The Student's Mythology Part 4

_Ques._ What were Juno's faults?

_Ans._ She was very jealous, and took the most cruel revenge on the mortal woman whom Jupiter loved. She transformed Callista and her son Arcas into bears, and was extremely displeased when Jupiter placed them among the constellations.

The G.o.ddess carried her complaint to Ocea.n.u.s, bidding him to observe, when the shades of night should darken the world, how her rival was exalted. The G.o.d of Ocean was moved, and promised Juno that he would never receive either Callista or her offspring in his watery domain.

Hence it is, that the Greater and the Lesser Bear continually circle around the pole, and never sink, like the other stars, beneath the waves of Ocean. In the fables of Bacchus and Hercules, Juno displays the same character, extending to these heroes the enmity she bore their mortal mothers.

Juno was chiefly honored at Argos, Samos and Plata. The victims offered to her were kine, ewe lambs, and sows. The cow was consecrated to her, and at Argos the priestess of Juno always rode in a chariot drawn by oxen. The sacred plants of the G.o.ddess were, the willow, pomegranate, the dittany and the lily. The peac.o.c.k was chosen as the bird of Juno, because it was supposed by its cry to indicate a change of weather.

CHAPTER VIII.

MINERVA--PALLAS ATHENA.

_Ques._ Who was Minerva?

_Ans._ She was the G.o.ddess of wisdom and of war. She had no mother, but sprang full armed from the head of Jupiter.

_Ques._ How is Minerva represented?

_Ans._ As clothed in complete armor. She has a golden helmet on her head, holds a lance in her right hand, and her left rests upon a s.h.i.+eld to which is affixed the head of Medusa. The c.o.c.k and the owl are also represented on the s.h.i.+eld.

_Ques._ Why was Minerva said to have sprung full armed from the head of Jupiter?

_Ans._ The poets signify by this, that wisdom comes direct from the deity.

_Ques._ Why is Minerva sometimes crowned with olive?

_Ans._ Because the olive is the emblem of peace, and war should only be made that a secure peace may follow; also because she bestowed the olive on men.

_Ques._ On what occasion did Minerva give the olive to men?

_Ans._ When Cecrops built a new city, Neptune and Minerva contended about its name; and it was resolved that whichever of the two deities should confer the most useful gift on man, might give a name to the city. Neptune struck the ground with his trident, and a horse appeared; but Minerva caused an olive to spring out of the earth. The latter was judged the more useful gift; and Minerva named the city, calling it Athena or Athens, after her own name in Greek.

_Ques._ What was the Palladium?

_Ans._ When the Trojans were building the temple and castle of Minerva in Troy, a statue of the G.o.ddess fell from heaven into the castle, which was still unroofed. The oracle of Apollo declared that Troy would be safe so long as this statue, called Palladium, from Pallas, a name of Minerva, remained within the walls. When the Greeks besieged Troy, they found that all their efforts to take the city were of no avail; they determined, therefore, to steal the Palladium. Ulysses and Diomedes crept into the city through the common sewers, and brought away the image. Troy was soon afterwards taken and destroyed. Minerva was a virgin, and was the patroness of modest and virtuous women.

_Ques._ Did Minerva excel only in the art of war?

_Ans._ No; she invented the distaff and spindle, and excelled in every branch of female industry. The fate of Arachne shows how much she prized her reputation for skill in embroidery.

_Ques._ Who was Arachne?

_Ans._ She was a maiden of Lydia, who had the presumption to challenge Minerva to a trial of skill in weaving. The G.o.ddess wrought into her work the most beautiful designs, but it would seem that Arachne's performance surpa.s.sed hers: for Minerva, seeing it, was fired with envy, and struck the unhappy maiden on the face with her shuttle.

Arachne could not endure this insult, and hung herself from a beam.

Minerva immediately changed her into a spider, and permitted her to live only that she might weave unceasingly.

_Ques._ Why was the owl chosen as the bird of Minerva?

_Ans._ Because this bird sees in the dark; and wisdom distinguishes what is hidden from common eyes.

_Ques._ What is the story of Medusa's head?

_Ans._ Medusa was one of three sisters, the daughters of Phorcus.

These maidens were called Gorgons, and were all immortal, except Medusa. The latter was at one period distinguished for her personal beauty, and particularly for her flowing hair; but having offended Minerva, that G.o.ddess changed her locks into serpents, and rendered her appearance so frightful that all who beheld her were changed to stone. The hero Perseus undertook an expedition against the Gorgons, and as he saw the whole country around covered with figures of men and animals changed into stone by the sight of the monster, he was obliged to use great precaution to avoid the same misfortune. He looked, therefore, not at Medusa, but at her reflection in his polished s.h.i.+eld, and when he perceived that she was asleep, Minerva guiding his sword, he struck off her head. Mercury had lent Perseus his wings, and as he flew over the Lybian desert bearing Medusa's head, the blood fell upon the burning sands, and produced the serpents which have ever since infested that region. From the blood of Medusa, also, when her head was cut off, sprang the famous winged horse called Pegasus. This wonderful steed flew to Mount Helicon, the residence of the Muses, where, by striking the earth with his foot, he produced the fountain Hippocrene. All who drank of its waters were inspired by the Muses with a poetic spirit. Perseus went through many other adventures in which Medusa's head did him good service, by changing his enemies into stone. He afterwards gave the head to Minerva, who fixed it on her s.h.i.+eld.

CHAPTER IX.

VENUS--APHRODITE.

_Ques._ Who was Venus?

_Ans._ She was the G.o.ddess of love and beauty. She sprang from the froth of the sea; for this reason the Greeks called her Aphrodite, from Aphros, meaning foam. As soon as she was born, she was placed like a pearl in a sh.e.l.l instead of a cradle, and the G.o.d Zephyrus (the west wind) wafted her to the sh.o.r.es of Cyprus.

_Ques._ By whom was she educated?

_Ans._ She was educated and adorned by the Hor or Hours, who carried her to heaven as soon she became of age. All the G.o.ds were astonished at the beauty of Venus, and many demanded her in marriage; but Jupiter betrothed her to Vulcan, an ugly and deformed divinity.

_Ques._ How is Venus represented?

_Ans._ Sometimes as a young virgin rising from the sea, or riding on the waves in a sh.e.l.l, while Cupids, Nereids and Dolphins are sporting around her--again, she is pictured as traversing the heavens in an ivory chariot drawn by doves. She wears a wonderful girdle called the Cestus, her doves are harnessed with golden chains, and Cupids flutter around her on silken wings. Venus is always crowned with roses.

_Ques._ What was there remarkable in the Cestus of Venus?

_Ans._ It had the property of conferring grace, beauty, and irresistible attractions on the wearer.

_Ques._ Where had Venus temples?

_Ans._ In many places. The most celebrated were at Paphos, Cytherea, Idalia and Cnidos.

_Ques._ Who were the companions of Venus?

_Ans._ The Graces were her attendants, and she was generally accompanied by her son Cupid, who was the G.o.d of love.

_Ques._ How is Cupid represented?

_Ans._ As a beautiful boy with wings, carrying a bow and arrows; he has sometimes a band over his eyes to show that love is blind.

_Ques._ What do you say of the festivals of Venus?

_Ans._ They were various, and accompanied by much that was disgraceful and immoral. The swan, the dove, and the sparrow were sacred to this G.o.ddess; and among plants, the rose, the myrtle and the apple.