter of Phbe and Cus the t.i.tan. When she was driven from heaven by the jealousy of Juno, she found an asylum in the island of Delos, where she gave birth to Apollo and Diana. Terra (the earth) had promised Juno to give no shelter to her rival, but the island of Delos formerly floated in the sea, and was at that time hidden under the waters. Neptune, pitying the forlorn state of Latona, caused it to emerge from the sea, when it became fixed and immovable for her use.

_Ques._ Relate the transformation of Lycian peasants into frogs.

_Ans._ Latona, while wandering with her babes in the country of Lycia, in Asia, arrived, exhausted by heat and fatigue, on the borders of a clear pool. She was about to quench her thirst in the cool waters, when some clowns rudely hindered her. She begged them to have compa.s.sion, and not deny her so small a refreshment; but they mocked her prayers, and when she tried to approach they waded into the pool, and, stirring up the mud, defiled the waters so that it became unfit to drink. The G.o.ddess was so much incensed, that she changed the cruel rustics into frogs, and condemned them to dwell forever in the muddy pool.

The punishment of Niobe will be related in another place. The sufferings of the giant t.i.tyus in h.e.l.l, were also the penalty of an insult offered to this G.o.ddess.

The Greeks personified Night, under the name of Latona; hence she was said to have been the first wife of Jupiter, the mother of Apollo and Diana, (the sun and moon) and the nurse of the earth and stars. The Egyptians had the same allegory, with a little variation, as, according to them, she was grandmother and nurse of Horus and Bubastis, their Apollo and Diana.

This G.o.ddess is generally represented on ancient monuments, as a large and beautiful woman, wearing a veil. In paintings, the veil is always black; in cutting gems, artists sometimes availed themselves of a dark colored vein in the stone, to produce the same effect, and represent the shades of night. The veil is sometimes studded with stars.

CHAPTER XI.

AURORA--EOS.

_Ques._ Who was Aurora?

_Ans._ She was the G.o.ddess of the morning and sister of the sun and moon. She is represented as seated in a golden chariot drawn by milk-white horses; her countenance is brilliant, and her fingers are red like roses.

_Ques._ What did this represent?

_Ans._ The beauty of the morning heavens.

_Ques._ Relate the story of Cephalus and Procris.

_Ans._ Cephalus, a beautiful youth, was beloved by Aurora, who carried him with her to heaven; but he regarded the G.o.ddess with indifference, and insisted on returning to his young wife Procris.

Aurora allowed him to depart, but prevailed on him to visit his house in disguise, that he might judge of the constancy of his bride.

Cephalus found his wife lamenting his absence and refusing all consolation, but when she discovered her husband in the supposed stranger, she was so indignant at his suspicion that she fled from him and joined the attendants of Diana. She was afterwards reconciled to Cephalus, and gave him two presents which she had received from Diana. These were, a dog that was always sure of its prey, and an arrow which never missed its aim, and returned immediately to the hand of the owner. Cephalus was extremely fond of hunting, and when fatigued, he often rested in the shade and invited the presence of "Aura," or the refres.h.i.+ng breeze. This word was mistaken for the name of a nymph by some persons who carried the tale to Procris. Being jealous in her turn, she determined to watch, and discover her rival.

When Cephalus returned from hunting, Procris concealed herself in the grove; she started upon hearing the name Aura, and caused a rustling among the leaves. Cephalus immediately threw his unerring dart, which returned to his hand stained with the blood of his beloved wife. He hastened to the spot, but it was too late, and Procris expired in his arms, acknowledging she had fallen a victim to her own groundless jealousy.

_Ques._ To whom was Aurora married?

_Ans._ She chose for her husband t.i.thonus, the son of Laomedon, king of Troy. This prince was endowed with wonderful beauty; but when Aurora begged of Jove that he might be exempted from death, she forgot to ask at the same time for the bloom of immortal youth. When t.i.thonus became old and decrepit, Aurora still watched over him with the tenderest care, "giving him ambrosial food and fair garments."

When t.i.thonus could no longer move his aged limbs, and his feeble voice was scarcely heard, the G.o.ddess was moved with compa.s.sion, and changed him into a gra.s.shopper.

_Ques._ Who was Memnon?

_Ans._ He was king of the Ethiopians, and son of t.i.thonus and Aurora.

When Troy was besieged, Memnon came with an army to aid the kindred of his father. In the first engagements he slew Antilochus, the son of Nestor, and threw the whole army of the Greeks into disorder.

Achilles, however, appeared on the field, and changed the fortune of the day. The Trojans were routed in their turn, and Memnon fell by the hand of the Grecian hero. Aurora watched the combat from the heavens, and when she saw Memnon fall she directed the winds to convey his body to the banks of the river sepus in Paphlagonia. Here they raised his tomb in a sacred grove, and his obsequies were celebrated with solemn pomp. The sparks, as they rose from the funeral pyre, were changed into birds, which divided into two flocks, and fought together until they fell into the flames and were consumed. According to the poets, Aurora was never consoled for the loss of her son; she mourns unceasingly, and the drops which sparkle in the morning on the gra.s.s and flowers are the tears which the G.o.ddess continues to shed during the long hours of night. Ancient history mentions many persons of the name of Memnon, particularly a general who distinguished himself in Persia against Alexander the Great. The Memnon of fable was in all probability an Egyptian, and not an Ethiopian king. His statue is still an object of curiosity to travellers.

_Ques._ Where is this statue, and for what is it remarkable?

_Ans._ It is one of two colossal figures which are directly opposite the great temple of Luxor. They are called by the Arabs, Shama and Dama. The statue of Memnon is the more northerly of the two, and was formerly celebrated for its vocal powers.

It is commonly a.s.serted by ancient writers that when the first rays of the rising sun fell upon this statue, it acknowledged the presence of Aurora, and uttered a sound like the sudden breaking of a harp-string.

By some, it was compared to a blow struck on hollow bra.s.s.

_Ques._ Was there any foundation for such a belief?

_Ans._ It appeared quite certain that the sounds of which we have spoken, were really heard from this statue at sunrise; the only question is as to the means by which they were produced. The Colossus, although in a sitting posture, measures fifty-two feet in height, and the throne on which it rests is thirty feet long and eighteen broad.

These dimensions were sufficient to admit of any internal machinery that might be required to produce the mysterious sounds. Such was the supposition of the Persian king Cambyses, who had the statue cleft asunder from the head to the middle of the body, but without discovering anything. Humboldt conjectured that the sound might be attributed to the nature of the stone, or to the action of the sun's rays upon the air confined in the cavities of the statue. A much more reasonable solution of the mystery has been furnished by Mr.

Wilkinson, an intelligent English traveller. He discovered in the lap of the statue a stone, which, on being struck, emits a metallic sound.