The Student's Mythology Part 18

The tragic poets add many incidents to the story of Orestes. They say that when pursued by the Furies, he took refuge in the temple of Apollo, at Delphi. By the command of that G.o.d, he repaired to Athens, where he was tried by the court of Areopagus. The judges were divided in their sentiments, but Minerva interfered in behalf of Orestes, and he was acquitted.

HECTOR.

_Ques._ Who was Hector?

_Ans._ He was the son of Priam and Hecuba, and the most valiant of all the Trojan chiefs who fought against the Greeks. The Fates had decreed that Troy should not be taken as long as Hector lived. The hero knew that he was destined to fall before the walls of his native city, and that he could at best only postpone the ruin of his country for a little time. Not discouraged by this, he performed prodigies of valor, and slew, with his own hand, Patroclus, the friend of Achilles. He next went out to meet Achilles himself, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Priam and Hecuba, and the tears of his wife Andromache. He fell as we have seen, and this event was shortly followed by the overthrow of his father's kingdom. Hector was not only distinguished as a warrior and a patriot; he was equally admirable as a son, husband, and father; and his character is perhaps the n.o.blest which has been described by any writer of antiquity.

When Troy was taken, Calchas excited much uneasiness among the Greeks, by a prediction, that if Astyanax, the son of Hector, were permitted to live, he would one day avenge his father's death, and raise Troy from its ruins. Diligent search was therefore made for the child, who had been concealed by his mother in the recesses of Hector's tomb.

Here he was discovered by Ulysses. Disregarding the prayers of the unhappy Andromache, the Grecian commanders precipitated the boy from the summit of a lofty tower.

DIPUS--ETEOCLES AND POLYNICES.

_Ques._ What was the story of these princes?

_Ans._ dipus was the son of Laius, king of Thebes. He was exposed by his father immediately on his birth, to avoid the fulfillment of an oracle which declared that Laius was destined to fall by the hand of one of his children. dipus was found by a herdsman, who brought him to Polybus, king of Corinth. This monarch was childless, and adopted the infant as his own.

When dipus was grown to manhood, he desired to learn something of his real parentage, and went to consult the oracle of Delphi. The G.o.d warned him to shun his native country, declaring that if he returned thither, he would become the murderer of his father, and be guilty of crimes which would draw upon him the vengeance of the G.o.ds. dipus understood this of Corinth, and instead of returning to that city, proceeded to Thebes. Here he slew his father Laius in an accidental encounter, and, after his victory over the Sphinx, which we have already mentioned, he fulfilled the other predictions of the oracle.

dipus reigned many years in Thebes before he discovered his parentage, and the crimes which he had unknowingly committed. In his despair, he put out his eyes, and went into exile, leaving the throne to his sons Eteocles and Polynices. It was agreed between the brothers that they should reign each a year alternately. Eteocles first ascended the throne; but when the year had expired, he refused to resign the crown. Polynices was indignant at this breach of faith, and fled to Argos, where he married the daughter of King Adrastus.

This monarch a.s.sembled a large army to enforce the claims of his son-in-law. The command of the expedition was given to seven chieftains, who were to attack each one of the seven gates of Thebes.

After all the Argive leaders, except Adrastus, had perished before the walls, it was proposed that Eteocles and Polynices should decide the war by single combat. The brothers fought with such animosity that both fell, mortally wounded. The battle was then renewed, and the Argives were totally defeated. Creon, the uncle of the fallen princes, was now king of Thebes; he had the body of Eteocles honorably buried, but he left the remains of Polynices exposed to the dogs and vultures, and forbade, under pain of death, that any one should bestow on him the rites of sepulture. He thus carried his vengeance beyond the grave, as, according to Greek superst.i.tion, the souls of the unburied were excluded for a hundred years from the Elysian fields.

Antigone, the daughter of dipus, had, meanwhile, accompanied her father in his exile, and watched over him with touching devotion until death released her from this filial duty. She no sooner learned the cruel order of Creon, than she resolved, at whatever hazard, to perform the funeral rites for Polynices. She succeeded in approaching the corpse, which she covered with earth, making the usual libations.

While thus engaged, Antigone was seized and brought before Creon. She defended n.o.bly the pious act which she had performed, and was condemned by the tyrant to be entombed alive.

The misfortunes of dipus and his children have been celebrated by three Greek tragedians: schylus, Sophocles and Euripides. In the tragedy of Sophocles which bears her name, the character of Antigone is beautifully drawn. We have the sternest heroism, tempered always by the tenderness of filial piety and sisterly devotion. The whole presents the finest ideal of womanly excellence which can be found in the writings of any ancient poet.

The following lines are taken from Dale's translation of the Antigone. Creon reproaches the heroine with having violated the laws; she replies:

"Ne'er did eternal Jove such laws ordain, Or Justice, throned amid th' infernal powers, Who on mankind these holier rites imposed-- Nor can I deem thine edict armed with power To contravene the firm unwritten laws Of the just G.o.ds, thyself a weak frail mortal!

... I knew before That I must die, though thou had'st ne'er proclaimed it, And if I perish ere th' allotted term, I deem that death a blessing. Who that lives Like me encompa.s.sed by unnumbered ills, But would account it blessedness to die?

If then I meet the doom thy laws a.s.sign, It nothing grieves me. Had I left my brother, From my own mother sprung, on the bare earth To lie unburied, that, indeed, might grieve me; But for this deed I mourn not." ...

CHAPTER x.x.xVII.

NEAS.

_Ques._ Who was neas?

_Ans._ He was a Trojan chief, the son of Venus and Anchises. He was born on Mount Ida, where he was nurtured by the Dryads until he had attained his fifth year, when he was brought to his father. Anchises was not on friendly terms with the family of Priam, but this coldness did not prevent neas from exerting himself to the utmost in defence of his country. Excepting Hector only, there was no Trojan who so distinguished himself by his valor. When Troy was taken, neas made his escape from the burning city, bearing on his shoulders the aged Anchises, and leading his little son Ascanius by the hand. His wife was separated from him in the confusion and darkness, and perished by the sword of the enemy. Anchises bore with him the sacred Penates of Troy, and his household G.o.ds. neas was joined by the greater part of the Trojans, both men and women, who had escaped from the horrors of that fatal night. They concealed themselves in the neighboring mountains until the Greeks had departed, after which they constructed a fleet of twenty sail. In the second year after the destruction of Troy, the remnant of the Trojans embarked under the guidance of neas in search of new settlements. After many wanderings and adventures, they landed at Epirus, and were rejoiced to learn that Helenus, one of the sons of Priam, was reigning in that country. He had married Andromache, and the meeting of neas with the widow of the great Hector is the subject of a very beautiful pa.s.sage in the neid. The Penates of Troy had appeared at night to Anchises, and revealed to him that Italy was the land allotted by the Fates to the exiled Trojans. neas recalled a prediction of Ca.s.sandra to the same effect; and Helenus, who was endowed with the gift of prophecy, now confirmed what had been already foretold. He rendered his exiled countrymen all the a.s.sistance in his power, and dismissed them at length, loaded with costly gifts. neas was destined to pa.s.s through many perils before landing on the sh.o.r.es of Italy. In the seventh year of their wanderings, the Trojans were driven by a storm on the coast of Africa; here they were kindly entertained by Dido, who was then engaged in the erection of her new city of Carthage. The queen admired the great qualities of the Trojan chief, and felt her heart moved with compa.s.sion at the sight of so much undeserved misfortune. She resolved, therefore, to share her throne with the hero, and to offer his followers a permanent settlement in the country. This proposal seems not to have been displeasing either to neas or to the Trojans.

Forgetful of the decrees of fate, they lingered many months in idle pleasure, and neas was only roused to action by the direct intervention of the G.o.ds. Jupiter sent Mercury to the hero, commanding him to embark without delay, and proceed to his destined settlement in Italy. neas obeyed, and made the necessary preparations for departure, disregarding the tears and reproaches of the queen.

When Dido found that all was unavailing, and that the Trojans had already embarked, she killed herself in despair.

neas spent some time in Sicily, where he celebrated funeral games in honor of his father, who had died there the preceding year. He left with Acestes, a Trojan prince who governed a part of the island, the women, the aged men, and all who were likely to be useless in the wars which awaited him. neas next landed at c.u.m, in Italy. This was the abode of a famous Sibyl, of whom we will speak elsewhere. She foretold to the hero much that was to happen during his settlement in Italy; but in order that he might be fully informed of the future destinies of his race, she offered to conduct him to the world of shades. neas having plucked, in the sacred grove, a golden bough as a gift to Proserpine, descended with the Sibyl to the dreary realms of Pluto.

After seeing much that was wonderful, and pa.s.sing through regions inhabited by different cla.s.ses of departed souls, they entered the happy plains of Elysium. This was the abode of the heroes and other favorites of the G.o.ds. Here, in a fragrant meadow, neas found the shade of Anchises, who showed him the souls which were destined to return to earth, and become the future heroes of Rome. Anchises also recounted to neas the glorious deeds which they were one day to perform. In this pa.s.sage, Virgil takes occasion to gratify the vanity of Augustus and the great families of Rome, by introducing their names and actions in the prophetic discourse of Anchises.

Returning to upper air, neas took leave of the sibyl, and pursued his voyage along the Italian coast, anchoring at length in the mouth of the Tiber.

The country around was governed by a prince named Latinus, the son of Faunus and the nymph Marica. This prince had one child, a daughter named Lavinia. Her hand had been promised to Turnus, prince of the Rutulians, but Latinus was warned by an oracle that his destined son-in-law was to come from afar, and that Lavinia was to wed a foreigner. When neas sent an emba.s.sy to Latinus, requesting permission to settle in the country, that prince believed that the Trojan chief was the person pointed out by the oracle, and invited him to his palace. All now seemed to promise a peaceful settlement to the hara.s.sed Trojans, but the enmity of Juno was not yet appeased. She sent the Fury Alecto to the palace of Turnus, with orders to excite this prince against the stranger, who was about to rob him of his promised bride. A long war ensued, which forms the subject of the concluding books of the neid. At length Turnus fell in a personal combat with neas. The hand of Lavinia was the price of victory, and from the Trojan hero were descended the founders of Rome.

The neid concludes with the death of Turnus, but we have some further particulars handed down by tradition. neas built a city, called from his bride, Lavinium. Here he governed his Trojan and Italian subjects, who became one people under the common name of Latins. The new kingdom was attacked by several of the neighboring princes, led by Mezentius, king of Etruria. neas defeated the allies, but was killed in the moment of victory. The family of Julii, made ill.u.s.trious by Julius Csar, claimed descent from Iulus, grandson of neas.

CHAPTER x.x.xVIII.

SIBYLS--AUGURS.

_Ques._ Who were the Sibyls?

_Ans._ The Sibyll, or Sibyls, were certain females, supposed to be inspired by Heaven, who flourished at different times and in different parts of the world. According to the historian Varro, they were ten in number. The most celebrated was the c.u.man Sibyl, of whom the poets give the following account. Apollo sought the love of the young prophetess, and promised to give her whatever she should demand. The sibyl desired that she might live as many years as she had grains of sand in her hand; but as she forgot to ask for health and youthful bloom, this long life proved rather a burden than a benefit. She had rejected the suit of Apollo, and the G.o.d refused, therefore, to withdraw his gift or mitigate the severity of her lot. This sibyl had already lived seven hundred years when neas came to Italy, and six centuries still remained of the time granted by Apollo. She accompanied neas on his visit to the lower world. According to a well-known Roman legend, one of the sibyls came to the palace of the second Tarquin with nine volumes, which she offered to sell at a very high price. The king declined the offer; the sibyl immediately disappeared and burned three of the volumes. Returning soon after, she asked the same price for the remaining six books; and when Tarquin again refused to buy them, she burned three more, and still persisted in demanding the same sum of money for those that were left. This extraordinary conduct astonished the monarch, and with the advice of the Augurs he bought the books, upon which the sibyl disappeared and was never seen after. These books were preserved with great care, and were called the Sibylline Verses. A college of priests was appointed to take charge of them, and they were consulted with the greatest solemnity, whenever the state seemed to be in danger. When the Capitol was burned in the troubles raised by Sylla, the Sibylline Verses are said by some to have perished in the conflagration. It is believed, however, on good authority, that they were in existence as late as the fourth century, when they were destroyed by command of the Emperor Honorius. Various collections were afterwards made, which are generally admitted to be forgeries.

Different opinions have prevailed with regard to the prophecies of the sibyls, some of which, it is said, pointed clearly to the advent of a Redeemer, the time of his coming, and the submission of Rome to the new dispensation. It has been thought that these pa.s.sages were invented by later Christian writers, but Bishop Horsley, a learned English divine, thinks it more reasonable to suppose that the sibylline books contained the records of prophecies which were granted in primitive times, to nations outside of the patriarchal and Jewish races. He cites in favor of this opinion, the fact that St. Justin, in his apology addressed to the Emperor Marcus Antoninus, appeals confidently to the sibylline prophecies, and at that time, about the middle of the second century, it was not possible that the Christians should have added anything to them. There are also pa.s.sages in the fourth Eclogue of Virgil which prove that the expectation of a Saviour, and the belief that the time of his advent was approaching, existed even among the pagans.

Divination by Omens--The Augurs.

_Ques._ Who were the Augurs?

_Ans._ They were priests whose office it was to observe and interpret omens. This science was derived from the ancient Etrurians. There were five princ.i.p.al cla.s.ses of omens from which the Augurs were supposed to foretell future events, the good or ill success of an undertaking, etc. The first were drawn from the phenomena of nature, such as thunder, lightning, comets, etc. The second kind of omen was obtained by observing the cries and the flight of birds. In the third cla.s.s we may place the appet.i.te of the sacred chickens; when they did not eat, the omen was so bad that it was considered unlucky to give battle, or undertake anything of importance. It happened once that a Roman commander, (Claudius Pulcher,) when about to engage the fleet of the enemy, was warned by the Augurs that the sacred chickens would not eat. He replied, with very natural contempt, that if they would not eat, they might drink, and had them thrown into the sea. It is believed that the terrible defeat the Romans suffered on that day was owing, in great part, to the discouragement of the sailors, who supposed that their commander had forfeited the favor of the G.o.ds by this act of sacrilege.

Omens were drawn from the appearance of the entrails of animals offered in sacrifice, also from the meeting with quadrupeds in any unaccustomed place.

The fifth cla.s.s of omens was taken from different casualties, such as spilling salt, stumbling on the threshold, sneezing, meeting a hare, wolf, fox, etc. Some of these last superst.i.tions prevail, more or less, to the present day.

CHAPTER x.x.xIX.

ORACLES.

_Ques._ What do you understand by oracles?

_Ans._ The places where the heathen divinities were supposed to answer those who consulted them, were called oracles. This word was also applied to the responses given.

_Ques._ Name some of the more famous oracles?