Chapter I: Preface

The aim of this book is to present a complete and entertaining account of Grecian and Roman mythology in such a manner that the student will appreciate its great influence upon literature and art.

These myths, an inexhaustible fund of inspiration for the poets and artists of the past, have also inspired many noted modern works. To impress this fact forcibly upon the student, appropriate quotations from the poetical writings of all ages, from Hesiod's "Works and Days," to Tennyson's "Oenone," have been inserted in the text, while reproductions of ancient masterpieces and noted examples of modern painting and sculpture are plentifully used as illustrations.

The myths are told as graphically and accurately as possible, great care being taken, however, to avoid the more repulsive features of heathen mythology; and when two or more versions of the same myth occur, the preference has invariably been given to the most popular, that is to say, to the one which has inspired the greatest works.

Both the Latin and the Greek forms of proper names are given, but the Latin names are usually retained throughout the narrative, because more frequently used in poetry and art.

The closing chapter includes an analysis of myths by the light of philology and comparative mythology, and the philological explanation of the stories related in the preceding chapters.

A map, genealogical table, and complete glossary and index adapt this little volume for constant use in the library and art gallery, at home and abroad.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF MYTHS 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 10

CHAP. I. The Beginning of All Things 11

II. Jupiter 39

III. Juno 51

IV. Minerva 55

V. Apollo 61

VI. Diana 93

VII. Venus 103

VIII. Mercury 131

IX. Mars 138

X. Vulcan 144

XI. Neptune 149

XII. Pluto 159

XIII. Bacchus 171

XIV. Ceres and Proserpina 183

XV. Vesta 198

XVI. Janus 205

XVII. Somnus and Mors 208

XVIII. Æolus 213

XIX. Hercules 216

XX. Perseus 240

XXI. Theseus 250

XXII. Jason 263

XXIII. The Calydonian Hunt 275

XXIV. Oedipus 280

XXV. Bellerophon 291

XXVI. Minor Divinities 297

XXVII. The Trojan War 305

XXVIII. Adventures of Ulysses 337

XXIX. Adventures of Æneas 360

XXX. Analysis of Myths 378

GENEALOGICAL TABLE 402

INDEX TO POETICAL QUOTATIONS 405

GLOSSARY AND INDEX 407

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE
Homer 2

Amor 14

Fountain of Cybele (Rhea) 19

Minerva and Prometheus 26

Pandora 30

Hope 34

Olympian Zeus 40

Ganymede and the Eagle 42

The Abduction of Europa 46

Juno 50

Iris 53

Minerva 56

Apollo Belvedere 66

Apollo and Daphne 69

Orpheus and Eurydice 78

Farnese Bull 81

Aurora 86

Apollo and the Muses 89

Diana of Versailles 92

Niobe 95

Venus de Milo 102

Fourth Hour of the Night 104

Sleeping Love 109

Hero and Leander 115

Cupid awakening Psyche 125

Charon and Psyche 129

Flying Mercury 133

Venus de Milo and Mars 141

The Forge of Vulcan 146

Fountain of Neptune 150

Father Nile 157

The Furies 162

The Three Fates 164

Bacchus 175

Marriage of Bacchus and Ariadne 180

Abduction of Proserpina 185

Ceres 189

A Nymph 191

School of the Vestal Virgins 199

The Vestal Tuccia 201

Genius of Death 209

Hercules an Infant 217

Hercules and Centaur 222

Mounted Amazon going to the Chase 225

Hercules at the Feet of Omphale 231

Fortuna 233

Farnese Hercules 237

Perseus 245

Perseus and Andromeda 247

Dædalus and Icarus 254

Ariadne 258

Theseus 261

Jason and the Dragon 270

Medea 272

Atalanta's Race 277

Oedipus and the Sphinx 284

Antigone and Ismene 289

Chimæra 293

Vertumnus and Pomona 302

Paris 309

Abduction of Helen 313

Parting of Hector and Andromache 322

Thetis bearing the Armor of Achilles 327

Laocoon 334

Triumph of Galatea 340

Acis and Galatea (Evening) 342

Circe and the Friends of Ulysses 348

Siren 351

Penelope 356

Æneas at the Court of Dido 368

Cumæan Sibyl 371

MYTHS OF GREECE AND ROME.