Myths of Greece and Rome Part 9

Homer (Bryant's tr.).

The rivers, fountains, lakes, and seas were not only subject to his rule, but he could also cause terrible earthquakes at will, and, when he pleased, raise islands from the deep, as he did when Latona entreated him to shelter her from Juno's persecutions (p. 62).

Neptune is said to have loved the G.o.ddess Ceres, and to have followed her during her prolonged search for her daughter, Proserpina. Annoyed by his persistent wooing, the G.o.ddess, to escape him, a.s.sumed the form of a mare; but the G.o.d of the Sea, not at all deceived by this stratagem, straightway a.s.sumed the form of a horse, in which guise he contentedly trotted after her and renewed his attentions.

[Sidenote: Neptune's wives.]

The offspring of this equine pair was Arion, a wonderful winged steed, gifted with the power of speech, whose early education was intrusted to the Nereides. They trained him to draw his father's chariot over the waves with incredible rapidity, and parted with him regretfully when he was given to Copreus, Pelops' son. This marvelous horse pa.s.sed successively into Hercules' and Adrastus' hands; and the latter won all the chariot races, thanks to his fleetness.

On another occasion, Neptune, having fallen deeply in love with a maiden named Theophane, and fearful lest some one of her numerous suitors should find favor in her eyes before he had time to urge his wooing, suddenly changed her into a sheep, and conveyed her to the Island of Crumissa, where he a.s.sumed the guise of a ram, and, in this metamorphosed condition, carried on his courtship, which eventually proved successful. The offspring of this union was the golden-fleeced ram which bore Phryxus in safety to the Colchian sh.o.r.es, and whose pelt was the goal of the Argonautic expedition (p. 265).

Neptune also loved and married Medusa in the days of her youth and beauty, and when some drops of blood fell from her severed head into the salt sea foam, he produced from them the graceful winged steed Pegasus (p. 244).

Neptune is also said to be the father of the giants Otus and Ephialtes, of Neleus, Pelias, and Polyphemus.

[Sidenote: Amphitrite.]

The Queen of the Ocean, Neptune's own true and lawful wife, was a Nereid, one of the fifty daughters of Doris and Nereus,--the personification of the calm and sunlit aspect of the sea. Her name was Amphitrite, or Salacia. At first she was in great awe of her distinguished suitor, and in her fear fled at his approach, leaving him no chance to admire any of her charms, except the grace and celerity with which she managed to flit, or rather glide, out of his sight.

"Along the deep With beauteous ankles, Amphitrite glides."

Hesiod (Elton's tr.).

This conduct grieved Neptune so sorely, that he sent a dolphin to plead his cause, and persuade the fair nymph to share his throne. The messenger, carefully instructed beforehand, carried out the directions with such skill, that Amphitrite formally consented to become Neptune's wife.

The King of the Deep was so overjoyed at these good tidings, that he transferred the dolphin to the sky, where he forms a well-known constellation. Neptune and Amphitrite in due time became the happy parents of several children, among whom the most celebrated is Triton, whose body was half man and half fish, and who gave his name to all his male descendants.

[Sidenote: Story of Idas and Marpessa.]

Like all other G.o.ds, Neptune took a lively interest in men's affairs, and sometimes interfered in their behalf. On one occasion, for instance, he even lent his beautiful chariot to a youth by the name of Idas, who, loving a maiden dearly, and unable to win her father's consent to their union, had resolved to kidnap her. Marpessa, for such was the lady's name, allowed herself to be carried off without protest; and the lovers were blissfully speeding along in Neptune's chariot, when her father, Evenus, perceiving their escape, started in pursuit of them. In spite of the most strenuous efforts, he could not overtake the fleeing pair, and in his anger plunged into a river, where he was drowned, and which from him received the name of Evenus.

Idas and Marpessa were just congratulating themselves upon their narrow escape, when suddenly Apollo appeared before them, and, checking their steeds, declared he loved the maiden too, and would not tamely yield her up to a rival.

This was quite equivalent to a challenge; and Idas, stepping down from the chariot, was about to engage in the fight, when suddenly out of a clear sky a thunderbolt came crashing down to earth, and an imperious voice was heard to declare that the quarrel could be settled by Marpessa only, and that she should freely choose the suitor she preferred as husband.

The maiden glanced at both her lovers, and quickly reviewed their respective attractions. Remembering that Apollo, being immortal, would retain all his youthful bloom when her more ephemeral beauty had vanished, and that he would then probably cease to love her, she held out her hand to Idas, declaring she preferred to link her fate to that of a mortal, who would grow old when she did, and love her as long as they both lived. This choice was approved by Jupiter; and the lovers, after reaching a place of safety, returned the wondrous chariot to Neptune, with many grateful thanks for his timely aid.

[Sidenote: Neptune's attendants.]

All the Nereides, Tritons, and lesser sea divinities formed a part of Neptune and Amphitrite's train, and followed closely when they rode forth to survey their kingdom.

Neptune had, besides this, many subordinates, whose duty it was to look after various seas, lakes, rivers, fountains, etc., confided to their special care. In harmony with their occupations, these divinities were either h.o.a.ry river G.o.ds (such as Father Nile), slender youths, beautiful maidens, or little babbling children. They seldom left the cool waves of their appointed dwellings, and strove to win Neptune's approbation mostly by the zeal they showed in the discharge of their various duties.

Proteus, too, another inferior deity, had the care of the flocks of the deep, and he always attended Neptune when it was safe to leave his great herds of sea calves to bask on the sunny sh.o.r.es.

"In ages past old Proteus, with his droves Of sea calves, sought the mountains and the groves."

Cowper.

[Sidenote: Proteus.]

In common with all the other G.o.ds, Proteus enjoyed the gift of prophecy, and had the power to a.s.sume any shape he pleased. The former gift he was wont to exercise very reluctantly; and when mortals wished to consult him, he would change his form with bewildering rapidity, and, unless they clung to him through all his changes, they could obtain no answer to their questions.

"Shouting [we] seize the G.o.d: our force t' evade, His various arts he soon resumes in aid: A lion now, he curls a surgy mane; Sudden, our hands a spotted pard restrain; Then, arm'd with tusks, and lightning in his eyes, A boar's obscener shape the G.o.d belies: On spiry volumes, there, a dragon rides; Here, from our strict embrace a stream he glides; And last, sublime, his stately growth he rears, A tree, and well-dissembled foliage wears."

Homer (Pope's tr.).

But if these manifestations proved unavailing to drive his would-be hearers away, the G.o.d answered every question circ.u.mstantially.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FATHER NILE. (Vatican, Rome.)]

Amphitrite, Neptune's wife,--generally represented as a beautiful nude nymph, crowned with seaweed, and reclining in a pearl-sh.e.l.l chariot drawn by dolphins, or sea-horses,--was worshiped with her husband.

[Sidenote: Worship of Neptune.]

Neptune, majestic and middle-aged, with long, flowing hair and beard, wearing a seaweed crown, and brandishing a trident, or three-p.r.o.nged fork, was widely worshiped throughout Greece and Italy, and had countless shrines. His princ.i.p.al votaries were the seamen and horse trainers, who often bespoke his aid.

"Hail, Neptune, greatest of the G.o.ds! Thou ruler of the salt sea floods; Thou with the deep and dark-green hair, That dost the golden trident bear; Thou that, with either arm outspread, Embosomest the earth we tread: Thine are the beasts with fin and scales, That round thy chariot, as it sails, Plunging and tumbling, fast and free, All reckless follow o'er the sea."

Arion.

Many large temples were dedicated exclusively to the worship of Neptune, and games were frequently celebrated in his honor. The most noted of all were undoubtedly the Isthmian Games,--a national festival, held every four years at Corinth, on the isthmus of the same name. Hither people came from all points of the compa.s.s, and all parts of the then known world, either to witness or to take part in the noted wrestling, boxing, and racing matches, or in the musical and poetical contests.

CHAPTER XII.

PLUTO.

Pluto[1] (Dis, Hades, Orcus, Adoneus), son of Cronus and Rhea, received as his share of the world the supervision of the Infernal Regions, situated beneath the earth, and was also appointed G.o.d of the dead and of riches, for all precious metals are buried deep in the bosom of the earth.

[1] Besides this Pluto, G.o.d of the Infernal Regions, the Greeks also worshiped Plutus, a son of Ceres and Jason, who was known exclusively as the G.o.d of wealth. Abandoned in infancy, he was brought up by Pax, the G.o.ddess of peace, who is often represented holding him in her lap. Because Plutus insisted upon bestowing his favors upon good and n.o.ble mortals only, Jupiter soon deprived him of his sight. Since then the blind G.o.d's gifts have been distributed indiscriminately.

This G.o.d inspired all men with a great fear. They never spoke of him without trembling, and fervently prayed that they might never see his face; for, when he appeared on the surface of the earth, it was only in search of some victim to drag down into his dismal abode, or to make sure there was no crevice through which a sunbeam might glide to brighten its gloom and dispel its shadows. Whenever the stern G.o.d set out on one of these expeditions, he rode in a chariot drawn by four coal-black steeds; and, if any obstacle presented itself to impede his progress, he struck it with his two-p.r.o.nged fork, the emblem of his power, and the obstacle was immediately removed. It was on one of these occasions that Pluto kidnapped Proserpina, the fair G.o.ddess of vegetation, daughter of Ceres, whom he set on his throne in Hades, and crowned his queen (p. 183).

[Sidenote: Worship of Pluto.]

Pluto is always represented as a stern, dark, bearded man, with tightly closed lips, a crown on his head, a scepter and a key in hand, to show how carefully he guards those who enter his domains, and how vain are their hopes to effect their escape. No temples were dedicated to him, and statues of this G.o.d are very rare. Human sacrifices were sometimes offered on his altars; and at his festivals, held every hundred years, and thence called Secular Games, none but black animals were slain.

[Sidenote: Hades.]

His kingdom, generally called Hades, was very difficult of access. According to Roman traditions, it could only be entered at Avernus, but the Greeks a.s.serted that there was another entrance near the Promontory of Taenarum. Both nations agreed, however, in saying that it was an almost impossible feat to get out again if one were rash enough to venture in.

"To the shades you go a down-hill, easy way; But to return and re-enjoy the day, This is a work, a labor!"

Virgil.

To prevent all mortals from entering, and all spirits from escaping, Pluto placed a huge three-headed dog, called Cerberus, to guard the gate.

"There in state old Cerberus sate, A three-headed dog, as cruel as Fate, Guarding the entrance early and late."

Saxe.

From thence a long subterranean pa.s.sage, through which shadowy spirits glided incessantly, led to the throne room, where Pluto and Proserpina sat in state, clad in their sable robes. From the foot of this throne flowed the rivers which channeled the Lower World. One, the Cocytus, rolled salt waves, composed of naught but the tears flowing continually from the eyes of the criminals condemned to hard labor in Tartarus, the portion of Hades reserved for the exclusive use of the wicked.

"Cocytus, named of lamentation loud Heard on the rueful stream."

Homer.

[Sidenote: Rivers of Hades.]

To separate this section from the remainder of his realm, Pluto surrounded it with the Phlegethon, a river of fire; while the Acheron, a black and deep stream, was to be pa.s.sed by all souls ere they reached Pluto's throne and heard his decree. The current of this river was so swift, that even the boldest swimmer could not pa.s.s over; and, as there was no bridge, all the spirits were obliged to rely upon the aid of Charon, an aged boatman, who plied the only available skiff--a leaky, worm-eaten punt--from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e. Neither would he allow any soul to enter his bark, unless he was first given a small coin, called the obolus, the ferryman's fare, which the ancients carefully laid under the tongue of the dead, that they might pa.s.s on to Pluto without delay. Charon's leaky boat no sooner touched the sh.o.r.e than a host of eager spirits pressed forward to claim a place. The cruel boatman repulsed them roughly, and brandished his oars, while he leisurely selected those he would next ferry across the stream.

"The shiv'ring army stands, And press for pa.s.sage with extended hands. Now these, now those, the surly boatman bore; The rest he drove to distance from the sh.o.r.e."

Virgil (Dryden's tr.).

All those who could not produce the required obolus were obliged to wait one hundred years, at the end of which time Charon reluctantly ferried them over free of charge.

There was also in Hades the sacred river Styx, by whose waters the G.o.ds swore their most irrevocable oaths; and the blessed Lethe, whose waters had the power to make one forget all unpleasant things, thus preparing the good for a state of endless bliss in the Elysian Fields.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE FURIES.--A Study for the Masque of Cupid.--Burne-Jones.]

"Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls Her wat'ry labrinth, whereof who drinks, Forthwith his former state and being forgets, Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain."

Milton.

[Sidenote: The judges.]

Near Pluto's throne were seated the three judges of Hades, Minos, Rhadamanthus, and AEacus, whose duty it was to question all newly arrived souls, to sort out the confused ma.s.s of good and bad thoughts and actions, and place them in the scales of Themis, the blindfolded, impartial G.o.ddess of justice, who bore a trenchant sword to indicate that her decrees would be mercilessly enforced. If the good outweighed the evil, the spirit was led to the Elysian Fields; but if, on the contrary, the evil prevailed, the spirit was condemned to suffer in the fires of Tartarus.

"Where his decrees The guilty soul within the burning gates Of Tartarus compel, or send the good To inhabit, with eternal health and peace, The valley of Elysium."

Akenside.

[Sidenote: The Furies.]

The guilty souls were always intrusted to the three snake-locked Furies (Erinnyes, or Eumenides), who drove them with their stinging lashes to the gates of Tartarus. These deities, who were sisters, and children of Acheron and Nyx, were distinguished by the individual names of Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera, and with Nemesis, G.o.ddess of revenge, were noted for their hard hearts and the merciless manner in which they hurried the ghosts intrusted to their care over the fiery flood of the Phlegethon, and through the brazen gates of their future place of incessant torment.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE THREE FATES.--Thumann.]

"There rolls swift Phlegethon, with thund'ring sound, His broken rocks, and whirls his surges round. On mighty columns rais'd sublime are hung The ma.s.sy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would G.o.ds essay, To hew the beams of adamant away. Here rose an iron tow'r: before the gate, By night and day, a wakeful Fury sate, The pale Tisiphone; a robe she wore, With all the pomp of horror, dy'd in gore."

Virgil (C. Pitt's tr.).

[Sidenote: The Fates.]

The three Fates (Moerae, Parcae), sisters, also sat near Pluto's throne. Clotho, the youngest, spun the thread of life, in which the bright and dark lines were intermingled. Lachesis, the second, twisted it; and under her fingers it was now strong, now weak.

"Twist ye, twine ye! even so, Mingle shades of joy and woe, Hope, and fear, and peace, and strife, In the thread of human life."

Scott.

Atropos, the third sister, armed with a huge pair of shears, remorselessly cut short the thread of life,--an intimation that another soul would ere long find its way down into the dark kingdom of Hades.

[Sidenote: Tartarus.]

When the gates of Tartarus turned on their hinges to receive the newcomer, a chorus of cries, groans, and imprecations from within fell upon his ear, mingled with the whistling of the whips incessantly plied by retributive deities.

"What sounds were heard, What scenes appeared, O'er all the dreary coasts! Dreadful gleams, Dismal screams, Fires that glow, Shrieks of woe, Sullen moans, Hollow groans, And cries of tortured ghosts."

Pope.

[Sidenote: The Danaides.]

Many victims renowned while on earth for their cruelty found here the just punishment of their sins. Attention was first attracted by a group of beautiful maidens, who carried water to fill a bottomless cask. Down to the stream they hastened, a long procession, filled their urns with water, painfully clambered up the steep and slippery bank, and poured their water into the cask; but when, exhausted and ready to faint from fatigue, they paused to rest for a moment, the cutting lash fell upon their bare shoulders, and spurred them on to renewed efforts to complete a task so hopeless that it has become proverbial.

These fair maidens were the Danaides, daughters of Danaus, who had pledged his fifty daughters to the fifty sons of his brother AEgyptus. The marriage preparations were all completed, when Danaus suddenly remembered an ancient prophecy which had quite escaped his memory, and which foretold that he would perish by the hand of his son-in-law.

It was now too late to prevent the marriages, so, calling his daughters aside, he told them what the oracle had said, and, giving them each a sharp dagger, bade them slay their husbands on their wedding night. The marriages were celebrated, as was customary, with mirth, dance, and song; and the revelry continued until late at night, when, the guests having departed, the newly married couples retired. But as soon as Danaus' daughters were quite certain their husbands were fast asleep, they produced their daggers and slew their mates.

"Danaus arm'd each daughter's hand To stain with blood the bridal bed."

Euripides (Potter's tr.).

One of the brides only, Hypermnestra, loved her husband too dearly to obey her father's command, and, when morning broke, only forty-nine of AEgyptus' sons were found lifeless. The sole survivor, Lynceus, to avenge his brothers' death, slew Danaus, thus fulfilling the ominous prophecy; while the G.o.ds, incensed by the Danaides' heartlessness, sent them to Hades, where they were compelled to fill the bottomless cask.

[Sidenote: Tantalus.]

Tartarus also detained within its brazen portals a cruel king named Tantalus (the father of Niobe), who, while on earth, had starved and ill-treated his subjects, insulted the immortal G.o.ds, and on one occasion had even dared to cook and serve up to them his own son Pelops. Most of the G.o.ds were immediately aware of the deception practiced upon them, and refused the new dish; but Ceres, who was very melancholy on account of the recent loss of her daughter, paid no heed to what was offered her, and in a fit of absent-mindedness ate part of the lad's shoulder.

The G.o.ds in pity restored the youth to life, and Ceres replaced the missing shoulder with one of ivory or of gold. Driven away from his kingdom, which was seized by the King of Troy, Pelops took refuge in Greece, where he ruled the extensive peninsula, the Peloponnesus, which still bears his name.

To punish the inhuman Tantalus, the G.o.ds then sent him to Tartarus, where he stood up to his chin in a stream of pure water, tormented with thirst; for, whenever he stooped to drink, the waters fled from his parched lips. Over his head hung a branch of luscious fruit. His hunger was as intolerable as his thirst; but, whenever he clutched at the fruit, the branch swung upward, and eluded his eager grasp.

"Above, beneath, around his hapless head, Trees of all kinds delicious fruitage spread. The fruit he strives to seize; but blasts arise, Toss it on high, and whirl it to the skies."

Homer (Pope's tr.).

This singular punishment inflicted upon Tantalus gave rise to the expression "to tantalize."

[Sidenote: Sisyphus.]