OtherbooksbyIngriandEdgarParind’Aulaire

ABRAHAMLINCOLNBENJAMINFRANKLIN

BUFFALOBILLCHILDRENOFTHENORTHLIGHTSD’AULAIRES’BOOKOFANIMALS

D’AULAIRES’BOOKOFNORSEMYTHSD’AULAIRES’BOOKOFNORWEGIANFOLKTALES

D’AULAIRES’BOOKOFTROLLSFOXIE

GEORGEWASHINGTONLEIFTHELUCKY

OLAPOCAHONTAS

THETERRIBLETROLL-BIRDTOOBIG

THETWOCARS

DEDICATION

Toourson,PerOla,whohashelpedussomuchinwritingandlithographing

thisbook.

CONTENTS

CoverTitlePageOtherbooksbyIngriandEdgarParind’AulaireCopyrightDedicationMap

InOldenTimesGaea,MotherEarthTheTitans

ZEUSandhisFamilyHeraHephaestusAphroditeAresAthenaPoseidonApolloArtemisHermesHadesPersephoneandDemeterDionysus

MINORGODS,Nymphs,Satyrs,andCentaursPrometheusPandoraDeucalion

EosHeliosandPhaëthonSelenePanEchoSyrinxTheWildandVulgarCentaursAsclepiusTheNineMusesOrpheus

MORTALDESCENDANTSOFZEUSEuropaandCadmusTantalusandPelopsDanaüs,Perseus,andtheGorgonCleverandVaingloriousKingsKingMidasSisyphusBellerophonMelampusHeraclesTheseusOedipusTheGoldenFleeceTheCalydonianBoarHuntTheApplesofLoveandtheAppleofDiscordEverythingMustCometoanEnd

AfterwordD’AulaireSketchbookD’AulaireFamilyAlbumINDEX

INOLDENTIMES,when men still worshiped ugly idols, there lived in the land ofGreeceafolkofshepherdsandherdsmenwhocherishedlightandbeauty. They did notworship dark idols like their neighbors, butcreatedinsteadtheirownbeautiful,radiantgods.TheGreek gods lookedmuch like people and acted like them,

too,onlytheyweretaller,handsomerandcoulddonowrong.Fire-breathingmonsters and beastswithmany heads stood for all thatwas dark and wicked. They were for gods and great heroes toconquer.ThegodslivedontopofOlympus,amountainsohighandsteep

thatnomancouldclimbitandseethemintheirshiningpalace.Butthey often descended to earth, sometimes in their own shapes,sometimesdisguisedashumansoranimals.MortalsworshipedthegodsandthegodshonoredMotherEarth.

Theyhadallsprungfromher,forshewasthebeginningofalllife.

GAEA,theEarth,cameoutofdarknesssolongagothatnobodyknowswhenorhow.Earthwasyoungandlonesome,fornothinglivedonheryet.AboveherroseUranus, theSky, dark andblue, set all overwith sparkling stars.Hewasmagnificent tobehold,andyoungEarth lookedupathimandfell in lovewithhim.SkysmileddownatEarth,twinklingwithhiscountlessstars,andtheywerejoinedinlove.SoonyoungEarthbecameMotherEarth,themotherofallthingsliving.Allherchildrenlovedtheirwarmandbountifulmotherandfearedtheirmightyfather,Uranus,lordoftheuniverse.

THETITANS

THETITANSwerethefirstchildrenofMotherEarth.Theywerethefirstgods,taller than themountains she created to serve themas thrones, andbothEarthandSkywereproudofthem.ThereweresixTitans,sixgloriousgods,andtheyhadsixsisters,theTitanesses,whomtheytookfortheirwives.WhenGaeaagaingavebirth,Uranuswasnotproud.Theirnewchildrenwere

alsohuge,buteachhadonlyoneglowingeyesetinthemiddleofhisforehead.Theywere the three Cyclopes and theywere named Lightning, Thunder, andThunderbolt. They were not handsome gods, but tremendously strong smiths.Sparksfromtheirheavyhammersflashedacrosstheskyandlituptheheavenssobrightlythateventheirfather’sstarsfaded.AfterawhileMotherEarthborethreemoresons.Uranuslookedatthemwith

disgust.Eachofthemhadfiftyheadsandahundredstrongarms.Hehatedtoseesuch ugly creatures walk about on lovely Earth, so he seized them and theirbrothers the Cyclopes and flung them into Tartarus, the deepest, darkest pitundertheearth.Mother Earth loved her children and could not forgive her husband for his

crueltytothem.OutofhardestflintshefashionedasickleandspoketohersonstheTitans:“Takethisweapon,makeanendtoyourfather’scrueltyandsetyourbrothers

free.”Fear took hold of five of the Titans and they trembled and refused. Only

Cronus,theyoungestbutthestrongest,daredtotakethesickle.Hefelluponhisfather.Uranuscouldnotwithstandtheweaponwieldedbyhisstrongsonandhefled,givinguphispowers.MotherEarthmadePontus,theboundlessseas,hersecondhusband,andfrom

thisunionsprangthegodsofthewaterydepths.Andfromherrichgroundgrewanabundanceof treesandflowersand,outofhercrevices,sprites,beasts,andearlymancreptforth.

CRONUSwasnowthelordoftheuniverse.Hesatonthehighestmountainandruledoverheavenandearthwith a firmhand.Theothergodsobeyedhiswillandearlymanworshipedhim.Thiswasman’sGoldenAge.Menlivedhappilyand inpeacewith thegods and eachother.Theydidnot kill and theyhadnolocksontheirdoors,forthefthadnotyetbeeninvented.But Cronus did not set his monstrous brothers free, andMother Earth was

angrywithhimandplottedhisdownfall.Shehad towait, fornogodyetbornwasstrongenoughtoopposehim.Butsheknewthatoneofhissonswouldbestrongerthanhe,justasCronushadbeenstrongerthanhisfather.Cronusknewittoo,soeverytimehisTitaness-wifeRheagavebirth,hetookthenewborngodandswallowedit.Withallofhisoffspringsecurelyinsidehim,hehadnothingtofear.ButRheamourned.Her five sisters,whohadmarried the five otherTitans,

were surrounded by theirTitan children,while shewas all alone.WhenRheaexpectedhersixthchild,sheaskedMotherEarthtohelphersavethechildfromhisfather.ThatwasjustwhatMotherEarthhadbeenwaitingfor.Shegaveherdaughterwhisperedadvice,andRheawentawaysmiling.As soon asRheahadborneher child, the godZeus, she hid him.Then she

wrappedastoneinbabyclothesandgaveittoherhusbandtoswallowinsteadofherson.Cronuswasfooledandswallowedthestone,andthelittlegodZeuswasspiritedawaytoasecretcaveontheislandofCrete.OldCronusneverheardthe

criesofhisyoungson,forMotherEarthsetnoisyearthspritesoutsidethecave.They made such a clatter, beating their shields with their swords, that othersoundsweredrownedout.

ZEUS

ANDHISFAMILY

ZEUS was tended by gentle nymphs and was nursed by the fairy goatAmaltheia.Fromthehornsofthegoatflowedambrosiaandnectar,thefoodanddrinkofthegods.Zeusgrewrapidly,anditwasnotlongbeforehestrodeoutofthecaveasagreatnewgod.Tothankthenymphsfor tendinghimsowell,hegavethemthehornsofthegoat.Theywerehornsofplentyandcouldneverbeemptied. From the hide of the goat he made for himself an impenetrablebreastplate, theAegis,andnowhewassostrongthatCronuscoulddonothingagainsthim.YoungZeuschoseMetis, aTitan’sdaughter, forhis firstwife.Shewas the

goddessofprudence,andheneededhergoodadvice.Shewarnedhimnottotryalonetooverthrowhischild-devouringfather,forCronushadalltheotherTitansandtheirsonsonhisside.FirstZeusmustalsohavestrongallies.MetiswenttoCronusandcunninglytrickedhimintoeatingamagicherb.He

thought that the herbwouldmakehimunconquerable. Instead itmade him sosickthathevomitedupnotonlythestonehehadswallowed,buthisfiveotherchildren as well. They were the gods Hades and Poseidon and the goddessesHestia,Demeter,andHera,allmightygodswhorightaway joinedforceswithZeus.WhenCronussawthesixyounggodsrisingagainsthim,heknewthathishourhadcomeandhesurrenderedhispowersandfled.NowZeuswas the lord of the universe.He did notwant to rule alone.He

shared his powerswith his brothers and sisters. But the Titans and their sonsrevolted. They refused to let themselves be ruled by the new gods. OnlyPrometheus and his brother Epimetheus left the Titans to join Zeus, forPrometheuscouldlookintothefutureandheknewthatZeuswouldwin.ZeusfreedthemonstroussonsofMotherEarthfromTartarus.Gratefullythe

hundred-armed ones fought for him with all their strength, and the Cyclopes

forgedmightyweaponsforhimandhisbrothers.TheymadeatridentforPoseidon.Itwassoforcefulthatwhenhestruckthe

groundwithit,theearthshook,andwhenhestruckthesea,frothingwavesstoodmountainhigh.For Hades they made a cap of invisibility so he could strike his enemies

unseen,andforZeustheyforgedlightningbolts.Armedwiththem,hewasthemightiestgodofthemall,nothingcouldstandagainsthimandhisthunderbolts.The Titans fought a bitter battle, but at last they had to surrender, and ZeuslockedthemupinTartarus.Thehundred-armedmonsterswenttostandguardatthegates toseethat theyneverescaped.Atlas, thestrongestof theTitans,wassenttotheendoftheworldtocarryforeverthevaultoftheskyonhisshoulders.AngrywithZeusforsendinghersonstheTitansintothedarkpitofTartarus,

Mother Earth now brought forth two terriblemonsters, Typhon and hismate,Echidna,andsent themagainstZeus.Theywereso fearful thatwhen thegodssaw them they changed themselves into animals and fled in terror. Typhon’shundredhorribleheadstouchedthestars,venomdrippedfromhisevileyes,andlavaandred-hotstonespouredfromhisgapingmouths.Hissinglikeahundredsnakesandroaringlikeahundredlions,hetoreupwholemountainsandthrewthematthegods.Zeussoonregainedhiscourageandturned,andwhentheothergodssawhim

takinghisstand,theycamebacktohelphimfightthemonster.Aterriblebattleraged,andhardlyalivingcreaturewasleftonearth.ButZeuswasfatedtowin,andasTyphontoreuphugeMountAetnatohurlatthegods,Zeusstruckitwithahundredwell-aimedthunderboltsandthemountainfellback,pinningTyphonunderneath. There the monster lies to this very day, belching fire, lava, andsmokethroughthetopofthemountain.Echidna, his hideous mate, escaped destruction. She cowered in a cave,

protectingTyphon’sdreadfuloffspring,andZeusletthemliveasachallengetofutureheroes.

Now at last Mother Earth gave up her struggle. There were no moreupheavals,andthewoundsofthewarsoonhealed.Themountainsstoodfirmlyanchored.Theseashadtheirshores.Therivershadtheirriverbedsandoxhornedriver-godswatchedoverthem,andeachtreeandeachspringhaditsnymph.TheearthagainwasgreenandfruitfulandZeuscouldbegintoruleinpeace.

The one-eyedCyclopeswere not only smiths butmasons aswell, and theybuilt a towering palace for the gods on top of Mount Olympus, the highestmountaininGreece.Thepalacewashiddeninclouds,andthegoddessesoftheseasonsrolledthemawaywheneveragodwantedtogodowntoearth.Nobodyelsecouldpassthroughthegateofclouds.

Iris,thefleet-footedmessengerofthegods,hadherownpathdowntoearth.Dressed in agownof iridescentdrops, she ranalong the rainbowonherbusyerrandsbetweenOlympusandearth.

In the gleaming hall of the palace, where light never failed, the Olympiangods sat on twelve golden thrones and reigned over heaven and earth. Therewere twelvegreatgods,forZeussharedhispowers,notonlywithhisbrothersandsisters,butwithsixofhischildrenandthegoddessofloveaswell.Zeushimselfsatonthehighestthrone,withabucketfulofthunderboltsbeside

him.Onhisrightsathisyoungestsister,Hera,whomhehadchosenfromallhiswivesashisqueen.Besideher sather son,Ares,godofwar,andHephaestus,godoffire,withAphrodite,goddessoflove,betweenthem.NextwasZeus’ssonHermes, the herald of the gods, and Zeus’s sister Demeter, goddess of theharvestwith her daughter, Persephone, on her lap.On the left ofZeus sat hisbrotherPoseidon,thelordofthesea.NexttohimsatthefourchildrenofZeus:Athena,thetwinsApolloandArtemis,andDionysus,theyoungestofthegods.Athenawasthegoddessofwisdom,Apollo,thegodoflightandmusic,Artemis,goddessofthehunt,andDionysus,thegodofwine.Hestia,theeldestsisterofZeus,wasgoddessofthehearth.Shehadnothrone,

buttendedthesacredfireinthehall,andeveryhearthonearthwasheraltar.ShewasthegentlestofalltheOlympians.Hades, theeldestbrotherofZeus,was the lordof thedead.Hepreferred to

stayinhisgloomypalaceintheunderworldandneverwenttoOlympus.The gods themselves could not die, for divine ichor flowed in their veins

insteadofblood.Mostofthetimetheylivedhappilytogether,feastingonsweet-

smelling ambrosia andnectar, butwhen theirwills clashed, therewereviolentquarrels. Then Zeus would reach for a thunderbolt and the Olympians wouldtremble and fall to order, for Zeus alonewas stronger than all the other godstogether.

HERA, thebeautifulqueenofOlympus,wasavery jealouswife.EvenZeus,who was afraid of nothing, feared her fits of temper. She hated all his otherwives, andwhen Zeus first asked her to be his wife, she refused. Slyly Zeuscreatedathunderstorm,changedhimselfintoalittlecuckoo,and,pretendingtobe indistress,he flewintoHera’sarmsforprotection.Shepitied thewet littlebirdandhuggeditclosetokeepitwarm,butallofasuddenshefoundherselfholdingmightyZeusinherarmsinsteadofthebird.Thus Zeus won Hera and all nature burst into bloom for their wedding.

Mother Earth gave the bride a little apple tree that bore golden apples ofimmortality. Hera treasured the tree and planted it in the garden of theHesperides,hersecretgardenfartothewest.Sheputahundred-headeddragonunder the tree to guard the apples and ordered the three Nymphs of theHesperidestowaterandcareforthetree.ZeuslovedHeradearly,buthewasalsoveryfondofrockyGreece.Heoften

sneakeddowntoearthindisguisetomarrymortalgirls.Themorewiveshehad,themorechildrenhewouldhave,andallthebetterforGreece!Allhischildrenwould inherit some of his greatness and become great heroes and rulers. ButHerainherjealousragetormentedhisotherwivesandchildren,andevenZeuswaspowerless to stopher.Sheknewhow trickyZeus couldbe andkept veryclosewatchoverhim.OnedayasHeralookeddownonearth,shespiedasmalldarkthundercloud

wherenocloudshouldhavebeen.Sherusheddownanddarted into thecloud.Zeuswas there justasshehadsuspected,butwithhimwasonlya littlesnow-whitecow.HehadseenHeracomingand, toprotecthisnewestbride Io fromherwrath,hehadchangedthegirl intoacow.Alas!Thecowwasaslovelyasthegirl, andHerawasnot deceived, but shepretended to suspect nothing andbeggedZeustoletherhavethedaintycow.Zeuscouldnotwellrefusehisqueensuchalittlewishwithoutgivinghimselfaway,andhehadtogiveherthecow.HeratiedpoorIotoatreeandsentherservantArgustokeepwatchoverher.

Argushadahundredbrighteyesplacedalloverhisbody.Hewassobigandstrongthatsinglehandedlyhehadmadeanendto themonstrousEchidna,whohadlivedinacaveandhaddevouredallwhopassedby.HewasHera’sfaithfulservantandthebestofwatchmen,forheneverclosedmorethanhalfofhiseyesinsleepatatime.

Argussatdownnexttothecowandwatchedherwithallhiseyes,andpoorIohadtowalkonfourlegsandeatgrass.SheraisedhermournfuleyestoOlympus,butZeuswassoafraidofHerathathedidnotdaretohelpher.Atlasthecouldnolongerbeartoseeherdistress,andheaskedhissonHermes,thecraftiestofthegods,torundowntoearthandsetIofree.Hermes disguised himself as a shepherd andwalked up toArgus playing a

tuneonhisshepherd’spipe.Arguswasbored,havingnothingtodowithallhiseyes but watch a little cow, and he was glad to have music and company.Hermessatdownbesidehim,andafterhehadplayedforawhile,hebegantotell a long and dull story. It had no beginning and it had no end and fifty ofArgus’s eyes closed in sleep. Hermes droned on and on and slowly the fiftyothereyesfellshut,onebyone.QuicklyHermes touchedall theeyeswithhismagicwandandclosedthemforeverineternalsleep.Argushadbeenboredtodeath.Hermes then untied the cow, and Io ran home to her father, the river-god

Inachos.Hedidnotrecognizethecowashisdaughter,andIocouldnottellhimwhathadhappened,allshecouldsaywas,“Mooo!”Butwhensheliftedupherlittle hoof and scratchedher name, “I-O,” in the river sand, her father at onceunderstoodwhathadhappened,forheknewthewaysofZeus.Inachosroseoutofhis riverbedandrushedoff to take revengeon themighty thunder-god.HeflewatZeusinsucharagethattosavehimselfZeushadtothrowathunderbolt,andeversincethebedoftheriverInachosinArcadiahasbeendry.

HerawasfuriouswhenshesawthatArguswasdeadandthecowIohadbeensetfree.Shesentaviciousgadflytostingandchasethecow.Tobesurethatherfaithful servant Argus would never be forgotten, she took his hundred brighteyesandputthemonthetailofthepeacock,herfavoritebird.Theeyescouldnolongersee,buttheylookedgorgeous,andthatwenttothepeacock’slittlehead,andmadeitthevainestofallanimals.

Pursued by the gadfly, Io ran all over Greece. Trying to escape from itstormenting sting, she jumpedacross the strait that separatesEurope fromAsiaMinor,and,eversince,ithasbeencalledtheBosporus,the“cowford.”But still the gadfly chased her all theway to the land of Egypt.When the

Egyptianssawthesnow-whitecow,theyfell totheirkneesandworshipedher.ShebecameanEgyptiangoddess,andHeranowpermittedZeus tochangeherbacktoherhumanshape.ButfirsthehadtopromisenevertolookatIoagain.Io lived long as the goddess-queen of Egypt, and the son she bore to Zeus

became king after her.Her descendants returned toGreece as great kings andbeautifulqueens.PoorIo’ssufferingshadnotallbeeninvain.

HEPHAESTUS, thegodof smiths and fire,was the sonofZeus andHera.Hewasahard-working,peace-lovinggodandwasveryfondofhismother.Oftenhetriedtosoothehertemperwithgentlewords.Oncehehadevendaredtostepbetweenhisquarrelingparents.HesidedwithHera,andthatmadeZeussoangrythathe seizedhis sonby the legsand flunghimoutofOlympus.Forawholeday,Hephaestushurtledthroughtheair. In theeveninghefellontheislandofLemnos, with a thump so hard that the island shook. Thetis, a gentle seagoddess, foundhimallbrokenandbruised.Sheboundhiswoundsandnursedhimbacktohealth.Zeus forgave him and Hephaestus returned to Olympus, but ever after, he

walkedlikeaflickeringflame.Hisbodywasbigandstrongandhishandswerewonderfullyskilled,buthisweaklegscouldnotsupporthimforlong.Hebuiltfor himself two robots of gold and silver to help him about. They hadmechanicalbrainsandcouldthinkforthemselves.Theyevencouldspeakwiththeir tongues of silver. They also served him as helpers in his workshop onOlympus. Itwas there thatHephaestusmade the twelve golden thrones of thegodsandtheirmarvelousweapons,chariots,andjewels.Healsohadforgesinsidevolcanoesonearth.Hishelpersthereweretheone-

eyedCyclopes.Theyworkedhisbellowsandswunghisheavyhammers.WhenHephaestuswasatwork, thedinof thehammerscouldbeheard formilesandsparksflewoutofthetopsofthemountains.

AlltheOlympiangodswerefondofHephaestusandoftenwenttohisforgetoadmirehiswork.WhenAphrodite,hislovelywife,cametohisworkshoptolookatthematchlessjewelshewasfashioningforher,shedaintlyliftedhertrailinggarmentsoutofthesoot.

APHRODITE, the beautiful goddess of love,was the onlyOlympianwho hadneithermothernor father.Nobodyknew fromwhere shehadcome.TheWestWindhadfirstseenherinthepearlylightofdawnassheroseoutoftheseaonacushionoffoam.Shefloatedlightlyoverthegentlewavesandwassolovelytobeholdthat thewindalmost losthisbreath.Withsoftpuffs,heblewhertothefloweringislandofCythera,wherethethreeGraceswelcomedherashore.ThethreeGraces,goddessesofbeauty,becameherattendants.Theydressedher inshimmeringgarments,bedeckedherwithsparkling jewels,andplacedher inagoldenchariotdrawnbywhitedoves.ThentheyledhertoOlympus,whereallthegodsrejoicedinherbeauty,seatedheronagoldenthrone,andmadeheroneofthem.ZeuswasafraidthatthegodswouldfightoverthehandofAphrodite,and,to

prevent it,hequicklychoseahusbandforher.Hegaveher toHephaestus, thesteadiestofthegods,andhe,whocouldhardlybelieveinhisgoodluck,usedallhisskill tomakethemostlavishjewelsforher.Hemadeheragirdleoffinelywroughtgoldandwovemagicintothefiligreework.Thatwasnotverywiseofhim,forwhensheworehermagicgirdlenoonecouldresisther,andshewasalltooirresistiblealready.AphroditehadamischievouslittlesonwhosenamewasEros.Hedartedabout

with a bow and a quiver full of arrows. They were arrows of love and hedelightedinshootingthemintotheheartsofunwaryvictims.Whoeverwashitbyoneofhisarrows fellheadoverheels in lovewith the firstpersonhe saw,

whileEroslaughedmockingly.OnceayearAphroditereturnedtoCytheraanddivedintotheseafromwhich

shehadcome.Sparklingandyoung,sherosefromthewater,asdewyfreshasonthedaywhenshehadfirstbeenseen.Shelovedgaietyandglamourandwasnotatallpleasedatbeing thewifeof sooty,hard-workingHephaestus.ShewouldratherhavehadhisbrotherAresforherhusband.

ARES,godofwar,wastallandhandsomebutvain,andascruelashisbrotherHephaestuswaskind.Eris,thespiritofstrife,washisconstantcompanion.Eriswas sinister and mean, and her greatest joy was to make trouble. She had agoldenapple thatwas sobrightand shinyeverybodywanted tohave it.Whenshethrewitamongfriends,theirfriendshipcametoarapidend.Whenshethrewitamongenemies,warbrokeout, for thegoldenappleofEriswasanappleofdiscord.When Ares heard the clashing of arms, he grinned with glee, put on his

gleaming helmet, and leapt into hiswar chariot. Brandishing his sword like atorch,herushed into the thickofbattle,notcaringwhowonor lostas longasmuchbloodwasshed.Aviciouscrowdfollowedathisheels,carryingwiththemPain,Panic,Famine,andOblivion.Once inawhile,Areshimselfwaswounded.Hewas immortalbuthecould

notbeartosufferpainandscreamedsoloudlythathecouldbeheardformiles.Then he would run home to Olympus, where Zeus in disgust called him the

worstofhischildrenandtoldhimtostophishowling.Hiswounds,treatedwiththeointmentofthegods,quicklyhealed,andAresreturnedasgoodaseverandseated himself on his throne, tall, handsome, and boastful, the plume on hisgoldenhelmetnoddingproudly.Aphroditeadmiredhimforhissplendidlooks,butnoneoftheothergodswere

fondofhim,leastofallhishalfsisterAthena.Sheloathedhisvainstruttingandsenselessbloodshed.

ATHENA, the goddess of wisdom, was the favorite child of Zeus. She hadsprungfullygrownoutofherfather’shead.Her mother was Metis, goddess of prudence, the first wife of Zeus. He

dependedonher,forheneededherwisecouncil,butMotherEarthwarnedhimthat,wereMetis to bear him a son, this sonwould dethrone him asZeus haddethronedCronus, his fatherwho had dethroned his own father,Uranus. Thismustnothappen, thoughtZeus,buthe couldnotdowithouther advice, sohedecided to swallowher.Slyly,heproposed that theyplayagameofchangingshapes,andMetis,forgettingherprudence,playfullyturnedherselfintoallkindsofanimals,bigandsmall.Justasshehadtakenontheshapeofalittlefly,Zeusopenedwidehismouth,tookadeepbreath,andzip!heswallowedthefly.Everafter,Metissatinhisheadandguidedhimfromthere.NowithappenedthatMetiswasgoingtohaveadaughter,andshesatinside

Zeus’s head hammering out a helmet and weaving a splendid robe for thecomingchild.SoonZeusbegantosufferfrompoundingheadachesandcriedoutinagony.Allthegodscamerunningtohelphim,andskilledHephaestusgraspedhistoolsandsplitopenhisfather’sskull.OutsprangAthena,wearingtherobeand the helmet, her gray eyes flashing. Thunder roared and the gods stood inawe.

Athena’sconstantcompanionwasNike,thespiritofvictory.WithNikeatherside,Athena led armies, but only those that fought for just causes. In time ofpeaceshestoodbehindtheartistsofGreeceandtaughtthemthefineandusefularts.Shehadgreatprideinherownskillsattheloomandthepotter’swheel,butwashappytoseeherpupilsexcelaslongastheyshowedherproperrespect.OneofherpupilswasArachne,asimplecountrygirl,whowaswonderfully

skilled at the loom. People came from far and wide to admire her weavings.StupidlysheboastedthatshehadlearnednothingfromAthena;indeed,thatshewasbetterthanthegoddess!ThathurtAthena’spride.Disguisedasanoldwoman,shewenttothegirland

triedtotalksenseintoher.“Yourworkisbeautiful,”shesaid,“butwhycompareyourselfwiththegods?

Whynotbecontentedtobethebestamongmortals?”“Let the goddessAthena herself come andmeasure her skill againstmine,”

Arachneansweredhaughtily.Angrily Athena threw off her disguise and stood before the girl in all her

glory.“Vaingirl,”shesaid,“youmayhaveyourwish.Sitdownatyourloomandlet

uscompete.”Athenawovethemostbeautifultapestryeverseen,everythreadandknotwas

perfectandthecolorssparkled.ItpicturedtheOlympiangodsinalltheirgloryandmajesty.Arachne’s tapestrywas alsobeautifullywoven;Athenaherselfhad to admit

that the girl’s craftmanship was flawless. But what kind of a picture had shewoven?AnirreverentscenemakingfunofZeusandhiswives!Inawraththegoddesstorethetapestrytoshredsandstruckthegirlwiththe

shuttle.ImmediatelyArachnefeltherheadshrinkalmosttonothing,hernimblefingerschangeintolong,spindlylegs.Athenahadturnedherintoaspider.

“Vainglorious girl, go on and spin your thread and weave your empty netforever,”saidAthenatoArachne,thespider.Athenawasajustgoddessandshecouldbeverystern.Sheknewthatthegodsweregreatonlyaslongastheywereproperlyworshipedbymortals.Athena was very fond of a certain city in Greece, and so was her uncle,

Poseidon.Bothof themclaimedthecity,andaftera longquarrel theydecidedthattheonewhocouldgiveitthefinestgiftshouldhaveit.Leading a procession of citizens, the two gods mounted the Acropolis, the

flat-toppedrockthatcrownedthecity.Poseidonstruckthecliffwithhistrident,

andaspringwelledup.Thepeoplemarveled,butthewaterwassaltyastheseathatPoseidonruled,andnotveryuseful.ThenAthenagavethecityhergift.Sheplantedanolivetreeinacreviceontherock.Itwasthefirstolivetreethepeoplehadeverseen.Athena’sgiftwasjudgedthebetterofthetwo,foritgavefood,oil, andwood, and the citywashers.Fromher beautiful templeon topof theAcropolis,AthenawatchedoverAthens,hercity,withthewiseowl,herbird,onhershoulder,andunderherleadershiptheAtheniansgrewfamousfortheirartsandcrafts.

POSEIDON,lordofthesea,wasamoodyandviolentgod.Hisfierceblueeyespiercedthehaze,andhissea-bluehairstreamedoutbehindhim.Hewascalledthe Earthshaker, for when he struck the ground with his trident, the earthtrembledandsplitopen.Whenhestruckthesea,wavesrosemountainhighandthewindshowled,wreckingshipsanddrowningthosewholivedontheshores.Butwhenhewasinacalmmood,hewouldstretchouthishandandstilltheseaandraisenewlandsoutofthewater.In the days of Cronus and the Titans, the seawas ruled byNereus, son of

MotherEarthandPontus,theseas.Nereuswasanoldseagodwithalonggraybeardandafishtailandwasthefatheroffiftyseanymphs, thelovelyNereids.WhenPoseidon,theOlympian,cametotakeoverthekingdomofthesea,kindold Nereus gave him his daughter Amphitrite for his queen and retired to anunderwatergrotto.Hegavethenewkingandqueenhispalaceatthebottomofthe sea. It was made of the palest gold and lay in a garden of corals andshimmeringpearls.ThereAmphitritelivedcontentedlysurroundedbyherforty-nine Nereid sisters. She had an only son, whose name was Triton. He had afishtailinsteadoflegs,likehisgrandfatherNereus,androdeaboutonthebackofaseamonster,trumpetingonaconchshell.

Poseidon was rarely at home. He was a restless god and loved to race thewaveswithhis teamof snow-whitehorses. Itwas said thathehadcreated thehorseintheshapeofbreakingwaves.LikehisbrotherZeus,Poseidonhadmanywivesandmanychildren,butAmphitritewasnotjealouslikeHera.

Oneof the islands thatPoseidon raisedout of the seawasDelos. Itwas sonewlycreatedthat itwasstillfloatingaboutonthewater.Thelittleislandwasbarren.Nothinggrewon ityet excepta singlepalm tree. In its shade, the twogreatgodsApolloandArtemisweretobeborn.

ZeushadmarriedthegoddessLeto,andwhenHerafoundout thatLetowasexpecting twins, she flew into a jealous rage and ordered all the lands in theworldtorefuseLetoshelter.Chasedawayfromeveryland,poorLetowanderedfromplacetoplaceandcouldnotresttogivebirthtohertwins.AtlastshecametoDelosandthelittleislandwelcomedher.Sinceitwasstill

floating and not quite land, it was free fromHera’s bidding. Exhausted, Letosankdownintheshadeofthepalmtree,butstillshecouldnotgivebirthtohertwins,forHeraforbadeIlithyia,thegoddessofchildbirth,togotoher.Withoutherhelpnochildcouldbeborn.AlltheothergoddessesfeltsorryforLetoandtriedtoswayHerabyofferingherabeautifulnecklace.Itwasnineyardslong,madeofgoldandamber,andHeracouldnotresistit.SheletIlithyiago,andIriswhiskedherdowntherainbowtoLeto.Leto’s first childwasArtemis, a girl as beautiful as themoon,with hair as

dark as the night. She was to be the goddess of the hunt and all newborn

creatures.ThenApollocameintotheworld.Hewasfairasthesunandhewastobethegodofmusic,light,andreason.Zeuswasfilledwithjoyatthesightofhisbeautifultwinsandhegavethem

eachasilverbowandaquiverfullofarrows.ThearrowsofArtemisweresoftasmoonbeamsandbroughtpainlessdeath,thoseofApollowerehardandpiercingastheraysofthesun.Zeusblessed the little islandand fastened it to thebottomof the sea.Grass

andflowersburstforthfromthebarrenground,andDelosbecametherichestofall the Greek islands. Pilgrims flocked to it and loaded it with temples andtreasurestohonorLetoandhertwins.

APOLLOgrewrapidly,asallgodsdid,andwhenhewasfullgrown,Zeussenthim off in a chariot drawn by white swans to win for himself the oracle ofDelphi.No place inGreecewas as sacred asDelphi, on the steep slopes ofMount

Parnassus.Sulphurousfumesrosefromadeepcleftinthemountainside.Asibyl,thepriestessofDelphi,satonatripodoverthecleftandthevaporsputherintoamagicsleep.InherdreamsthesibylheardthevoiceofMotherEarthcomingupfromthedepths,andrepeatedthemysticwordssheheard.PriestsstoodaroundthesibylandexplainedthemeaningsofhermutteredpropheciestothepilgrimswhohadcometotheoracleofDelphitolearnabouttheirfuture.The oracle was guarded by the darksome dragon Python, who lay coiled

around thesacredplace.Oldagehadmadehimmeanandso ill-tempered thatthenymphsfledfromthesacredspringnearbyandthebirdsnolongerdaredtosinginthetrees.TheoraclehadwarnedPythonthatLeto’ssonwouldonedaydestroyhim.He

had tried todevourLetowhenshewanderedabout looking foraplace togivebirth to her children, but she had escaped. When the old black dragon sawradiantApolloflyingtowardhiminhisgoldenchariot,heknewthathislasthourhad come.But he sold his life dearly.Heunleashedhis fury, spitting fire andvenom, and his black scaly body did not stop its writhing and coiling untilApollo had shot him with a thousand of his silver shafts. In torrents did the

dragon’s venom flow down the mountainside, and the oracle of Delphi wasApollo’s.Nowtherewaslightandjoyontheonce-somberslopesofMountParnassus.

TheairwasfilledwithsweettunesasthebirdsintheskyandthenymphsofthesacredspringreturnedtosingApollo’spraise.Thevoiceoftheyounggodroseabovealltheothers,forhewasalsothegodofmusic.

ARTEMIS, asanewborngoddess,went toher father,Zeus,andaskedhim togrant her awish. Shewanted to remain forever awild youngmaiden huntingthroughthewoods,andsheaskedhimtopromisenevertomakehermarry.Zeusconsented,and thensheaskedhimfor fifty fleetnymphsascompanionsandapackoflop-earedhoundstohuntwith.Herfathergaveherallsheasked,andsheherself caught fourhindswithgolden antlers andharnessed them toher silverchariot.When themoon’smagic light shoneoverechoinghillsandwoodedvalleys,

Artemishuntedwiththenymphsandherhounds.Afterawildhunt,thegoddesslovedtobatheinaquietpool.Woetothemortalwhohappenedtoseeherthen!Onenight,quitebychance,ayounghunterwhosenamewasActaeoncame

upon the pool in thewoodswhereArtemis and her nymphswere bathing.Heshould have taken to his heels and run for his life, but instead, he stoodspellboundbythesightofthegoddess.Artemiswasfurious!Whilethenymphsflungatunicoverhershoulders,thegoddessdippedherhandintothepoolandthrewahandfulofwateratActaeon.Themomentthesilverydropstouchedhisforehead, antlers sprouted, and rapidlyallofActaeonchanged intoa stag.Hisownhoundsleapedathim,and,tohishorror,hecouldnotutterahumansoundtocallthemoff.Theybroughthimdown,neverknowingthatthedeerwastheir

ownmaster.“No mortal shall live to boast that he has seen Artemis bathing,” said the

goddess,andshepickedupherbowandarrowsandwentonhuntingwithhernymphs.Artemiswasacoldandpitilessgoddess.

ApolloandArtemis,thoughdifferentasdayandnight,wereveryfondofeachother and they both adored their mother. No one could say a belittling wordaboutgentleLetowithoutarousingthewrathofhertwins.TherewasaqueenofThebeswhosenamewasNiobe.Shewasbeautifuland

shewasrichandshewasblessedwithfourteenchildren.Zeushimselfwashergrandfather,andshewasveryproud.“WhyworshipLeto?”shesaidtoherpeople.“Buildmeatempleandworship

meinherstead.Ihavesevensonsandsevendaughters,whileshehasonlyoneofeach.”When Apollo and Artemis heard this, they grew very angry. Niobe’s

disrespectcouldnotgounpunished.ApolloshothishardarrowsatNiobe’ssevensons.Bynofaultoftheirown,

theywere torn from life in the prime of their youth.ThenArtemis let fly herpainlessshaftsatthesevendaughters.Quietly,theylaydownontheirbedsanddied.Niobe’s proud heartwas broken. Shewept for so long that the gods at last

tookpityonherandchangedherintoanunfeelingrock.Still,insidetherock,aspringwelledupandwaterliketearstrickleddownthefaceofthehardstone.Apollohadmanywives,butZeuskepthispromisetoArtemisandnevermade

hermarry.Onlyonceshepromisedherhandtoasuitor,butthatwasapromiseshehadnointentionofkeeping.ThesuitorwasOtus,agiganticsonofPoseidon.Otusandhisbrother,Ephialtes,werealmostsixtyfeettallwhentheyreached

manhood,andstilltheywentongrowing.Thegodswatchedthemwithconcern,for an oracle had predicted that neither gods nor mortals could kill the giantbrothers. Mother Earth, however, watched them with pleasure. She was stillangrywithZeusforkeepinghersons,theTitans,inTartarus,andshehopedthatOtusandEphialteswouldgrowbigenoughtooverthrowhim.One night as the brothers slept with their ears to the ground, they heard

Mother Earth whisper that such tall and handsome youths should not letthemselves be ruled by Zeus. That was just what they had been thinkingthemselves, for they were vain, as many strong people are. They pulled up

mountains, piled themon topof eachother, andbuilt a vast newmountain ashighasOlympus.From the top theycalled toZeus to surrenderhispowers tothemandmoveoutofhispalacewiththeotherOlympians.Artemiscouldstayandbecomehisbride,shoutedOtus,andEphialteswouldtakeHera.The twogoddesses tossed theirheadswith scorn, andZeus in a furyhurled

thunderbolts at the ruffians. Zeus’s thunderbolts glanced off harmlessly, andwhenAresrushedouttofightthem,theygrabbedhimandcrammedhimintoabronzejarandclampedthelidshut.

ForonceZeuswasreallyworried,butApollo,thegodofreason,saidthatifnoonecouldkillthemtheymustbetrickedintokillingeachother.HepersuadedArtemis topretend that shewas in lovewithOtus.Otus smirkedwhenApollocalledtohimthatArtemisthoughtsomuchofhimshehadacceptedhisproposalandwouldwait for him on the island ofNaxos. ThatmadeEphialtes jealous.Why hadn’t Hera fallen in love with him? Wasn’t he as handsome as hisbrother?ButheswallowedhisprideandwenttoNaxoswithhisbrothertomeetthebride.

WhenArtemissawthetwobrothersarriving,shequicklychangedherselfintoawhitedeerandranacrosstheirpath.Shedartedtoandfrobetweenthemandthe brothers, who were eager huntsmen, threw their javelins at the deer.Cleverly,shedodgedandthebrothersfelltotheground,piercedbyeachother’sjavelins.Neithergodsnormortalscouldkillthegiantbrothers,butnowtheyhadputanendtoeachotherandwerethrownintoTartarus,tiedbacktobackwithwrithingsnakes.AllthegodsthankedArtemisforsavingthem,andpulledAresoutofthejar

wherehehadbeencrouchingallthewhile,howlingandscreaming.OrionwasanothergiantsonofPoseidon,but,unlikeOtusandEphialtes,he

wasmodest. Hewas a great hunter, no beast could escape from his club andjeweled sword, but he never forgot to praise Artemis as the greatest of allhunters.OnedayOrion,whocouldwalkonwaterasifitwereland,cametotheisland

ofChios.Theislandwasinfestedwithlions,wolves,andboarswhoroaredandhowledsoloudlyatnight that theKingofChioscouldnotsleep.HepromisedOrionthehandofhisdaughter ifhecouldrid the islandofall thewildbeasts.The king’s daughter was beautiful, her father’s greatest treasure, and Orionhuntedasneverbefore.Soontherewasnotawildbeastleft,butthekingdidnotwanttopartwithhisdaughter,andclaimedthathecouldstillhearthehowlingofwolvesatnight.Oriongrewangryandthreatenedtocarryofftheprincess,butthekingsoothedhimwithhoneyedwords, sent forwine,and filledhiscupsooftenthatOriondranktoomuchandfeelasleep.Stealthilytheevilkingcreptupandputoutbothhiseyes.“Nowseeifyoucancarryoffmydaughter,”hesaid.Blindandhelpless,OrionleftChiosandstaggeredovertheseasinsearchof

thesun,whichheknewcouldrestorehiseyesight,buthecouldnotfindhisway.From afar he heard theCyclopes’ hammers and he followed the sound till hecametoHephaestus’forgeontheislandofLemnos.ThekindgodtookpityonhimandlenthimaCyclopsboytoshowhimthewaytotheEast.WiththeCyclopsonhisshoulderstoseeforhim,Orionwalkedontillhemet

therisingsun.ThesunletitshealingraysplayoverOrion’sblindeyes,andhissightwasrestored.Thenherushedbacktoseekrevengeonthefalseking.Butwhenhearrived,thepalacewasempty,forthekinghadseenhishuge,menacingshapeagainsttheskyandfledwithhisdaughter.AgainOrionwenthuntingandsoonforgotthekingandthebeautifulprincess.

HewalkedfromislandtoislandandafterawhilehecametotheislandofCrete.TherehemetthegoddessArtemis.Shewasgladtoseehim,forhecouldhuntaswell as sheandwas soverymodest about it.Together theyhuntedwildgoatsandrejoicedineachother’scompany.OrionwastheonlymanArtemishadeverfavored,andherbrotherApollogrewjealous.OnedaywhileArtemiswasaway,he sent anenormous scorpion toattackOrion.Orion’sclubandmighty swordwerenoavailagainstthescorpion’spoisonoustail.Heturnedtoflee,butashedid,thegiantinsectstunghisheel.

Artemis was angry with her brother when she returned and found hercompanion dead.But she could not stay angrywith her twin for long, and hehelpedherhangOrion’simageintheskiesasaconstellationsothegreathunterwouldneverbeforgotten.Over thestormywintersea theconstellationofOrionglitters,enormousand

menacing,andthedarkcloudsfleebeforehimlikewildanimals.Butinsummer,when the constellationof theScorpion rises over thehorizon,Orionbegins toswayandstagger,andthenhe,inhisturn,fleesanddisappearsintotheocean.

HERMES, merriest of the Olympians, was the god of shepherds, travelers,merchants,thieves,andallotherswholivedbytheirwits.HismotherMaia,aTitan’sdaughter,livedinacaveonloftyMountCyllene,a

cavesodeepthatHeraneverknewthatMaiawasoneofZeus’swives.MaiahadthereforebornehersonHermesinpeace.Hermeswasveryprecocious,evenforagod.Hismotherhadhardlywrapped

himandputhimintoabasketwhenhebegantothinkofmischief.Assoonasshehad fallen asleep, hewriggledout of hiswrappings and tiptoedout of thecave.InthedarkofnighthetoddledstraighttothepasturewhereApollokeptalargeherdofwhite cows.Apollo likedmusicbetter than cows andhedidnotevennoticethatHermesstoleintothepastureandpickedoutthefiftybestcows.TokeepApollofromknowingwhohadstolenhisherdandwhichwaytheyhadbeendriven,Hermesslylywrappedthehoofsofthecowswithbarktodisguisetheirprints,andtiedbroomstotheirtailssotheywoulderasetheirowntracks.ToconfuseApolloevenfurther,hedrovethecowsbackwardoutofthepasture,

andtiedbundlesofbranchestohisownlittlefeetsoitlookedasifagianthadled something into the pasture, but nothing out. He hurried home to MountCyllene and hid the stolen cows in a grove.Twoof themhe sacrificed to thetwelveOlympiangods,notforgettingtoincludehimselfasthetwelfth!Thenhetooktheentrailsofthesacrificedcows,madesevenstringsofthem,andstrungthem tautly across an empty tortoise shell.When he plucked the strings, theymadelovelymusic.Hehadinventedthefirstlyre.Pleasedwithhimself,hehidthelyreunderhisarmandtiptoedbackintothecave.Heclimbedintohisbasket,closedhiseyes,andpretendedtobesoundasleep,buthedidnotfoolhismother.Sheknewwhathehadbeenupto.

“Shameonyou,”shesaid,“sneakingoutatnightandstealingApollo’scows.”“Why,Mother!”saidHermes.“IdidwhatIhadtodoforyouandforme.We

don’t want to live in this dark cave forever. Soon I will be seated on highOlympusasoneofthetwelvegreatgods,andyoutoowilllivethereingloryasmymother.”Thenhepulledouthislyreandplayedhismothertosleepwithalullaby.

At dawn Apollo stormed into the cave where Hermes lay in his basketpretendingtobeasleep.ButApollowasn’tfooled.Anoraclehadtoldhimwhohadstolenhisherd,andhejerkedlittleHermesoutofhiscribandcommandedhimtoreturnthecowsatonce.“How could I have stolen your cows?” Hermes whimpered, “I am only a

newbornbabe.Idon’tevenknowwhatacowis.Lookforyourselfandyoucanseethatthereisnotasinglecowhiddeninthiscave.”

“Youarenotonlyathiefbutaliaraswell,”ragedApollo,andchasedHermesoutofthecaveandstraightuptoOlympus.Allthegodsburstoutlaughingwhentheysawinnocent-lookinglittleHermes

runningwithfuriousApolloathisheels.“Tellthisthiefandliartogivemebackmycowsatonce,”saidApollototheir

father,Zeus.“Tellmybigbrothertostopbullyingme.Iamanewbornandhelplessinfant.

AndIamnotaliar,”saidHermes.“Thereisn’tacowinmymother’scave.”“Iftheyarenotinthecave,thenshowApollowheretheyare,”saidZeus,and

hidasmileinhisbeard.Hewasproudofbothhissonsandwantedthemtobefriends.Hermeshadtoobeyhisfather,andwithoutanymoretricksheledhisbrother

to thewoodswhere the cowswere hidden.Apollo forgave him, butwhen hecounted his cows and found that two were missing, his anger flared again.Hermes had expected this and quickly pulled out his lyre and began to play.Apollo listened spellbound to the beautiful sounds from the new musicalinstrument,andhequiteforgothisanger.Asthegodofmusic,hemusthavethelyreandheofferedHermeshiswholeherdinexchangefortheinstrument.HermesdroveahardbargainandApollohadtogivehimhismagicwandas

well.Fromthenonthetwobrotherswerethebestoffriends.NeveragaindidHermessteal,thoughhewasthegodofthieves.Henevertold

alie,buthedidn’talwaystellthewholetruth.Hismother,Maia,hadnofurtherreasons to be ashamed of him. As the mother of one of the twelve greatOlympians,shemovedupwithhimtothegloryofOlympus.ZeuswassodelightedwithHermes’readywitthathemadehimtheheraldof

thegods.Hegavehimagoldenhatwithwings,apairofwingedsandals,andacapeunderwhichhecouldhidehismagictricks.Inaflashhecouldmovefromplace to place. He put glib words on the tongues of politicians and helpedmerchants close good bargains. He was as popular amongmortals as he wasamong thegods.EvenHerawas fondof him.Shehadbeen really angrywithhim only once, and that was when he had killed her hundred-eyed servant,

Argus.Thenshewassofuriousthatshedemandedhebepunished,andcalledallthegreatandminorgodstositincouncilandjudgehim.Eachgodwasgivenapebble and told to cast his vote according to his decision. Those who foundHermesguiltyofacrimeweretothrowtheirpebblesatHera’sfeet,thosewhofoundhiminnocentweretothrowtheirpebblesathisfeet.Hermestalkedwellinhisowndefense.Wasitacrimetoboresomeonetodeath?heasked.Afterall,thatwaswhat he had done toArgus.The gods applauded and somany threwtheirvotestoHermesthathewascompletelyburiedinaheapofpebbles.

Ever after, travelers put up piles of stones along the roads, and they havebelievedthatHermesstandsinside,helpingthemfindtheirway.Thesewerethefirstcairns.Hermes also guided thosewho set off on their last voyage.He touched the

eyes of a dyingmanwith hismagicwand and led himdown toHades in theunderworld.

HADES,lordofthedead,wasagloomygodoffewwords.Mortalsfearedhimso much that they did not dare mention his name, for they might attract hisattentionandhemightsendforthem.InsteadofHadestheycalledhimtheRichOne,andindeed,richhewas.All the treasures in thegroundbelongedtohim.TheyalsocalledhimtheHospitableOne,forinhisdesolateundergroundrealmhealwayshadroomforanotherdeadsoul.Hermesguided the souls of the deaddown to the brinkof the riverStyx, a

murky, stagnant river that flowed around the underworld. There Hermes lefttheminchargeoftheferrymanCharon.Iftheyhadmoneytopayfortheirfare,Charonsetthemacross.Ifnot,herefusedtotakethem,forhewasgreedy.Thosewhocouldnotpayhadtowanderabouttilltheyfoundthepauper’sentrancetoHades.Thatiswhy,whenamandied,hiskinputacoinunderhistongue.Sooner or later, all mortals came to Hades. Once inside his realm, they

whirledaboutforeverlikedryleavesinacoldautumnwind.Cerberus,thethree-headedwatchdog of the underworld, stood at the gates.He let the dead soulsenter,but,oncepasthisgnashingteethandspikedtail,theycouldnevergooutagain.

Hadeslivedinadarkandgloomypalacewithhisice-coldqueen,Persephone.She was beautiful, but as silent and somber as her husband, for she wasn’thappy.Shehadnotcometorulethejoylessunderworldofherownfreewill.ShehadbeenkidnapedbyHades.

PERSEPHONE grew up on Olympus and her gay laughter rang through thebrillianthalls.ShewasthedaughterofDemeter,goddessoftheharvest,andhermotherlovedhersodearlyshecouldnotbeartohaveheroutofhersight.WhenDemetersatonhergoldenthrone,herdaughterwasalwaysonherlap;whenshewent down to earth to look after her trees and fields, she took Persephone.WhereverPersephonedancedonher light feet, flowers sprangup.Shewas solovelyandfullofgracethatevenHades,whosawsolittle,noticedherandfellinlovewithher.Hewantedherforhisqueen,butheknewthathermotherwouldneverconsenttopartwithher,sohedecidedtocarryheroff.One day as Persephone ran about in the meadow gathering flowers, she

strayedawayfromhermotherandtheattendingnymphs.Suddenly,thegroundsplitopenandupfromtheyawningcrevicecameadarkchariotdrawnbyblackhorses. At the reins stood grimHades. He seized the terrified girl, turned hishorses,andplungedbackintotheground.Aherdofpigsrootinginthemeadowtumbled into the cleft, andPersephone’s cries for help died out as the groundclosed again as suddenly as it had opened. Up in the field, a little swineherdstoodandweptoverthepigshehadlost,whileDemeterrushedwildlyaboutinthemeadow,lookinginvainforherdaughter,whohadvanishedwithoutleaving

atrace.

With the frightened girl in his arms,Hades raced his snorting horses downawayfromthesunlitworld.Downanddowntheyspedonthedarkpathtohisdismal underground palace. He led weeping Persephone in, seated her besidehimonathroneofblackmarble,anddeckedherwithgoldandpreciousstones.But the jewelsbroughtherno joy.Shewantednocold stones.She longed forwarmsunshineandflowersandhergolden-tressedmother.Deadsoulscrowdedoutfromcracksandcrevicestolookattheirnewqueen,

whileevermoresoulscameacrosstheStyxandPersephonewatchedthemdrinkfrom a spring under dark poplars. It was the spring of Lethe, and those whodrank from itswaters forgotwho theywere andwhat theyhaddoneonearth.Rhadamanthus,a judgeof thedead,dealtoutpunishment to the soulsofgreatsinners.TheyweresentencedtosufferforeverunderthewhipsoftheavengingErinyes.HeroeswereledtotheElysianfields,wheretheylivedhappilyforeverinnever-failinglight.AroundthepalaceofHadestherewasagardenwherewhisperingpoplarsand

weepingwillowsgrew.Theyhadnoflowersandborenofruitandnobirdssangintheirbranches.TherewasonlyonetreeinthewholerealmofHadesthatborefruit.Thatwasalittlepomegranatetree.Thegardeneroftheunderworldofferedthe tempting pomegranates to the queen, but Persephone refused to touch thefoodofthedead.Wordlessly shewalked through the garden at silentHades’ side and slowly

herheartturnedtoice.Above, on earth,Demeter ran about searching for her lost daughter, and all

nature grievedwith her. Flowers wilted, trees lost their leaves, and the fieldsgrewbarrenandcold.Invaindidtheplowcutthroughtheicyground;nothingcould sprout and nothing could grow while the goddess of the harvest wept.People and animals starved and the gods begged Demeter again to bless theearth.Butsherefusedtoletanythinggrowuntilshehadfoundherdaughter.Bentwithgrief,Demeter turned intoagrayoldwoman.She returned to the

meadowwherePersephonehadvanishedandaskedthesunifhehadseenwhathad happened, but he said no, dark clouds had hidden his face that day. She

wandered around themeadow and after awhile shemet a youthwhose namewas Triptolemus.He told her that his brother, a swineherd, had seen his pigsdisappearintothegroundandhadheardthefrightenedscreamsofagirl.DemeternowunderstoodthatHadeshadkidnapedherdaughter,andhergrief

turnedtoanger.ShecalledtoZeusandsaidthatshewouldneveragainmaketheearthgreenifhedidnotcommandHadestoreturnPersephone.Zeuscouldnotlet the world perish and he sent Hermes down to Hades, bidding him to letPersephonego.EvenHadeshad toobey theordersofZeus, andsadlyhe saidfarewelltohisqueen.

Joyfully,Persephoneleapedtoherfeet,butasshewasleavingwithHermes,ahooting laugh came from the garden. There stood the gardener of Hades,grinning.He pointed to a pomegranate fromwhich a few of the kernelsweremissing.Persephone,lostinthought,hadeatentheseeds,hesaid.Then dark Hades smiled. He watched Hermes lead Persephone up to the

brightworldabove.Heknewthatshemustreturntohim,forshehadtastedthefoodofthedead.WhenPersephoneagainappearedonearth,Demetersprangtoherfeetwitha

cryofjoyandrushedtogreetherdaughter.Nolongerwassheasadoldwoman,but a radiant goddess. Again she blessed her fields and the flowers bloomedanewandthegrainripened.

“Dear child,” she said, “never again shall we be parted. Together we shallmakeallnaturebloom.”But joysoonwaschanged tosadness, forPersephonehadtoadmitthatshehadtastedthefoodofthedeadandmustreturntoHades.However,Zeusdecidedthatmotheranddaughtershouldnotbepartedforever.He ruled that Persephone had to return toHades and spend onemonth in theunderworldforeachseedshehadeaten.Every year, when Persephone left her, Demeter grieved, nothing grew, and

therewaswinter on earth. But as soon as her daughter’s light footstepswereheard, thewhole earth burst into bloom.Spring had come.As long asmotheranddaughterweretogether,theearthwaswarmandborefruit.Demeterwasakindgoddess.Shedidnotwantmankindtostarveduringthe

coldmonthsofwinterwhenPersephonewasaway.She lentherchariot, ladenwith grain, to Triptolemus, the youth who had helped her to find her lostdaughter.Shetoldhimtoscatterhergoldengrainovertheworldandteachmenhowtosowitinspringandreapitinfallandstoreitawayforthelongmonthswhenagaintheearthwasbarrenandcold.

DIONYSUS, thegodofwine,wastheyoungestof theOlympians.Hewastheonlyoneof the twelvegreatgodswhosemotherwasamortal.His fatherwasZeushimself.Jealous Hera hated his mother, the beautiful princess Semele, and one day

whenZeuswasaway,thegoddessdisguisedherselfasanoldcroneandwenttovisither.Shetalkedaboutthisandaboutthat,pretendingtobeveryfriendly,andthensheaskedwhySemele’shusbandwasnotathome,andwhatkindofmanhemightbe.“HeisnobodylessthanmightyZeus,”Semelesaidproudly.“How can you be so sure about that?” said the oldwoman. “I knowmany

husbandswho claim to be the lord of all creation.Do you have proof that hereallyiswhohesaysheis?IfIwereyou,Iwouldaskhimtoshowhimselfinallhissplendor.”Thenshewentaway,andSemelewasleftalone,wondering.WhenZeusreturned,Semeleaskedhimtograntherawish.Zeus,wholoved

herdearly,sworebytheriverStyxtofulfillanywishshemighthave.“Thenshowyourself inallyoursplendor,”saidSemele.Zeusbeggedher to

changeherwish, for heknew that nomortal eyes couldbear the sight of himwhenherevealedhimselfastheflashingthunder-god,ahundredtimesbrighterthan the sun.ButHera had planted the seed of suspicion so deep inSemele’s

heartthatsherefusedtochangeherwish.Zeushadtokeephispromise,forhehadswornbytheriverStyx,themostsolemnoathofthegods.He joined together thesmallest stormcloudshecould find,chosehis tiniest

lightningbolt,andshowedhimself toSemeleas themighty thunder-god.Evenso,hewassobrilliantthatSemelecaughtfireandburnedtocinders.Zeuscoulddo nothing to save her. She went down to Hades as a fluttering ghost. Zeusbarelymanagedtorescueherunbornson,andsewedhimundertheskinofhisown leg, and when the child was ready to be born, he sprang forth as theimmortalgodDionysus.ZeusknewwellenoughwhowasthecauseofSemele’sdeath,andhegaveher

little son toHermes and told him to hide the boy fromHera.Hermes carriedDionysus to the farawayvalleyofNysa, and lefthim in the careof abandofMaenads, the nymphs of the valley. There Dionysus grew up with tigers andleopardsforplaymates.

LargebunchesofpurplegrapesgrewonthesunnyslopeofthevalleyofNysa,andintimeDionysusinventedthemakingofwinefromtheirjuice.Asayoungandbeautifulgod,dressedinflowingrobesofroyalpurple,hewentoutintotheworldtoteachmenhowtomakewine.TheMaenadswentwithhim,andsodidtheleopardsandtigers,andevermorefollowersjoinedhim.Whereverhewenthewasworshipedasanewgod,andhisfather,Zeus,watchedhimwithpleasure.Dionysus returned toGreeceand traveled from island to island teaching the

making of wine. One day as hewas sleeping alone on a beach, a pirate shipsailed by.When the pirates saw the richly clad youth, they thought hewas aprinceandcarriedhimoffontheirshiptoholdhimforransom.Hedidnotwakefromhis heavy slumber till the shipwas far out at sea.With gentlewords hetried topersuade thepirates to takehimback;hewasnotaprince,hesaid,hewasthegodofwine,andhisricheswerenotofthisworld.Thepirateslaughedscornfullyandsailedon,payinghimnoheed.Suddenly their laughter died, for out of the sea sprouted vines loadedwith

grapes.Theygrew,twiningaroundtheoars,windingupthemast,andspreadingover thewhole shipas though itwereanarbor.Blood-redwinedrippeddownthesailandtheairwasfilledwiththesoundofroaringtigersandbrayingasses.Dionysushimselfseemedtogrowtillhefilledtheshipwithhisglory.Horrified,thesailorsthrewthemselvesintothesea,buttheydidnotdrown,forDionysuswasakindgod.Hechangedthemintodolphins,andthatiswhydolphinsarethemosthumanofallcreaturesthatliveintheocean.

Dionysushadbroughtmuchjoy tomankind,andZeusdecided that the timehadcometogivehimagoldenthroneonOlympus.Heraroseinangerandsaidsherefusedtosharethehallwiththesonofamortalwoman,butZeuspoundedhisindomitablefistandHerasatsilent.Therewereonly twelve thrones in thehall,sokindHestiaquietlyrosefrom

hersandsaidthatDionysuscouldhaveit.Herplacewasatthehearth,shesaid;sheneedednothrone.Before seating himself on his throne Dionysus asked to see his mother for

whomhehadalwayslonged.Zeusnotonlypermittedhimtoseeher,butlethimgodowntoHadesandbringheruptothegloryofOlympus,forshewasnowthemotherofoneof thegreatgods.HappilyDionysusentered thehallandseatedhimself on his golden throne. The air was filledwith themusic of flutes andtambourines.NeverhadtherebeensuchadinandmerrimentonOlympus.Zeuslooked around with great content and beckoned to his cupbearer, Ganymede,biddinghimfillthegoldengobletswithsweetnectar.

MINORGODS,NYMPHS,SATYRSANDCENTAURS

MINORGODSANDGODDESSESalsolivedonOlympusbesidesthetwelvegreatones. The most powerful of them were the goddesses of destiny, Clotho,Lachesis,andAtropos.TheywerethethreeFatesandtheydecidedhowlongamortalwouldliveandhowlongtheruleofthegodsshouldlast.Whenamortalwasborn,Clothospunthethreadoflife,Lachesismeasuredacertainlength,andAtroposcutthethreadattheendofthelife.Theyknewthepastandthefuture,andevenZeushadnopowertoswaytheirdecisions.Theirsister,Nemesis,sawtoitthatallevilandallgoodonearthwerejustlyrepaid,andallmortalsfearedher.Man’screatorandhisbestfriendwastheTitanPrometheus.Zeushadgiven

Prometheusandhisbrother,Epimetheus,thetaskofrepopulatingtheearthafteralllivingcreatureshadperishedintheearlybattlesofthegods.Hegavethetwobrothers greatmeasures of gifts to bestowupon their creations, and theywentdown to earth and began to make men and beasts out of river clay. WisePrometheusmodeledmenwithgreatcareintheshapeofthegods.Epimetheusrapidlymadeallkindsofanimalsandwithoutanyforesighthelavishedthegoodgifts upon them.When Prometheus had finished shaping man, he found that

therewerefewof thegoodgifts left.Animalscouldrunfaster,see,smell,andhearbetter,andhadmuchmoreendurance.Besides,theywerekeptsnugintheirwarmcoatsoffur,whilemenshiveredinthecoldnights.PrometheuswassorryformankindandhewenttoZeusandaskedhimifhe

mighthavesomeofthesacredfireforhispoorcreations.ButZeussaidno,firebelongedtothegodsalone.

PROMETHEUS could not bear to see his people suffer and he decided to stealfire, though he knew that Zeus would punish him severely. He went up toOlympus, tookaglowingemberfromthesacredhearth,andhid it inahollowstalkof fennel.Hecarried itdown toearth,gave it tomankind,and told themnevertoletthelightfromOlympusdieout.Nolongerdidmenshiverinthecoldofthenight,andthebeastsfearedthelightofthefireanddidnotdaretoattackthem.A strange thing happened: as men lifted their eyes from the ground and

watchedthesmokefromtheirfiresspiralingupward,theirthoughtsrosewithitupto theheavens.Theybegantowonderandthink,andwerenolongerearth-boundclods.Theybuilt temples tohonor thegodsand,wanting to sharewhattheyhadwiththem,theyburnedthebestpiecesofmeatontheiraltars.

Zeuswas furiouswhenhe first saw the fires flickeringonearth,buthewasappeasedwhenthesavoryscentofroastmeatreachedhisnostrils.Allthegodslovedthesmelloftheburntofferings;itspicedtheirdailyfoodofambrosiaandnectar. But Prometheus knew how hardmenworked tomake their living andthoughtitapitythattheyburnedupthebestpartsoftheirfood.Hetoldthemtobutcheranoxanddividethemeatintwoequalheaps.Inonewerethechopsandroasts, hidden under sinews and bones. In the other were scraps and entrails,coveredwith snow-white fat. Prometheus then invited Zeus to come down toearthandchooseforhimselfwhichparthewantedforhisburntofferings.Zeus,ofcourse,chosethebest-lookingheap,butwhenhediscoveredthathehadbeentrickedhegrewveryangry.NotonlyhadPrometheusstolenthesacredfireandgivenittomen,hehadalsotaughtthemtocheatthegods.HeresolvedtopunishbothPrometheusandhiscreations.Castinunbreakableirons,PrometheuswaschainedtothetopoftheCaucasus

Mountains.Everydayaneagleswoopedoutoftheskyandatehisliver.Atnighthis immortal liver grewanew, but everyday the eagle returned andhehad tosufferagain.ThuswasPrometheuspunished.ButZeusfoundamoresubtlewaytopunish

themortals.Hesenttoearthabeautifulbutsillywoman.HernamewasPandora.

PANDORAwasmodeledbyHephaestusinthelikenessofAphrodite.Hecarvedheroutofablockofwhitemarble,madeherlipsofredrubiesandhereyesofsparkling sapphires. Athena breathed life into her and dressed her in elegantgarments. Aphrodite decked her with jewels and fixed her red mouth in awinning smile. Into the mind of this beautiful creature, Zeus put insatiablecuriosity,andthenhegaveherasealedjarandwarnedhernevertoopenit.Hermes brought Pandora down to earth and offered her in marriage to

Epimetheus, who lived among the mortals. Epimetheus had been warned byPrometheusnevertoacceptagiftfromZeus,buthecouldnotresistthebeautifulwoman.ThusPandoracametoliveamongmortals,andmencamefromnearandfartostandawestruckbyherwondrousbeauty.ButPandorawasnotperfectlyhappy,forshedidnotknowwhatwasinthejar

thatZeushadgivenher.Itwasnotlongbeforehercuriositygotthebetterofherandshehadtotakeaquickpeek.The moment she opened the lid, out swarmed a horde of miseries: Greed,

Vanity, Slander, Envy, and all the evils that until then had been unknown tomankind. Horrified at what she had done, Pandora clapped the lid on, just intimetokeepHopefromflyingawaytoo.ZeushadputHopeatthebottomofthejar,andtheunleashedmiserieswouldquicklyhaveputanendtoit.TheystungandbitthemortalsasZeushadplanned,buttheirsufferingsmadethemwicked

insteadofgood,asZeushadhoped.Theylied, theystole,andtheykilledeachotherandbecamesoevilthatZeusindisgustdecidedtodrowntheminaflood.But therewas oneman on earthwho had not turned evil.Hewas a son of

Prometheus.HisnamewasDeucalion.

DEUCALION often went to the CaucasusMountains to comfort his sufferingfather.Hecouldnotbreakthechainsthatboundhim,butwhilehewasthere,hecouldkeepawaytheeaglethattorturedPrometheus.Deucalionwasagoodson,andhisfatherwasthankfulforhishelp.Prometheus,whocouldlookintothefuture,knewthatZeuswasplanningto

flood the earth. He told his son to build an ark and board it with Pyrrha, hisvirtuouswife.Deucaliondidashisfathertoldhim.Hebuiltasturdyark,andwhenZeuslet

looseall thewindsandopenedwide thefloodgatesof thesky,hewentaboardwithPyrrha.Forninedays andninenights it raineduntil thewhole earthwasflooded.Nothingbutthehighestmountainpeaksremainedabovewaterandallmortalsweredrowned.OnlyDeucalionandPyrrhaweresaved; theyfloated intheirarkoverthedeep,darkwaters.

On the tenth day, the rain stopped, and slowly dry land began to appear.DeucalionandPyrrhasteppedoutof thearkandwalkedabouton thedesolateearth.Lonesomeandforlorn,theycametoatemple,grownoverwithseaweed,andenteredit.Thesacredfireonthealtarhadgoneout,buttheylititagainwiththe embers theyhadkept glowing aboard the ark, and lifted up their hands inprayertothegodstothankthemforsavingtheirlives.Zeuswastouchedbytheirpietyandfeltsorryforthembecausetheyweresolonesome.Hespoketothem

and said: “Pick up the bones of your mother and throw them over yourshoulders.”DeucalionunderstoodthatZeusdidnotmeantheirmortalmothers,but their

Mother Earth. Rockswere her bones.He told Pyrrha to pick up a handful ofstones and throw them over her shoulder while he did the same. BehindDeucalion, a score of men sprang up, and there, behind Pyrrha, a score ofwomen.ThisnewraceofmortalswascalledDeucalion’srace.TheDeucalion race,made from stone,was hardier than the onemade from

clay.Thenewmortalswithstoodbetter thestingsofPandora’smiseries,whichofcourse,hadflownhighanddryduringtheflood,andplaguemankindtothisveryday.ThewindshadcarriedonastheywishedwhenZeusfloodedtheearth.They

werepowerfulfellows,andwhentheystormedtogether,theybroughtconfusionand destruction, whirling dust and water all the way up to Olympus. Zeusdecidedthattheyneededadependableguardianwhowouldkeepthemlockedupand letoutonlyoneata time.HechoseAeolus,agrandsonofDeucalionandPyrrha,tobethekeeperofthewindsandsenthimtolivewiththemandguardtheminahollowcliff,faroutatsea.Thewinds hated to be confined. They stormed and howled aroundAeolus,

tryingtoforcetheirwayoutofthecavern,butAeoluswassteadyandstrongandkept theminhand.WhenPoseidonoroneof theothergodscalledforawind,Aeoluspiercedthewallofthecliffwithhisspearandletthewindout.Thenhepluggeduptheholeandkeptitcloseduntilitwastimeforthewindtoreturn.

WhenBoreas, theNorthWind,was called for, he rushedout, icy andwild,tearinguptreesandpilingupwavesinfrontofhim.When Notus, the South Wind, was let out, he pressed himself groaning

throughtheholeinthecliff.Hewassoheavywithmoisturethatwaterdrippedfromhistangledbeard,andhespreadaleadenfogoverlandandsea.Wandererslosttheirpathsandshipsdriftedhelplesslyabout.Zephyr, the West Wind, was gentler than his brothers. When he blew, he

swepttheskyclearofcloudsandallnaturesmiled.Eurus, the East Wind, was the least important of the brothers. He wasn’t

calledforoften.

EOS,gentledawn,wasthemotherofthefourwinds.Whileallcreationslept,sherosefromherpinkpillowstoannouncethecomingofanewday.Shedippedherrosyfingersintoacupfilledwithdewandsprinkledthedropsoverflowersandtrees.Allnatureawoke,rejoicingtoseeher.OnemorningasEos lookeddownonearth,her eyes fellonayoungprince

wakingfromhisslumber.Hewassohandsomeshecouldnottakehereyesoffhim, and she wanted him for her husband. But how could she, who was agoddess,bemarriedtoamortalwhoselifespanwassoshort?As soon as hermorning dutieswere done, shewent toZeus and persuaded

himtogranteternallifetotheyoungprince,whosenamewasTithonus.She brought him with her to her palace in the east, and they spent many

delightfulyearstogether.ButEoshad forgotten to ask thatTithonusbe alsogiven eternal youth, and

slowlyhisstrengthlefthisonce-supplelimbs.Heshriveledandshrank,andhismanlyvoicechangedtoafeeblesqueak.Heshranktoatiny,wizenedoldman,yethecouldnotdie,forhehadbeengiveneternallife.HebecamesosmallandweakthatEoshadtoputhimintoalittlebasketandhidehiminacornerofherpalace.There,inhisdarkcorner,hewentonwitheringandshrivelingtillatlastheturnedintoagrasshopper,chirpingforalleternity.

ButEosstayedrosyandyoung,alwaysajoytobeholdwhenshecameouttowakethesleepingworldandannouncethecomingofherbrother,thesun.

HELIOS,thesun,mountedhisglowingchariotanddroveoutingreatsplendorassoonasEosthrewopenthegatesofhisgoldenpalaceintheeast.Hisradiancelitupthewideexpanseofsky.Sobrightwashe thatonly thegodscouldlookstraightathimwithoutbeingblinded.Brilliantraysencircledhishead,andhischariotglowedlikefire.With a strong hand,Helios guided his four fiery steeds up the vault of the

heavens.Thepathwas steepandnarrowand thehorseswerewild,butHeliosheld themwellon theircourse.Athighnoon,hestoppedat the topof theskyandlookedaround,andnothingcouldescapehispiercinggaze.Againhedroveonandnowhegave free rein tohis steeds.Far to thewest theycould seehisglittering evening palace, and, eager to reach their stables, they raced on thedownhill course, faster and faster. They passed a great herd of white cowshurryinghomewardtoHelios’palaceandmetalargeflockofsheepgoingouttopastureinthesky.ForHeliosownedasnow-whitecowforeachdayoftheyearandawoollysheepforeachnight.TheshadowsgrewlonganddusksettledovertheworldwhenHeliosandhis

foaming team arrived. His five daughters, the Heliades, awaited them. Theyunharnessed the tired horses and let them plunge into the ocean for a coolingbath.ThenthehorsesrestedintheirstablesandHeliostalkedwithhisdaughtersandtoldthemallhehadseenthatday.

Inthedarkofthenight,heboardedavesselofgoldwithhisteamandsailedaroundtheworld,backtohispalaceintheeast.Thewaywasfarshorterbyseathanbyair,sohehadtimetostayforawhileinhismorningpalacetoobeforehesetoutonanotherday’sjourney.Helios had a son named Phaëthon.Hewas amortal and very proud of his

radiantfather.OnemorningasHelioswasabouttosetoffonhisdailyjourneyacrossthesky,Phaëthoncametohimandbeggedhimtogranthisdearestwish.Helios,whowasveryfondofhishandsomeson,rashlysworebytheriverStyxto give him anywish hemight have, butwhen he heard Phaëthon’swish, hesorelyregrettedhisoath.Hetriedinvaintomakehissonchangehismind,forwhatPhaëthonwantedwastodrivethesunchariotforoneday,andHeliosknewthatnoonebuthehimselfcouldhandlethespiritedsteeds.Phaëthonwasdeterminedtohavehiswish,andHelioshadtogivein.Sadly,

heputhisgoldenraysonhisson’sheadandrubbeddivineointmentonhisskinsohecouldwithstandthesearingheatofthechariot.Hebarelyhadtimetowarnhimtostaywellinthemiddleoftheheavenlypathwhenthegatesofthepalacewere thrownopen,and the rearinghorseswerebrought forth.Phaëthon leapedintothechariot,graspedthereins,andthehorsesrushedout.

Atfirst,allwentwellandPhaëthonstoodproudlyintheglowingchariot.Butthe fiery steeds soon felt that unskilled hands were holding the reins. Theyveered off the heavenly path and brushed by the dangerous constellations thatlurked on both sides of it. The animals of the zodiac were enraged: the bullcharged, the liongrowled, the scorpion lashedoutwith its poisonous tail.Thehorses shied and Phaëthon was thrown halfway out of the chariot. Far downbelowhesawtheearthandhegrewsodizzythathedroppedthereins.Withoutafirmhandtoguidethem,thehorsesbolted.Theyracedsoclosetotheearththatthegroundcracked from theheatof the chariot and rivers and lakesdriedup.Thenupwardtheyspedsohighthattheearthfrozeandturnedtoice.Zeus stood on Olympus and shook his head. He had to stop the careening

chariottosavetheearthfromdestruction,andhethrewathunderboltatit.Inashowerofsparks,thechariotflewapartandPhaëthonplungedintotheriverPo.OntheriverbankshissistersmournedsolongthatZeustookpityonthemandchangedthemintopoplartreesandtheirtearsintodropsofgoldenamber.Hephaestushadtoworkthewholenightthroughtomendthebrokenchariot

soHelioscoulddriveitagainthenextday.Heliosgrievedoverhislostson,and

heneveragainallowedanyonetodrivehischariotexceptforApollo,thegodoflight.

SELENE, themoon,cameoutatnight to lightuptheworldwhileherbrother,Helios,wasresting.Slowlyshedrovehermilk-whitehorsesacrossthesky,andherpalemoonbeamsfellgentlyon thesleepingearthwhereallwaspeaceandquiet.OnenightSelene’ssoft light fellonEndymion,ayoungshepherd,whowas

sleeping beside his flock. She stopped to look at him. He was smiling in hissleepandwassoyoungandhandsomethatshecompletelylostherhearttohim.Shedrovethroughthenight,butshecouldnotgethimoutofhermind.When her duties were over, she went to Zeus and asked him to grant

Endymioneternalsleepsohewouldstayforeveryoungandhandsome.Shehadlearned fromhersister,Eos,not toask foreternal life foramortalandbe leftwithagrasshopperonherhands.Zeus granted Selene’s wish and Endymion slept on and on, smiling in his

sleep.Hedreamed that he held themoon in his arms.But itwas not a dreamafter all, forSeleneboreher husband fiftydaughters, all pale andbeautiful astheirmotherandsleepyastheirfather.

InSelene’smagic light, river-godsrosefromsilverystreams to inspect theirriver beds, and hills trembled under the hoofs of thewild centaurs. LaughingnymphsandbleatingsatyrsdancedtothemusicofPan,godofnature,masterofthemall.

PAN, the great god of nature,was not a handsome god.He had goat’s legs,pointed ears, a pair of small horns, and he was covered all over with dark,shaggyhair.Hewassouglythathismother,anymph,ranawayscreamingwhenshefirstsawhim.Buthisfather,Hermes,wasdelightedwiththestrangelooksofhisson.HecarriedhimuptoOlympustoamusetheothergodsandtheyalllaughedandtookhimtotheirhearts.TheycalledhimPanandsenthimbacktothedarkwoodsandstonyhillsofGreeceasthegreatgodofnature.Hewastobetheprotectorofhunters,shepherds,andcurly-fleecedsheep.Panwasalonelyandmoodygod.Whenhewassad,hewentoffbyhimself

andhid inacoolcave. Ifawandererhappened tocomeuponhimanddisturbhiminhisretreat,hewouldletoutascreamsobone-chillingthatwhoeverheardittooktohisheelsandfledinafearthattheycalledpanic.ButwhenPanwasinagoodmood,andthatwasmostlyonmoonlitnights,he

cavortedthroughgladesandforests,andupsteepmountainslopesplayingonhis

shepherd’s pipe, and nymphs and satyrs followed dancing behind him. Sweetandunearthlywerethetunesthatfloatedoverthehills.Thesatyrsmuchresembledtheirmaster,Pan,buttheyweremischievousand

goodfornothingexceptforchasingnymphs.Oldsatyrs,orsileni,werefatandtoo lazy towalk.They rode about on asses, but theyoften fell off, since theywerefondofdrinkingwine.The lightfooted nymphs always looked young, though some of them were

veryold inyears.Their life spanwasso long that theywerealmost immortal:they lived ten thousand times longer thanman.Therewerewaternymphs andnymphs of mountains and glens. There were nymphs who lived in trees andnymphswholivedinsprings.Whenatreegrewoldandrotted,thenymphwholivedinitmovedtoanother

tree of the same kind. A wood chopper, about to fell a healthy tree, mustrememberfirsttoaskpermissionofthetreenymph.Ifhedidnot,shemightsendout a swarmofbees to stinghim,or shemight turn theax inhishands sohewouldcuthisownleginsteadofthetreetrunk.A thirsty hunter must never drink from a spring without asking the water

nymph’spermission.Ifheignoredthenymph,shemightsendavenomouswatersnaketobitehim,orshemightpoisonthewaterandmakehimsick.River-gods, too,hadtobeaskedbeforeanyonetookwaterfromtheirrivers.

Theywereusuallyhelpfulandfriendlytomenandwillinglysharedtheirwater,butwoe to the onewho tried to carry off theirwater-nymph daughters. Theywould rushoutof their riverbedsandchargehim in full river-god rage.Theywere dangerous opponents, for they grew oxhorns on their heads and couldchange their shapes at will. Zeus himself feared their rage, and Pan and thesatyrskeptwelloutof theirway, thoughPanlikedallnymphsandfell in lovewithmanyofthem.

ECHO was one of the nymphs with whom Pan fell in love. She was a gaynymphwhochatteredandprattledalldaylongandneverkeptquietlongenoughforPantowinherwithmusicandpoetry.OnedayHeracamedownfromOlympustolookforZeus.Shesuspectedthat

hewasplayingwiththenymphs,butEchodetainedhersolongwithidlechatterthat Zeus, who really was there, was able to sneak away. Hera, in a rage,punishedEchobytakingfromherthegiftofformingherownwords.FromthenonpoorEchocouldonlyrepeatthewordsofothers.NowatlastPanthoughthecouldwinherbyhiswords.Butbeforehehada

chance, she had lost her heart to another. He was Narcissus, and he was sohandsome that every girl and every nymph he met fell in love with him.Unfortunately,helikednobodybuthimself.Echo trailed silentlybehindNarcissus ashehunted in thewoods,hoping to

hearanendearingwordfromhimthatshecouldrepeat.Butheneversomuchasnoticedher.Atlasttowardnightfall,theycametoaquietpool,andasNarcissuswasthirsty,hebentdowntodrink.Suddenly,hestoppedandstared,for in themirroringsurfaceofthewaterhesawthehandsomestfacehehadeverseen.Hesmiledandthehandsomefacesmiledbackathim.Joyfullyhenoddedandsodidthestrangerinthewater.

“Iloveyou,”saidNarcissustothehandsomeface.“Iloveyou,”repeatedEchoeagerly.Shestoodbehindhim,happytobeable

tospeaktohimatlast.ButNarcissusneithersawnorheardher;hewasspellboundbythehandsome

stranger in thewater.Hedid not know that itwas his own image that he hadfalleninlovewithandhesatsmilingathimself,forgettingtoeat,forgettingtodrink, until hewasted away and died.Hermes came and led him down to therealm of the dead, but where he had been sitting the lovelyNarcissus flowersprang up. Echo stood beside the flower and grieved and pined until she toofadedaway.Nothing was left of Echo but her voice, which to this day can be heard

senselesslyrepeatingthewordsofothers.Pangrievedforawhile,butthenanotherprettynymphcrossedhispathandhe

forgotallaboutEcho.HernamewasSyrinx.

SYRINXranawayfromPan;shethoughthewassougly.Panchasedafterher,and, to escape from him, she changed herself into a reed. She stood amonghundreds of other reeds on the riverbank, and Pan couldn’t find her. As hewalked through the reed patch, sighing and looking for her in vain, thewindblew through the reeds.They swayedandbent andmadeaplaintivewhistlingsound.Panlistened,enchanted.“ThusyouandIshallalwayssingtogether,”hesaid.Hecut tenreeds intounequal lengths, tied themtogether,andmadethefirst

panpipe.Hecalledthenewinstrumenthissyrinx,foreverytimeheplayedonithethoughtheheardthemelodiousvoiceofhisbelovednymph.AgainPanwaslonesomeandheretreatedtohiscoolcave,deepinthewoods,andscaredawayallpassers-bywithhisunearthlyscreams.SplendidApollohimselffarednobetterthanPanwhenhefellinlovewitha

nymphcalledDaphne.Daphnehadacoldheart,shehadvowednevertomarry,andwhenApollowooedher,shewouldnotlistentothesoundofhisgoldenlyreandranaway.Asshefled,shewaslovelierstill,withhergoldenhairstreamingbehind her, and Apollo could not bear to lose her. He set off in pursuit,beseechinghertostop.Daphnerantowardthebankofariverthatbelongedtoher father, the river-god Ladon, calling to him to save her from her pursuer.Ladonhadnotimetoriseoutofhisriverbedandcometohisdaughter’srescue,but themomentDaphne’s toes touched the sand of the riverbank, he changedthemintoroots.Apollo,whowascloseatherheels,caughtupwithher,butthe

instanthethrewhisarmsabouther,herarmschangedintobranches,herlovelyheadintothecrownofatree,andshebecamealaurel.Still,insidethehardbark,ApollocouldhearthebeatingofDaphne’sfrightenedheart.Apollo carefully broke off some twigs and made a wreath of the shining

leaves.“Fairnymph,”hesaid,“youwouldnotbemybride,butatleastconsenttobe

mytreeandyourleavesshallcrownmybrow.”Ever after, the greatest honor an artist or a hero could be given was to be

crownedwithawreathfromApollo’ssacredtree,thelaurel.Daphne would rather be an unmoving tree than the bride of the great god

Apollo, but all the other nymphs loved to sit at his feet and listen to hisenchanting music, and were very honored when he or any of the other greatOlympiangodschoseoneofthemasabride.

THEWILD AND VULGAR CENTAURS did not honor any of the gods. Theywerehalf men and half horses, as cunning as wildmen and as savage as untamedhorses.Theyhadinheritedtheworstdispositionsofboth.The first centaurshadcome tumblingoutof a cloud that their father, Ixion,

KingoftheLapithpeople,hadmarried,mistakingitforthegoddessHera.Zeushadcreatedthecloudtotesttheungodlinessofthewickedkingwhowantedtocarry off Hera. Ixion was severely punished for his ungodliness. He wascondemnedtowhirlaboutforeverintheunderworld,tiedtoaflamingwheel,buthisoffspring,thecentaurs,remainedonearthasascourgetotheLapithpeople.

Thecentaurslivedwithoutlawandorder,stormedoverfields,trampledcrops,andcarriedoff theLapithwomen,and theyate rawmeat.Theyoungcentaurswerenobetter than their elders.Theywerepoorlybroughtupbyparentswhokickedthemandspankedthemandleftthemtofendforthemselves.Therewasonecentaurwhowaskindandwiseandwasfondofchildren.His

namewasChiron.Thoughhelookedliketheothercentaurs,hewasn’trelatedtothematall.HewasthesonofCronustheTitanandwasimmortal.ChironwasfamousasthegreatestteacherinGreece.Kingsbroughttheirsmallsonstohimsohecouldraisetheminthetruespiritofheroes.

InhisquietcaveonMountPelion,he taught themmanlysportsandhowtouse thehealingherbsof theearthandhowto read thestars in thesky.Allhispupilsreturnedtotheirhomesexceedingtheirfathersincourageandknowledge.OnedayApollobroughttoChironhislittlemortalson,Asclepius.Hismother,

aLapithprincess,haddied,andApolloaskedChirontoraisetheboy.

ASCLEPIUSgrewupinChiron’scave,raisedwith lovingcare,and,beingthesonofApollo,hesoonsurpassedhis foster father inhisknowledgeofhealingthesick.Whenhewasgrown,heleftChiron’scaveandwentdownfromthemountain

tohelpthepeopleofGreece.Hebecamethefirstgreatphysician.Peopleflockedtohimfromfarandnear,andmanywhocameoncrutcheswentawayskippinganddancing.Hispatientsadoredhimandshowered treasuresuponhim,and itwasn’tlongbeforetheyworshipedhimasagodandbuilttemplesinhishonor.Asclepiusputbedsinhistemplesandtheybecamethefirsthospitals.Therehe

wentabout frombed tobed,pleased tobe lookeduponasagod, leaningonastaff entwinedwith sacred serpents. Serpents knew all the secrets of the earthand often told him the causes and cures for diseases. Sometimes he put hispatientstosleepwithamagicdraughtandlistenedtowhattheymutteredintheirdreams.Theirwordsoften revealed tohimwhat caused their ailments, andhecouldthenfindacureforthem.Asclepiushadawifeandsevenchildren,andallthechildrenfollowedintheir

father’sfootsteps.Hissonswerehisassistantphysicians,hisdaughterswerehisnurses. Hygeia, one of his daughters, washed and scrubbed her patients frommorningtonight,anditwasamarveltoseehowfasttheyregainedtheirhealth.BeforeHygeia’stime,itwasthoughtthatsoapandwaterwouldkillthesick.Asclepiusgrewfamous,rich,andpink-faced,andastimewenton,hegrewso

skilledinhisartthathecouldevenbringthedeadbacktolife.TheFatesbecameupsetandcomplainedtoZeusthattheymeasuredandclippedthethreadsoflifeinvain.Hadestoowasangry,forhewasbeingcheatedoutofdeadsouls.Apollopointedout toZeushowmuchgoodhissonwasdoingformankind,andforawhileZeuswaslenient.ButwhenAsclepiusacceptedgoldforbringingthedeadbacktolife,Zeushurledathunderboltathim.NothingbutasmallheapofasheswasleftofAsclepius,thefirstgreatdoctor.

Buthistemplesandhisteachingsofmedicalscienceremained,andthegodsputhisimageamongthestarsasaconstellation.ApollowasfuriouswithZeusforkillinghissonandwantedrevenge.Hedid

not dare to raise his hand against hismighty father, but he slew theCyclopeswho had given Zeus the thunderbolt. Zeus, in his turn, had to revenge theCyclopes. He punishedApollo bymaking him serve for a year as a slave onearth.Apollofoundagoodmasterandsufferednohardship.But thegodsonhigh

Olympusmissedhimandhismusic,thenineMusesmostofall.

THENINEMUSESweredaughtersofZeusand theTitanessMnemosyne.Theirmother’smemorywasaslongasherbeautifulhair,forshewasthegoddessofmemory and knew all that had happened since the beginning of time. Shegatheredherninedaughtersaroundherandtoldthemwondroustales.Shetoldthem about the creation of earth and the fall of the Titans, about the gloriousOlympians and their rise to power, about Prometheus,who stole the heavenlyfire,aboutthesunandthestars,andmostofallaboutthegreatnessandwisdomof their father,Zeus.ThenineMuses listened toherwithwide,sparklingeyesandturnedherstoriesintopoemsandsongssotheywouldneverbeforgotten.Apollo,thegodofmusic,trainedthemandtaughtthemtosingharmoniously

together.HeledthechoirofMusesthroughthehallsofOlympusandovertheslopesofMountParnassus,andtheirmusicrangsopureandfinethateventhesongbirdsfellsilenttolisten.Each of the Muses had her own special art. Calliope, the Muse of heroic

poetry,wasthefirstamongthem.ShehadamortalsonnamedOrpheus,andhesangalmostasbeautifullyastheMusesthemselves.Whenhewasgrown,helefthismotherandhiseightlovingauntsandwenttoliveinhisfather’skingdomofThracetobringthejoyofmusictoearth.Hisvoicerangsopureandtruethatthefiercestwarriorsputdowntheirswordsandsavagebeastslayspellboundathisfeet.Treespulleduptheirrootsandmovedclosertolisten,andevenhardrocks

rolleduptohim.

ORPHEUS’musicwasjoyfulandgay,forhewasinlovewithEuridice,asweetyoungmaiden, and she loved him in return.On the day of theirwedding, hissongsswelledout,filledwithhappinessashisbridedancedonlightfeetthroughthemeadow.Suddenly,shetrodonasnakeandsanktotheground,deadofitspoisonous bite. Hermes gently closed her eyes and led her away to theunderworld.NomoresongscamefromOrpheus’throat,nomoretunesrangoutfromhislyre.Alljoyhadgoneoutofhislife.HehadtohavehisEuridiceback.Weepingandgrieving,Orpheuswanderedaboutsearchingforanentranceto

Hades,andwhenattheendoftheworldhefoundit,hedidwhatnolivingmanhad ever done before: he went down to the realm of the dead to beg for thereturnof his beloved.Hismusic hadpower tomovehard rocks; itmight alsomovethecoldheartofHades.Hopegavehimbackhissongs,and,playingandsinging,hewalkeddownthedark,steeppath.Hissilveryvoicefloateddownthroughthedarklikeagentlesummerbreeze

anditsmagicmovedtheirongatesofHades.Theysprangopenandlethimin,andCerberus,thethree-headedwatchdog,laydownathisfeetandlethimpass.ThewholedarkunderworldstilledandlistenedtoOrpheus’musicasheenteredtherealmofthedeadsingingabouthisgreatlove,beggingtohavehisEuridiceback. The fluttering souls hushed. Those condemned to eternal pains stoppedgroaning, and their torturers, the avenging furies, the Erinyes, dropped theirwhipsandwepttearsofblood.Hades,thepitilesskingofthedead,satonhisblackmarblethronewithQueen

Persephone at his side. Even hewas somoved by themusic that tears rolleddownhissallowcheeksandcoldPersephonesobbed.Herheartwassotouchedthat she turned to her husband and begged him to let Euridice go back to thesunnyworldabove.Hadesgavehisconsent,buthemadeonecondition:Orpheusmustnotlookathisbridebeforetheyreachedtherealmoftheliving.Shewouldwalk behind him, but if he turned, and looked at her, she must return to theunderworld.

Overcomewithjoy,Orpheusstartedupthedarkpath,andashismusicfadedinto the distance, gloom again descended over the underworld. The way waslong,andasOrpheuswalkedonandon,doubtbegantocreepintohismind.HadHades deceived him?Were the sounds he heard behind him really Euridice’sfootsteps?Hehadalmostreachedtheupperworld,andcouldalreadyseeadimlightahead,whenhecouldbearhisdoubtsnolonger.Hehadtoturnandseeifshe reallywas there.He sawher sweet face,butonly for an instant, for againHermesappearedatherside.Heturnedheraboutandledherbacktothedarkgloom below. Faintly, Orpheus heard her whisper farewell. He had lost herforeverthroughhislackoffaith.Orpheusneveragainfoundjoyonearth.Hewanderedintothewildernessto

grieve in solitude. He sang, but now his songs were so mournful that tearstrickleddownthecheeksofwildbeastsandthewillowswept.

Abandofwild nymphs stormed through thewoods shouting toOrpheus tojoin them. They yelled and carried on so loudly that they could not hear hissilveryvoiceandwerenottouchedbyitsmagic.Theywantedhimtodancewiththem,buthehadnoheartfortheirrevelry,andinafurytheythrewthemselvesover him.They tore him to pieces and tossed his body into a river. The riverstoppeditsgurglingtolisten,forthehauntingvoiceofOrpheusstillissuedforthfromhisdeadlipsashefloateddowntotheopensea.TheMusesgrievedoverhim.Theysearchedtheseatill theyfoundhisbody

ontheshoresoftheislandofLesbos.Theretheygavehimaproperfuneral,andatlasthecouldrejoinhisbelovedEuridiceasaflittingghostintheunderworld.

THEMUSES sangnotonlyof thegods andof the spirits sprung fromMotherEarth,butalsoofgreatkingsandheroes,descendedallfrommightyZeus.ThetalesofheroesandbravemenstillringinourearsaswelistentotheMusessing.

MORTALDESCENDANTSOFZEUS

EUROPAANDCADMUS

JOYOUSLYtheMusessangaboutlovelyEuropa,chosenbyZeustobethefirstQueenofCrete.Her father,KingAgenorofTyre,wasadescendantof Io, thegirlwhohadfledtoEgyptintheshapeofawhitecow.ZeushadbeenlookingfarandwideforamaidenworthyofbeingQueenof

Crete,theislandwherehehadbeenraised.OnedayhiseyesfellonEuropa,andherbeautyquitecapturedhisheart.Changinghimselfintoasnow-whitebull,hetrottedaboutinthemeadowby

theseawhereEuropawasplayingwithhermaidens.Atfirstshewasafraidofthestrangebullwhosuddenlystoodbesideher,butashelookedatherwithbig,softeyes,shelostherfear.Shetiedawreathofflowersaroundhisbroadneckand gently patted his glistening sides. The bull knelt down at her feet, andtrustinglysheclimbeduponhisbackandaskedhimto takeherforaride.Hewalkedupanddown thebeachwithher, andEuropa laughedandclappedherhands and called to hermaidens to come and see themarvelous bull she hadfound.Butsuddenlythebullturnedandrushedawayovertheseawithher.Hermaidenscriedoutinterrorandthekingcamerunningoutofhispalace,justintimetoseethebullandhisdaughterdisappearbeyondthehorizon.Trembling,Europa clung to thehornsof thebull.But toher surprise, not a

dropofwater touchedher toes, forNereids swimming all about smoothed thewaveswiththeirhandsandmadetheseaapolishedroadforthebulltorunon.Then thebull turnedhisheadandspoke.Hewasnotabull,he said,butZeushimself,andhehadcometoearthtomakeherhisbrideandtheQueenofCrete.

WhenZeusarrived inCretewithEuropa,heputa royalcrownof jewelsonherheadasatokenofhislove,andshelivedinCreteingloryanddelighttotheend of her days. She had three sons:Minos and Sarpedon,who became greatkings, andRadamanthuswhowas sowise that after his death hewasmade ajudgeintheunderworld.WhenZeusreturnedtoOlympus,heorderedhissonHephaestus,thesmith,to

makeabronzerobotthatwouldwatchoverCreteandEuropa.Threetimesaday,Talos,therobot,walkedwithclankingstepsaroundtheshoresoftheisland,andwheneveranenemyshipapproached,hehurledrocksatitandsankit.ThekingofTyrehad senthis three sons to search for theirkidnaped sister.

Twoof thebrothers soongaveup,butCadmus, the thirdbrother, sailedon toGreecewith hismen. There hewent to the oracle atDelphi and askedwhereEuropacouldbefound.Hissisterwaswellandhappy,hewastold,andhemustgiveup the search forher. Instead,he should stay inGreeceand foundanewkingdom;asnow-whitecowwouldleadhimtoagoodsiteforawalledcity.Cadmus left Delphi, and indeed, before long, he met a white cow. He

followed her uphill and downhill, overmountains and through valleys, and atlastthecowlaydownontopofaknollinthemiddleofawideplain.Cadmussawwithpleasurethatitwasaperfectsiteforawalledcity.Hesentoneofhismenforwaterfromanearbybubblingspring.Themandidnotreturn.Cadmussentanothermantolookforhim.Hedidnotreturneither,and,oneafteranother,Cadmussentoffallhismen,butnotoneof themcameback.At last,hewenthimselftoseewhathadhappenedandfoundadragonguardingthespring.Themonsterhaddevouredallhismen,andnow itwassosluggishandsleepy thatCadmuseasilyslayedit.ButthatdidnotbringhismenbacktolifeandCadmuscouldnotbuildawalledcityallalone.Hesacrificedthewhitecowtothegodsandbegged them for help.Athena answered his plea. “Plow a field,” she toldhim.“Pulloutthedragon’steethandsowtheminthefurrows.”Thisadvicesoundedstrange,butCadmusdidashewastold.Assoonasthe

dragon’s teeth were sown, up shot a host of fierce warriors. They rushed atCadmus,wavingtheirswordsandtheterror-struckherogavehimselfupforlost.Again,Athenacalledtohim:“Throwarockamongthem!”Hedid,andatoncethewarriors flewatoneanother, eachaccusinghisneighborofhaving thrownthe rock. They fought furiously till only five were left, and they were badlywounded.CadmusnursedthembacktohealthandtheybecamehisfaithfulmenandhelpedhimtobuildThebes,thegreatwalledcitywithsevengates.

Cadmus became a great king and the gods favored him. Zeus gave himHarmonia, a daughter ofAphrodite, for his queen. The gods gave the bride amagicnecklace tokeepherbeautifulandyoungandThebes, ruledbyCadmusandhisdescendants,becameoneofthegreatestGreekcities.

TANTALUSANDPELOPS

THE MUSES sang about Tantalus, condemned to suffer forever in theunderworld.Hestoodinwateruptohisneck,butcouldneverquenchhisthirst,forwheneverhebenttodrink,thewaterreceded.Abovehisheadhungbranchesloadedwithfruits,butwheneverhetriedtopickone,thebranchbentoutofhisreach.TantaluswasasonofZeus,andhehadbeensofavoredbythegodsthathe

hadbeeninvitedtofeastwiththemonhighOlympus.Inreturn,hehadaskedthegodstocometodineinhispalaceinAsiaMinor.Hewasakingofvastriches,butnothingheownedseemedgoodenoughtosetbeforehisexaltedguests.Hisson, Pelops,was his greatest treasure, and,wanting to give the gods his best,Tantalusdecidedtosacrificehim.Hemadeastewofhimandsetthedishbeforethegods.ButtheOlympiangodsdetestedhumansacrifice.Outraged,theythrewTantalustothepunishinggroundsintheunderworldandbroughtPelopsbacktolife.Butoneofhisshoulderboneswasmissing,andthegodsreplaceditwithapieceof ivory.Theyallgavehimrichgifts.Poseidongavehima teamof fasthorsesandtoldhimtosetoffandwinhimselfanewkingdom.InGreece therewasabeautifulprincesswhosenamewasHippodamia.She

was the daughter of Oenomaüs, the King of Elis, and whoever married herwouldinherithiskingdom,butherfatherlovedhersodearlythathecouldnotbeartopartwithher.HehadateamofhorsesgiventohimbyAres,thegodofwar,whose sonhewas, andwhenever a suitor came to ask for his daughter’shand,Oenomaüschallengedhim toachariot race. If the suitorwon,hewouldwin theprincess; if he lost, hewould losehis head.Nohorses on earth couldoutrun thehorsesofAres, and theheadsof twelve suitors alreadyhungat thegatesofthepalace.WhenPelopsarrivedinElistowootheprincess,OenomaüsdidnotknowthatPelopsalsohadateamofmagichorses,andtheKinglookedforwardtonailingthethirteenthheadonthegates!ButHippodamiafellinlovewiththeyoungprinceandwantedtosavehislife.Sheaskedherfather’sstable

boytofixtheking’schariotsothatPelopswouldwin.Thestableboy,eagertopleaseher,didmorethanhewasaskedtodo.Hetookoutthewoodenpinsthatheldthewheelstotheaxle,andreplacedthemwithpinsofwax.

Neverhadtherebeensucharace!Thefieryhorsesrannecktoneck,andtheking, to his surprise, could not pull ahead, nomatter how hard he swung thewhip.Thensuddenlythewaxpinsgaveway.Thewheelsofthechariotflewoffandthekingwasthrowntohisdeath.Pelops married Hippodamia and became the King of Elis. He flung the

faithless stable boy into the sea, and gave the old king amagnificent funeralfeast invitingheroes fromalloverGreece to takepart in athleticgames inhishonor andoffered fabulousprizes to thewinners, forPelopshadbroughtwithhimthegreatrichesofhisfather,Tantalus.ThegameswereheldontheplainofOlympia,inElis,andweretoberepeatedeveryfouryears.TheywerecalledtheOlympicgames.

DANAÜS,PERSEUS,ANDTHEGORGON

LOUDwas thesongof theMusesaboutDanaüs, firstofa lineofgreatkingsandheroes.KingDanaüs ofLibya had fifty daughters, his brother,KingAegyptus, had

fifty sons. The fifty sons wanted to marry the fifty daughters, but they wereroughandrowdyandKingDanaüsdidnotwantthemforsons-in-law.Hefearedthattheymightcarryoffhisdaughtersbyforce,sosecretlyhebuiltashipwithfiftyoarsandfledwithhisdaughters.Thefiftyprincessespulledattheoarsandrowed theshipacross thewidesea.TheyreachedArgos, inGreece,andwhen

thepeopletheresawthekingstandingintheprowofagorgeousshiprowedbyprincesses,theywereawed.TheywerecertainthatDanaüshadbeensentbythegods,andmadehimtheirking.Danaüswasagoodruler,andpeaceandhappinessreignedinArgosuntilone

day another splendid ship arrived. And who should be at the oars but KingAegyptus’fiftysons,whohadcometoclaimtheirbrides.Danaüsdidnotdaretoopposethemandhadalavishweddingfeastprepared.Butsecretlyhegaveeachofhisfiftydaughtersadaggerandorderedthemalltokilltheirhusbandsassoonastheywerealone.Forty-nineofthebridesobeyedhim.ButHypermnestra,theeldest, fell in love with Lynceus, her prince, and fled with him. In vain didDanaüs try to findnewhusbands forhiswidoweddaughters; nobodydared tomarry them.The forty-nineDanaïdes had to live a lifewithout joy, andwhenthey died and came to the underworld, they were sentenced to carry waterforeverinsieves,tryinginvaintofillabathandwashofftheirsins.WhenKingDanaüsgrewold, therewasnoheir tohis throne,andhehadto

sendforHypermnestraandLynceus,whowerelivingingreathappiness.TheybecameKingandQueenofArgos,andtheirsonbecameKingafterthem.Whenhedied,his son,Acrisius, inherited the throne.Acrisius,however,hadnoson.Hehadonlyabeautiful,golden-haireddaughterwhosenamewasDanaë,butherbeautybroughtno joy toherfather.Hewantedasonandheir tohiskingdom.Whenanoracletoldhimthathewoulddiebythehandofhisdaughter’sson,heput Danaë in a sealed chamber that had neither windows nor doors, only anopeningintheroof.Therenosuitorcouldseeherbeautyandshewouldremainunwedandchildless.ButAcrisiusforgottoreckonwithZeus.Thethunder-godspiedthelonesomemaidenthroughtheopeningintheroof,andintheshapeofagoldenshowerhedescendedtoher.NolongerwasDanaëlonesome,fornowshewas thehappybrideofZeus.Butwhenher fatherheard the criesof an infantfrom her chamber he broke through the walls in a rage, intending to kill hisgrandson.WhenhelearnedthatZeuswasthechild’sfatherhedidnotdaretolayhandsonhim.Instead,heputDanaëandherson,Perseus,inachestandthrewitintothesea.Iftheydrowned,Poseidonwouldbetoblame.

Zeusgentlysteeredthechest to theshoreofanisland,andafishermanwhowascastinghisnetshauledit in.Greatwashissurprisewhenhesawwhat thechest contained. When Danaë had told him her story, he took her and littlePerseustohishutandcaredforthemasiftheywerehisown,forhewasakindoldmanandchildless.InhishumblehutPerseusgrewintoafineandvaliantyouth,proudofbeing

thesonofZeusandthebeautifulDanaë.ButDanaë’sbeautyattractedtheeyeoftheruthlesskingoftheisland.Hewantedherforhisqueen.InvaindidDanaëturnhimaway.Shewas thebrideofZeus and swore that she couldmarrynoother.ThekingpursuedherandwouldhavecarriedheroffbyforceifPerseushadnotprotectedher.TheschemingkingdecidedtogetridofPerseus,andheletitbeknownthathewasgoingtomarryaprincessfromaneighboringisland.Aswasthecustom,allthemeninthekingdombroughthimgifts.OnlyPerseuswassopoor thathehadnothingtogive.Soheofferedhisservices to thekinginstead.Thiswas justwhat the king had expected. “Slay themonsterMedusaandbringmeherhead,”hesaid.Nomanwhohadeversetout tokillMedusahadcomeback,andthekingwassurethatnowhewasforeverridofPerseus.MedusawasoneofthreehorribleGorgonsisters,sogruesomethatallliving

creaturesturnedtostoneatthesightofthem.Theylivedonanislandfaroutatsea,butnobodyknewjustwhere.Perseus bid hismother good-by and set out to search forMedusa.Hewent

over land and over sea asking his way, but nobody could tell himwhere theGorgonslived.Ashestoodatacrossroadwonderingwhichwaytogo,AthenaandHermessuddenlyappeared.Zeushadsentthemtohelphim.Theycouldtellhim theway to the islandof theGorgons, but heneededmorehelp than that.

Athenalenthimhershield,polishedasbrightlyasamirror.Hermeslenthimhissword,whichwas so sharp that it could cut through thehardestmetal, andhealsoneededthreemagicthingsownedbythenymphsofthenorth,theytoldhim,but even the gods did not knowwhere these nymphs lived.Thatwas a secretcloselyguardedbythethreeGraySisters,andtheywouldneverwillinglyrevealit, for they were the Gorgons’ sisters. But Hermes offered to take Perseus tothemand find away to get the secret out of them.He tookPerseusunder hisarm,swunghimselfintotheair,andflewoff,swifterthanthewind.Theyflewfar,fartothewestandatlasttheycametoalandwherethesunnevershoneandeverythingwasasgrayasdusk.TheresatthethreeGraySisters.Theirhairwasgray,theirfacesweregray,andtheyhadonlyonegrayeyebetweenthem,whichthey took turns looking through.As one of the sisterswas handing the eye toanother,Perseussprangforwardandsnatchedit.“NowIhaveyoureye,”criedPerseus.“Youwillnevergetitbackunlessyou

tellmethewaytothenymphsofthenorth.”ThethreeGraySisterswailedandbeggedfortheireye,butPerseuswouldnot

giveitback,andsotheyhadtotellhimtheway.AgainHermestookhimunderhisarmandflewwithhimfar,fartothenorth,beyondtheNorthWind,wherethesunneverset.Thenymphsofthenorthreceivedthemkindly,andwhentheyheardwhyPerseushadcome,theygladlylenthimthethreethingsheneeded;apairofwingedsandalstocarryhimthroughtheair,acaptomakehiminvisibleandamagicbagtoholdwhateverwasputintoit.NowhewasreadytoslaytheMedusa, said Hermes. He showed him the way and wished him good luck.Wearingthewingedsandals,Perseusflewfartothewest.Whenhecametotheislandof theGorgonshedidnot lookdown.Helooked, instead, intoAthena’spolished shield, and shuddered at the sight he saw mirrored there. The threeGorgon sisters were lying on the shore, fast asleep. Long yellow fangs hungfromtheirgrinningmouths,ontheirheadsgrewwrithingsnakesinsteadofhair,and their necks were covered with scales of bronze. Around them stood thestrangeststones;itwaseasytoseethattheyhadoncebeenmen.Lookingintothemirroringshield,Perseusswoopeddown,andwithonedeft

strokehecutofftheMedusa’shead.Outfromthemonster’sseverednecksprangabeautifulwingedhorse, thePegasus.Heneighed and theother twoGorgonsawoke. Quickly Perseus threwMedusa’s head into the magic bag and swunghimself into the air.Wailing, the twoGorgon sisters took to the air on heavywingsingropingpursuit.Theycouldnotfindhim,forhehadputonthemagiccapofinvisibility.

On his way home, as he flew over the coast of Ethiopia, Perseus saw, farbelow,abeautifulmaidenchainedtoarockbythesea.Shewassopalethatatfirsthethoughtshewasamarblestatue,butthenhesawtearstricklingfromhereyes.Heswoopeddownandtoreatherchains,tryingtobreakthem.“Flee!” she said. “Or you too will be devoured by the sea monster!” But

Perseusrefusedto leaveandshetoldhersadstory:HernamewasAndromedaandshewas thedaughterofKingCepheusandQueenCassiopeia.Hermotherwas very vain and had boasted unwisely that she was even lovelier than theNereids. Poseidon could not tolerate having a mortal compare herself to thegoddesses of the sea, and as punishment he sent a seamonster to ravage thekingdomofEthiopia.Toappeasetheangrygodandsavehiskingdom,herfatherhad to sacrifice her, his only daughter, to the monster. And there she stood,chainedtothecliff,waitingtobedevoured.Shehadbeggedtheprincetowhomshewasengagedtosaveher,buthehadfledinfear.“Ishallsaveyouandyoushallbemine,”saidPerseus.Ashespoke,ahorribleseamonstercamefromthesea,itshugemouthopened

wide to swallow Andromeda. But Perseus sprang into the air, dived at themonsteranddrovehissworddeepintoitsthroat.Themonsterbellowed,lasheditstailwildly,androlledoveronitsback.Itsankandtheseawastintedredbyitsblood.Eversince,thatstretchofwaterhasbeencalledtheRedSea.

NosoonerwasthemonsterdeadthanAndromeda’scowardlysuitorreturnedwithmanywarriorstoclaimherforhisbride.NowhewasboldandmenacingandKingCepheusdidnotdaretoopposehim.“Andromeda,shieldyoureyes!”criedPerseus,andwiththatheliftedthehead

oftheMedusaoutofthebag.Thesuitorandhismenstaredinhorrorandwhips!,theywerechanged intostones!Unfortunately, thekingand thequeenhadalsolookedat theGorgon’sheadandtheytooturnedintostone.ButsinceasonofZeuswasgoing tomarry theirdaughter, thegods tookpityon themandhungCepheusandCassiopeiaintheskyasconstellations.Perseus liftedAndromeda into his arms and flew homewards.Butwhen he

arrivedatthefisherman’shut,helearnedthatDanaëandthefishermanhadgoneintohiding.AssoonasthekingoftheislandhadgottenridofPerseus,hehadtriedtocarryDanaëoff.Tosaveher,thekindoldfishermanhadfledwithher.WhenPerseusheardthat,hemadestraightfortheking’spalace.“Hereistheheadyouwanted!”heshouted,andpulledMedusa’sheadoutof

thebag.Startled,thekingandhismenlookedup,andtheretheysat,turnedintostatuesofstone,someofthemwiththeirmouthsstillopeninastonishment.Thepeopleoftheislandrejoicedatbeingridofthetyrant,andassoonasthe

fisherman andDanaë came out of hiding, theymade the fisherman their newking. He gave Perseus and Andromeda the grandest of wedding feasts andeverybodywashappy.Perseus did not keep the Gorgon’s head, it was much too dangerous for a

mortal toown.Hegaveit toAthenawhenhereturnedhershieldandtheothermagicobjectshehadborrowed.PerseusthoughtthathisgrandfatherAcrisiuswouldbehappytoseehimnow

thathewasahero,andheset sail forArgoswithDanaëandAndromeda.Butwhentheoldkinglearnedthathisgrandsonwasapproachinghefled,forhestillrememberedtheoracle’swarning,andsoPerseusbecamekingofArgos.Perseus ruled wisely and well, his mother and his wife always at his side.

Since hewas a great athlete, he also tookpart in games all overGreece.Oneday,asuddengustofwindchangedthecourseofadiscushehadthrown,andit

killedanoldmanwhowaswatchingthegames.WhoshouldthatoldmanbebutAcrisius,hisgrandfather!Thusthewordsoftheoraclecametrue.After that,Perseusno longerwanted to live inhisgrandfather’scity,Argos.

SohefoundedinsteadthesplendidfortifiedcityofMycenae,notfaraway,andmanygreatkingsandheroesweredescendedfromhimandAndromeda.WhenatlastPerseusandAndromedadied,Zeusputthem,too,intheskyas

constellations.

CLEVERANDVAINGLORIOUSKINGS

WHEN PERSEUS gave Athena the Gorgon’s head, she fastened it on herbreastplate, and it made her still more powerful. She also fetched two ofMedusa’sbones,andfromthemshemadeherselfadoubleflute.ShecouldnotunderstandwhyHeraandAphroditeburstoutlaughingeverytimesheplayedonit,forshewasverypleasedwiththemusicshemade.Butonedayshesawherownimageinherpolishedshield.Withpuckeredlipsandpuffedcheeksshedidnotlookatalllikeherstatelyself.Indisgustshethrewtheflutedowntoearthandputacurseonit.Marsyas, a satyrwhowas capering about in thePhrygianwoods, found the

fluteandbegantoplayonit.Whenhediscoveredhecouldplaytwomelodiesatthesametime,hewaswildwithjoy.Hehoppedthroughthewoods,playingonhis double flute, boasting that now he could make better music than Apollohimself.Apollofrownedwhenheheardthatasatyrdaredcomparehimselftohim,the

godofmusic,andhestormeddownfromOlympusto thePhrygianwoods.Hefound Marsyas who was so delighted with his own music that he even

challengedApollotoacontest.“Youshallhaveyourcontest,”saidApollo,“butifIwin,youshallloseyour

hide.”ThenineMuses,ofcourse,were tobe the judges,andMarsyas insisted that

KingMidasofPhrygiaalsobeajudge.

KINGMIDASwasakindbutratherstupidmanwhohadalwaysbeenafriendtothePhrygiansatyrs.Onemorninghisservantshadfoundanoldsatyrsleepingintheking’sfavoriteflowerbed.Midashadsparedthesatyrfrompunishmentandlethimgo.ThisoldsatyrwasafollowerofDionysus,andthegodhadrewardedMidas for his kindness by granting him a wish. Shortsightedly, King Midaswished that everythinghe touchedwould turn togold.Hisgolden touchmadehim the richestmanonearth,buthealmost starved todeath forevenhis foodanddrinkturnedtogold.Andwhenhislittledaughterrantohimtohughim,shetoo turned into gold!Midas had to begDionysus to undo hiswish andmakeeverythingasithadbeenbefore.Nowagain,KingMidas showedpoor judgment.The nineMuses all agreed

thatApollowas by far the bettermusician, butMidas voted for the Phrygiansatyr.Apollodisdainfullyturnedhislyreupsidedownandplayedjustaswellasbefore.HeorderedMarsyastoturnhisfluteanddothesame.NotasoundcamefromMarsyas’flutehoweverhardheblew,andevenMidashadtoadmitthatthesatyr’s flute was inferior to Apollo’s lyre. So Marsyas lost the contest andApollopulledoffhisskinandmadeadrumofit.ThenheturnedtoKingMidasand said, “Ears as stupid as yours belong to an ass.Ass’s ears you shall havefromnowon!”Everafter,KingMidaswentaboutwithatall,peakedcaponhisheadtohide

his longears.His subjects thoughthehadstartedanewfashion,and itwasn’tlongbeforeallthePhrygiansworetall,peakedcaps.

Theking’sbarberwastheonlyonewhoknewwhatMidaswashiding.Hehadbeen forbidden tobreathe aword about it andhe almost burst fromhaving tokeepsuchanimportantsecret.Whenhecouldbearitnolongerheranouttoalonesomefield,dugaholeintheground,andwhisperedintoit,“KingMidashasass’sears!”Hequicklycovereduptheholeandthoughtthesecretwassafe.Butthe nearby reeds had heard and as they swayed in the wind they whispered,“Midashasass’sears,Midashasass’sears,”andsoonthesecretspreadallovertheworld.KingMidaswassoashamedthathelefthisthroneandhiddeepinthewoods

wherenoonecouldseehim.

SISYPHUSofCorinthwasthecleverestkingwhoeverlived.Hewassocunningthathefooledeventhegods.One day Sisyphus saw the river-god Asopus, who was looking for his

daughter,Aegina.Sisyphus,whonoticedeverything thatwashappening inhiskingdom, went after him and said, “I’ll tell you what has become of yourdaughterifyou’llgivemycityaspring.”Fortheonlythinghisgreatcitylackedwasagoodsupplyoffreshwater.Asopushated topartwithanyofhiswater.He twistedandsquirmed,butat

lasthestrucktheground,andacrystalclearspringbubbledforth.“ItisZeushimselfwhohascarriedoffyourdaughter,”saidSisyphus.“Isaw

himhurrybywithher,”andhepointedouttoAsopusthewayZeushadtaken.The river-god rushedoff in a fury and sooncaughtupwith the elopers.Zeus,takenbysurprise,hadnothunderboltathand,so,tosavehimselfandthenymph

fromtheriver-god’srage,hechangedhimselfintoarockandherintotheislandAegina.Sisyphushadhisspringofwater,butAsopuslosthisdaughter,andZeuswas

furiouswithSisyphusformeddlinginhisaffairs.HeaskedHadestotakehimtotheunderworldandpunishhimseverely.HadeswasgladtodohisbrotherZeusafavorandhewenthimselftofetchSisyphus.Whentheslykingsawthelordofthedeadinperson,hepretendedtobeveryhonored.Butwhy,heasked,hadnotHermes,whose office itwas to guide dead souls to the underworld, come forhim? While Hades searched for a suitable answer, Sisyphus deftly wound achainaroundhim.Andtherestoodthelordofthedead,chainedtoapostlikeadog.AslongasSisyphuskeptHadestiedup,nobodycoulddie.TheFatesgotthe

threadsof life tangledand thewholeworldwas inconfusion.Finally thegodsthreatened tomake life somiserable forSisyphus thathewouldwishheweredead, andSisyphus thenhad to letHades go.Again people could die and lifecouldgoonnormally.Theveryfirstsoul tobeclaimedwas,ofcourse, thatofSisyphus himself. This time Hermes came for him. The wily king, who hadexpectedthis,hadtoldhislovingwifenottogivehimafuneralfeast,andnottoput a coin under his tongue. So he arrived in the realmof the dead as a poorbeggar. Hades was shocked! After all, Sisyphus was a king and entitled to afuneralfeastandagoldencoinunderhistonguetopayforhispassageacrosstheStyx.Hiswifehadtobepunished,orshemightsetabadexampleforothers.HesentSisyphusbacktoearthandtoldhimtoteachhiswiferespect.“Fooledhimagain!”saidSisyphuswhenherejoinedhisdevotedwife.Theylivedhappilyformanylongyears,tillatlasthediedofoldageandwenttoHadesforgood.Therehewasgivenataskthatkepthimtoobusytothinkupnewtricks.Hehadtopusha boulder up a steep hill, but every time he had almost reached the top, theboulderslippedfromhishandsandrolledallthewaytothebottomagain.

BELLEROPHON,agrandsonofSisyphus,wasagreattamerofhorses.HewouldhavegivenallheownedforarideonthewingedhorsePegasus,whohadsprungoutofMedusa’sneck.PegasushadflowntoGreece,wherethenineMuseshadfound him and tended him. They were the only ones who could come closeenoughtotouchhim,forPegasuswaswildandswift.Onenight,Bellerophon fell asleep inAthena’s temple.Hedreamed that the

goddessgavehimagoldenbridle thatwouldmaketheflyinghorse tame.Andwhenheawoke,hereallyheldagoldenbridleinhishand.Not long thereafter, Pegasus flew over Corinth, saw the clear spring that

Sisyphus had won from the river-god, and stopped to drink. CarefullyBellerophontiptoedup to thewingedhorseandflungthebridleoverhishead.The horse neighed, looked at Bellerophon, and suddenly hewas so tame thatBellerophon couldmount him.Never had there been such a horse and such ahorseman.Theygallopedthroughtheair,overlandandoversea,fasterthanthewind.On thebackofhis flyinghorse,Bellerophon setoff to fight theChimera, a

fire-breathingbeastthatwasravagingthekingdomofLyciainAsiaMinor.TheChimerawasmore fearful than a nightmare. Shewas lion in front, serpent inback,andgoat inbetween.Shespat fire fromallher threeheadsandherhidewas so tough that no weapon could pierce it. Swooping down as close as hedared without singeing the coat of his flying horse, Bellerophon went at themonsterwitha lumpof leadstucktotheendofhisspear.TheChimerahissedlikeaserpent,bleatedlikeagoat,andassheopenedwideherlion’sjawstoroar,hethrust thelumpofleaddownherthroat.Herflamingbreathmeltedtheleadandittrickledintoherstomachandkilledher.

ThepeopleofLycia,whohadbeenhiding in fearbehindbolteddoors,nowdared to come out, and the king of the country was so thankful that he gaveBellerophon the hand of his daughter. When the old king died, Bellerophoninheritedthekingdom.Hebecameagreatking, lovedbyhispeople,fearedbyhisneighborsandallthemonsterslurkingnearby.Buthisfamewenttohisheadandhegrewsovainthathethoughthewasasgreatasthegods.HeevenheldhimselfequaltoZeus.Hesoaredeverhigheronhisflyinghorse,andatlasthetried to enterOlympus itself.There pride took a spill. Pegasus threwhimand

Bellerophonfelltoearth,landinginthistlethornsinadistantcountry.Tornandlame,hewanderedaboutasanunknownbeggaruntilhedied.PegasusenteredOlympus alone and Zeusmade the handsomewinged horse the carrier of histhunderbolts.

MELAMPUS,acousinofBellerophon,wongloryandfameandonethirdofakingdom, all because hewas kind to animals. Oncewhen hewas a child, hefoundadeadmothersnakeontheroad.Hedidnotkickitintoaditch,butgaveita proper funeral, picked up the little motherless snakes, and reared themtenderly.Ingratitudetheylickedhisearssocleanthathecouldunderstandthelanguage of all animals, crawling and flying. From their talk he learned thesecretsoftheearthandgrewwisebeyondmeasure.Once he was thrown into prison for trying to steal some cows from a

neighboring king, and one night as he lay on his cot, he heard a family oftermitestalkinginsidetheroofbeam.“Brother,”saidonetermitetoanother,“ifwegoonchewingallnight,theroofwillcollapsebeforemorning.”Melampusjumpedupandhammeredatthedoor.Hedemandedtobemoved

atonce,fortheroofwouldsoonfallin.Thejailerlaughed,butMelampusmadesuchafussthathewasfinallymoved.Justthentheroofdidcavein.Everybodymarveled,andthekingcalledforhimandtoldhimthat,ifhecouldfindacureforhissickson,hecouldhavethecowshehadtriedtosteal.Theyoungprincehadbeensicksincehewasachild,andnooneknewwhatailedhim.Melampusslaughteredanoxandspreadthemeatontheground.Rightaway,

two vultures swooped down and began to gorge themselves. When they hadeatentheirfill,oneofthevulturessaidtotheother,“Ihaven’tbeensofullsincethattimewhenthekingsacrificedaramtothegods.Irememberhowterrifiedthelittleprincewaswhenhesawhisfatherwithabloodyknifeinhishand.Hescreamedsoloudlythathisfatherthrewawayhisknifeandrantocomforthim.Theknifestuckinthetreeoveryonderandwoundedthetreenymph.Shecastaspellontheboyandhehasbeensickeversince.Nowthebarkhasclosedovertheknife,but if thekingknewwhatIknow,hewoulddigout therustyblade,makeabrewfromtherust,andgiveittotheprincetodrink.”Melampusatoncedugoutthebladeandmadearustybrew.Thesicklyprince

drank it and right away he was so fit that he bounded over a field of barleywithout bending a stalk. Melampus won great fame as a healer and from allcornersofGreece,kingssentforhimtocuretheirsick.TheKingofTirynshadthreelovelydaughterswhosuddenlywentquiteoutof

theirmindsandthoughttheywerecows.ThekingsentforMelampus,whosaidthathewouldcurethemifthekingwouldgivehimathirdofhiskingdom.Thatwasfar toomuch, thought theking,andMelampuswentaway.Theprincessesgrewworseandranalloverthekingdommooinglikecows.ThekingagainsentforMelampus.ThistimeMelampuscamewithhisbrotherandnowhewantedathirdofthekingdomforhisbrother,too!Thekinghadtoagree,foritwasveryembarrassingtohimthathisdaughtersranaroundshouting,“Wearecows,wearecows!”Melampushiredsome fast runnersandsent themafter thecrazygirls.They

hadtorunhalfwayacrossGreecebeforetheycouldcatchthemandbringthemback.Melampusforcedthemtodrinkadraughtofmagicherbs,andthatcured

allofthemexceptone,poorgirl,whodiedofexhaustion.The king,who had to part with two-thirds of his kingdom, thought that he

mightaswellgiveMelampusandhisbrothereachaprincessinthebargain,andtheyalllivedhappilythereafter.

HERACLES

PROUDLYdidtheMusessingofHeracles,oftencalledHercules,thestrongestmanwhoeverlivedonearthandthegreatestofallthedescendantsofDanaüs.Hismotherwas PrincessAlcmena, granddaughter of Perseus andAndromeda,andfamedforherbeautyandvirtue.HisfatherwasZeus,soHera,ofcourse,hatedAlcmenaandpursuedHeracles

with herwrath.When hewas an infant the goddess sent two spotted serpentsintohiscradle,butlittleHeraclessimplygraspedtheminhispowerfulhandsandsqueezedthelifeoutof them.Hegrewstrongereveryday,buthis troublewasthathedidnotknowhisownstrength.Beingofnoblebirth,hehad to learn tosingandplay the lyre,butHeracles

wouldmuchratherwrestleandfight.Onedayhismusic teacherLinusscoldedhim for singingout of tune. In a fit of furyHeracles bangedhis lyre over theteacher’s head, harder than he hadmeant, and the blow killed the poor man.Heracles was too strong to have around a palace so he was sent into themountains as a shepherd. There he could use his tremendous strength onprowling beasts. Soon he had rid the countryside around Thebes of lions andwolves,andthefameofhisstrengthspreadfarandwide.Hecamebackfromthemountainsasahero,andtheKingofThebesregardedhimsohighlythathegavehimhisdaughterinmarriage.Heradidnotlikethisatall,andshemadeHeraclesinsane.Ravingmad,heswatteddownhisownchildren,mistakingthemforwildbeasts.Whenheregainedhissenses,hewashorrifiedatwhathehaddone,andwenttotheoracleofDelphitolearnwhathemustdotoatoneforhiscrime.Hewas told thathemustservefor tenyearsas theslaveofhiscousinEurystheusandperformtenlaborsforhim.Herawaspleased,forEurystheus,theKingofMycenae,wasaweaklittleman

whohatedhisstrongcousinHeracles.WithherhelpthekingwouldsurelythinkofthehardesttasksforHeraclestoperform.

ForhisfirstfourlaborsEurystheussentHeraclestoridthenearbycountrysideofdangerousbeastsandmonsters.In the valley ofNemea dwelt amonstrous lionwhose hidewas so tough it

could not be pierced by any weapons. It was one of Echidna’s dreadfuloffspring,whichZeushadletliveasachallengetofutureheroes.Heracleschaseditoutofitslair,seizeditinhisbarehands,andsqueezeditto

death.Thenheskinnedthebeastwithitsownclaws,andwiththeimpenetrableskinoftheNemeanlionslungoverhisheadandshoulders,hereportedbacktoEurystheus,hisfirstlaborperformed.

IntheswampsofLernatherelivedanine-headedHydra,anotherofEchidna’sbrood.Thismonsterwassopoisonousthatthefumesfromitsbreathalonewereenoughtokillwhatevercameclosetoit.Heracles filled his enormous lungswith air, held his breath, and ran at the

Hydra.Swinginghisclub,heknockedoffitsheads,andoneaftertheothertheyrolledtotheground.Butnosoonerhadheknockedoffoneheadthananewonegrew in its place. He half turned around and let out enough air to call to hischarioteer to bring a firebrand and sear the necks. Then no new heads couldsprout.WhenHera saw thatHeracleswaswinningover theHydra, she sent agiant crab to pinch his heel.With amighty kickHeracles sent the giant crabflyingasheknockedoffthelastoftheheads.ThenhedippedhisarrowsintheHydra’s blood,making them so poisonous that amere scratch from themwasdeadly,andhereturnedtoMycenae,hissecondlaborperformed.On the slopesofMountErymanthus roamedawild anddreadfulboar,with

tusksassharpasswords.EurystheussentHeraclestobringthisbeastbackalive.

Withloudyells,Heracleschasedtheboaroutofitslairanddroveitaheadofhimallthewaytothetopofthesnow-cappedmountain.Theheavybeastsankinto the snowand itwaseasy forHeracles tocatchandsubdue it.Hepushed,dragged, and rolled it all the way down to the gates of Mycenae. WhenEurystheussawthefearfulboar,hedivedintoanurnandbarelydaredtopeekout.

Then Eurystheus sent Heracles to rid the Stymphalian Lake of a swarm ofdangerousbirds.Theyhadfeathersofbrasssosharpthat,whenoneofthemfelltotheground,itkilledwhomeverithit.ButtheycouldnotpenetrateHeracles’lionskin,andhemadesuchadin,withahugerattle, that thebirds tookfrightandflewaway,nevertoreturn.EurystheuswasdistressedtoseewithwhatgreateaseHeracleshadperformed

hisfirstfourlabors.Nowhesenthimtobringbackaliveoneofthesacredhindsof Artemis. He hoped that Heracles would harm the creature with his brutestrength and thereby earn thewrath of the goddess. ButHeracles pursued theswift deerwith great patience over hills and dales. The yearwas almost overwhenatlasthecaughtthedeer.WithgreatcarehecarrieditbacktoMycenae.Next, tohumblehis strongcousin,EurystheusorderedHeracles toclean the

stables of King Augeas, who lived across the mountains to the west. KingAugeashadhugeherdsandhisstablesandbarnyardshadnotbeencleanedforyears.Heapsofdungrosemountainhigh.Nomanalivecouldcleanhisstablesinayear, thoughtEurystheus.ButHeracleswith tremendous strengthchangedthecourseoftworivers.Thewatersfloodedthroughstablesandbarnyardsandwashedthemcleaninlessthanaday.Eurystheus now, on the advice ofHera, sentHeracles far afield for his last

fourlabors.HemusttravelwaytotheeastandfetchbacktoMycenaethegoldengirdleofHippolyta,QueenoftheAmazons.TheAmazonswereatribeofwildandwarlikewomenwhorodebetterandfoughtharderthananymen.Eurystheus

wassurethatevenHeracleswouldbeoverwhelmedbythefuriouswomen.ButwhenHeracles arrived inAmazon land, the proud queenwas so taken by thesight of his bulging muscles that she gave him her belt without a fight. Shewouldgladlyhavegivenhimherhandinthebargain,butHera,inthedisguiseofanAmazon,spreadtherumorthatHeracleshadcometokidnapHippolyta.TheAmazons threw themselves upon Heracles, but for once they had found theirmaster!Heraclesswunghismightyclub,and the littleAmazonhusbands,whowere spinning and cooking and tending the babies, were amazed to see theirdangerouswivessubduedbyasingleman.Intriumph,HeraclesreturnedtoMycenaewithHippolyta’sbelt.Hecouldnot

bringthequeen,shehadbeenkilledinthefight.

FartothenorththerelivedakingwhosenamewasDiomedes.Hewasaveryinhospitable king and had trained his four mares to devour all strangers whocametohisland.NowEurystheussentHeraclestocapturethefourman-eatingmaresandbring

thembackalive.Heraclestraveledtothenorth,slewKingDiomedes,andthrewhimtohisown

mares.Whenthemareshadeatentheevilking,theyweresotamethattheyletHeraclesdrivethembacktothegatesofMycenae.

ThenEurystheussentHeraclessouth tocatchafierce, fire-breathingbullontheislandofCrete.TheCretans,whoweregreatbullfighters,couldnotcatchthebull, but Heracles seized the charging bull by the horns without heeding theflames from its nostrils, flung it to the ground, and returned to Mycenae,bringingthesubduedbeast.Eurystheuswasgladhehadasafeurntohidein.Forhistenthlabor,Heracleswassenttoanislandfaroutintheocean,tobring

backahugeherdofredcows.Theybelonged toGeryon,amonsterwith threebodiesononepairoflegs.Heracleswalked offwith a powerful stride and soon reached the end of all

landin thewest.Theonlyboathecouldspotwas thegoldenvesselofHelios,thesun.Heraclesaimedhismightybowatthesunandthreatenedtoshoothimfromtheskyifhedidnotlendittohim.Heliosdidnotdaretorefuse,andheletHeraclestakehisgoldenboat.Beforehesailedoff,Heraclespulledup twohugecragsandset themdown,

oneoneachsideofthestraitthatseparatesEuropefromAfrica.Theretheystandtothisday,calledthePillarsofHercules.WhenHeracleswasoutatseaandthewavesrosehigharoundhim,heaimeda

poisoned arrow at thewaves, threatening to shoot them if they did not still atonce.ThewavesflattenedinfearandHeraclessailedontoGeryon’sisland.Hebeganatoncetoloadtheherdofredcows,andGeryon’swatchmanandhistwo-headeddogrushedathim.WithoneswingofhismightyclubHeraclesdidawaywiththemboth.ThenGeryonhimselfcamerunningtoattackhim,histhreehugebodies swaying on his thin legs. CalmlyHeracles lifted his bow, took carefulaim, and sent a poisoned arrow through all of themonster’s three bodies. Astimewasgettingshort,Heracles rowedbackas fastashecouldwith theherd.Whenhearrivedatthemainland,HerasentaswarmofgadfliestostingthecowsandtheyscatteredalloverEurope.Still,Heraclesmanagedtoroundthemupandbring them to the gates of Mycenae just before the year was up. There,Eurystheus sacrificed the cows toHera, and, gratified, the goddesswhisperedinto his ear that he must demand two more labors from Heracles, for hischarioteerhadhelpedhim to singe theheadsof theHydra, andnothebut the

watersoftworivershadwashedtheAugeanstablesclean.

Heraclesscowledbuthebowedhisheadinsubmission,forhehadwonmuchgloryonhistenlaborsandhopedtowinsomemore.Forhiseleventhlabor,Heracleswassent tofindHera’ssecretgardenof the

Hesperides andpick three golden apples from the little apple tree thatMotherEarthhadgivenHeraforherweddinggift.Nereus,theOldGrayManoftheSea,was theonlyoneonearthwhoknewwhere thegardenwas,buthewouldnotreveal the secret.WhenHeracles seizedhim to squeeze the secret out of him,Nereus tried to escape by changing himself into all kinds of animals. ButHeraclesheldontohimandatlastNereushadtotellhimthatthegardenoftheHesperideslaywestofthesettingsun,notfarfromwheretheTitanAtlasstood,holdingupthesky.Onhiswaytothegarden,HeraclesheardthegroansoftheTitanPrometheus,

whowaschainedtotheCaucasusMountains.Heracleswasinahurry,buthefeltsorryfortheTitanandtooktimeofftotearaparthischains.Zeus,impressedbythestrengthofhisson, lethimdo it. IngratitudePrometheuswarnedHeraclesnot to pick the golden apples himself, or he would die. They were apples ofimmortalityandcouldbepickedonlybyagod.Heraclestraveledoverlandandoversea,andatlasthecametothegardenof

theHesperides.Nearby stood theTitanAtlas, andHeraclesoffered toholduptheskyforhimifhewouldpickthreegoldenapplesfromHera’stree.Atlassaidhewouldbeglad to be rid of his heavyburden for awhile, but he feared thedragon Ladon, which lay under the tree watching it with all the eyes of hishundredheads.Ahundred-headeddragoncouldnotfrightenHeracles.Hedrewhisbowandshotit.Thenhetooktheskyonhisshoulders,andAtlasreachedoutandpicked theapples.The three littlenymphswho tended the treeweptbittertears,buttheycouldnotstopAtlas,nowthatthewatchfuldragonwasdead.Heracles’ knees started to buckle, so heavywas theweight of the sky, but

Atlasstretchedhimself,enjoyinghisfreedom.

“ImightaswelltaketheseapplestoEurystheusmyself,”saidtheTitan,andstarted towalk away.Heracleswell understood thatAtlas had no intention ofevercomingback,buthepretendedtoagree.“Verywell,”hesaid,“justholdtheskywhileImakeapadofmylionskin,

theskyishardonmyshoulders.”ThissoundedreasonabletoAtlas.Heputdownthegoldenapplesandbraced

himselfagainstthevaultofthesky.“Thankyouforpickingtheapples,”saidHeracles,andhurriedhomeward.OnhiswaytoMycenae,HeracleswasstoppedbythegiantwrestlerAntaeus.

Helivedinahutbesidetheroad,andforcedalltravelerstowrestlewithhim.Hewasa sonofMotherEarthandcouldnotdieas longashe touchedher, sohealwayswonandhadbuilthishutof theskullsandbonesofhisvictims.WhenHeracles threw the giant to the ground, thinking he was dead, but saw himspringingup revived, heunderstoodwhatwashappening.SeizingAntaeus, heheldhimintheairuntilhehadsqueezedalllifeoutofhim.Heracles hurried on toMycenae and gave the golden apples to Eurystheus.

ButEurystheusdidnotdare tokeep them.Hegave themtoAthena,who tookthembacktoHera’sgarden,wheretheybelonged.ForhistwelfthlaborHeracleshadtogototheunderworld,captureCerberus,

thesnarling,three-headedwatchdogofHades,andbringhimtoMycenae.

Heracles searched far and wide till at last he found an entrance to theunderworld nearHelios’ evening palace, far to thewest. Setting his face in aterriblescowl,hewalkedstraightdowntoHades.TheflutteringsoulstrembledandHadeshimselfwassofrightenedatthesightthathetoldhimtotakethedog,onlypleasenottotreatittooroughly.Cerberusgrowledandlashedoutwithhisspiked tail, butHeracles threwhis arms aroundhimand squeezedhim till thedog’s three tongueshungout.Whining,Cerberus letHeraclesdraghim to theupperworldandallthewaytothegatesofMycenae.WhenEurystheussawthefearfulhound,onceagainhedivedintotheurnandcoweredthere,notdaringtomakea sound.Heraclesdidnotknowwhat todowith thedog, sohedraggedCerberusallthewaybackdowntoHades.

NowHeracleswasfree.Hehadperformednotonlytenbuttwelvelabors.HehadatonedforhissinsandZeuswasverypleasedwithhisstrongson.Hewaspleased with Hera, too, for she had unknowingly helped Heracles win moreglory and fame than any other hero on earth.Admired by everyone,Heraclestraveled all over Greece, performing more heroic deeds and making manyfriends.ButHera, still relentless, againmadehim insane andhe swattedmendown

likeflies.Whenherecoveredhissenses,heoncemorehadtoatoneforhissins,andthistimeitwashisfather,Zeus,whometedouthispunishment,seeingtoitthattherewasnoglorytobewon.Zeus sentenced Heracles to serve for three years as the slave of Queen

OmphaleofLydia.Shedressedhiminwoman’sclothesandmadethestrongestmanintheworldsitatherfeet,spinningandsewingwithhishugehands,whilesheherselfdonnedhislionskinandbrandishedhisclub.Heraclesgrumbledandgroaned,buthedidashewasordered.Whenhisthreeyearsatlastwereover,hehadlearnedhislessonofhumility.Againheperformedheroicdeedsandhisfriendsweregladtoseehimback.

Oneofhis great friendswasAdmetus,KingofThessaly, underwhomApolloonce had served when he was a slave on earth. To thank Admetus for hiskindness,ApollohadpersuadedtheFatesnottocuthisthreadoflifewhenhis

timetodiehadcome,aslongasAdmetuscouldfindsomeoneelsewillingtodieinhisstead.Thatwouldbeeasy,thoughttheking.Hisfaithfulmenwerealwayssayingthathislifewasdearertothemthantheirown.KingAdmetushadalwaysbeen afraid of dying early, for he was very happy with his beautiful queen,Alcestis. The king and the queen were both fond of Heracles and alwayswelcomed himwarmly.But one daywhenHeracles came to the palace,KingAdmetusgreetedhimalone.Helookedsadanddowncast.WhenHeraclesaskedhimwhatwaswrong,hesaidnothingexceptthatawomanofthehouseholdhaddiedandhemustgotoherfuneral.AndheleftHeraclesalonewiththeservants.They too looked sad. They waited on him in silence and did not answer hisquestions. Heracles ate, drank, and made merry alone and at last he grewimpatient,graspedoneoftheservants,andforcedhimtospeak.TheservanttoldhimthatthetimehadcomeforAdmetustodie,andhehadturnedtohismenandaskedoneofthemtodieinhisstead.Butnownotoneofthemhadbeenwilling.Admetus thenwent tohisparents,whowereold andwearyof life, and askedthemtodieinhisstead.Theytoorefused.Butwhenhereturnedtohispalace,hefoundQueenAlcestis setting off for the realm of the dead. She loved him somuch,shesaid,shewouldgladlygiveherlifeforhim,andthekingwassofondofhisownlifethathelethisqueendepart.NowthekingandallthehouseholdweremourningforAlcestis.Heracles shed big tears when he heard this sad story, but, being a man of

action,heseizedhisclubandstrodeofftotheunderworldtoforceHadestogiveAlcestisback.Suchalovingwifeshouldnotbeallowedtodie.Heracles did not have to use his club.Cerberus slunk out of theway as he

stormed into the palace of Hades. The lord of the dead, himself, had a cold,unloving queen and he was so moved when Heracles told him of Alcestis’devotionthathelethergo.HeraclesbroughtQueenAlcestisback toKingAdmetusand thegrief in the

palacechangedtogreat joy.Nowtheyallate,drank,andmademerrytogetherandAlcestisgrewfamousfarandwideasthemostdevotedwifewhoeverlived.HeraclestoowantedawifeandhechoseDeianira,aCaledonianprincess,for

hisbride.Deianirahadalreadybeenpromisedtotheriver-godAchelous,butshedreadedthethoughtofbeingmarriedtoariver-god,whocouldchangehisshapeatwill.Shewouldneverknowinwhichshapeherhusbandwouldcomehomeatnight.ShewouldrathermarrythegreatheroHeracles.Thetwosuitorsagreedtowrestle,thevictortohavethePrincessDeianira.Ofcourse,Heracleswon.Theriver-god rushed at him in the shape of a bull, andHeracles seized him by ahorn,wrencheditoff,andthrewhimtothegroundbeforehehadtimetochangeinto something else. So Heracles and Deianira were married and were veryhappytogether.Onedayastheywereouttraveling,theycametoaswollenstream.Heracles

fordeditwithease,butDeianirawasafraidandstoodonthebank.AlongcamethecentaurNessusandpolitelyofferedtocarryheracross.ButNessus,likeallcentaurs,wasfondofprettygirlsandbeforehehadreachedmidstreamhehadmadeuphismindtocarryheroff.Onceontheotherside,hegallopedoffwithher.Deianirascreamedforhelp,Heraclesshotapoisonedarrowat thecentaurandNessusfell to theground.BeforehediedhewhisperedtoDeianira,“Takesome of my blood and save it. If you ever fear that you are losing yourhusband’slove,paintsomeofthebloodonhistunicandhewillloveyouagain.”Deianira carefully saved the dropsof blood, for sheknewwell thatmany a

girlwouldliketostealhermagnificenthusband.

One day as Heracles was away at war, he won a great victory and sent amessenger home for his best tunic. Hewanted to celebratewith hismen, butDeianira thought hewanted tomakehimself handsome for a girl. Shepainted

someofNessus’ blood on the tunic.As soon asHeracles put it on, he felt asthoughathousandfireswereburninghim.ItwasnotalovepotionthatNessushadgivenDeianira,but thedeadlypoisonof theHydra fromHeracles’ arrow,mixedwithNessus’blood.Heracleswassostrongthatthepoisoncouldnotkillhim,buthissufferingswereunbearable.Heorderedhismentobuildafuneralpyre,spreadhislionskinoverthetop,andlaydownonit.Thenhegavehisbowand deadly arrows to his young friend, Philoctetes, as a parting gift. As theflames rose around him, a loud thunderclap was heard, and Heracles, by theorderofZeus,roseuptoOlympus,recliningonhislionskin.ThegodsallwelcomedHeraclesandweregladtohavehimwiththem,forthe

FateshadpredictedthatOlympuswouldbeattackedbyafearfulenemyandtheOlympianscouldbe savedonly if the strongestmaneverborn foughton theirside. The prediction soon came to pass. In a last effort to defeat the mightythunder-god Zeus, Mother Earth had given birth to fifty snake-legged giants,who surrounded Olympus and tried to storm the palace. They seemedunconquerable, for, like Antaeus, whom Heracles had fought on earth, theysprangupagainrevivedassoonas they touchedMotherEarth.Heraclesknewwhattodo,andwithhishelpthegodswonoverthegiantsandcastthemdownintothedismalpitofTartarus.HeracleswasnowtheheroofMountOlympus,belovedbyallthegods.EvenHerabeggedhimtoforgiveherandgavehimherdaughterHebe,goddessofeternalyouth,forhisOlympianbride.FromthenonHeracles lived in eternal bliss, forever a joy to the gods.His father Zeuswasverypleased.

THESEUS

THEMUSESsangofHeraclesandhislabors,andtheyalsosangoftheislandofCrete,ruledbyKingMinos,thesonofZeusandEuropa.Hisqueen,Pasiphaë,adaughter of the sun-godHelios, had a golden glimmer in her eyes like all thedescendantsofthesun,andwasaccustomedtogreatmagnificence.KingMinoswantedhisqueentoliveinapalaceassplendidasherfather’s,andheorderedDaedalus, an Athenian architect and inventor of marvelous skill, to build thegreatpalaceofCnossus.Thepalaceroseupstoryuponstory,overaforestofcolumns.Windingstairs

and intricate passageways connected the many halls and courtyards. Pictureswerepaintedonthewallsofthegreathalls,fountainssplashedinthecourtyards,and the bathrooms even had running water. Bulls’ horns of the purest goldcrownedtheroofs,fortheCretansworshipedthebull,sinceZeus,intheshapeofa bull, had broughtEuropa to the island.Here the king and the queen and alltheircourt lived ingreatsplendorandhappinessuntilonedayPoseidonsentasnow-white bull from the sea. Since the island of Crete was completelysurrounded by his domain, the sea, he toowanted to be honored, and orderedKingMinostosacrificethebulltohim.ButQueenPasiphaëwassotakenbythebeautyofthewhitebullthatshepersuadedthekingtoletitlive.Sheadmiredthebull somuch that sheorderedDaedalus toconstructahollowwoodencow,soshecouldhideinsideitandenjoythebeautyofthebullatcloserange.Poseidon was very angry, and for punishment he made the bull mad. It

ravagedthewholeisland,andthoughtheCretansweregreatbullfighters,noonecould subdue the beast until Heracles had come to capture it for one of hislabors.To punish the king and queen, Poseidon caused Pasiphaë to give birth to a

monster, theMinotaur.Hewashalfman,halfbull,andatenothingbuthumanflesh. Such a fearful monster could not go free, and the clever Daedalusconstructedforhimalabyrinthunderthepalace.Itwasamazeofpassageways

andlittleroomsfromwhichnobodycouldeverhopetofindhiswayout.TheretheMinotaurwasshutin,andaslongashewasprovidedwithvictimstodevour,hekeptquiet.Whenhewashungry,hebellowedsoloudlythatthewholepalaceshook.KingMinoshad towagewarwith theneighboring islands sohe couldsupply theMinotaurwith theprisonersofwar for food.Whena sonofMinosvisitedAthensandwasaccidentlykilled,KingMinosusedthisasanexcusetothreaten to sack the city unless seven Athenian maidens and seven AthenianyouthsweresenttoCretetobesacrificedtotheMinotaureverynineyears.Tosavehiscity,Aegeus,theKingofAthens,hadtoconsent,forMinoswas

muchstrongerthanhe.ThepeopleofAthensgrumbled,for,whileKingAegeuswaschildlessandhadnothingtolose, theyhadtoseetheirsonsanddaughterssacrificedtothecruelMinotaur.Twotimesnineyearshadpassedandthekingwasgrowingold.Forthethird

timeashipwithblacksailsofmourningwasduetodepart,whenwordcametothe king that a young hero, Theseus, from Troezen, was making his way toAthens,destroyingallthemonstersandhighwaymenhemetontheroad.WhenKing Aegeus heard that, his old heart beat faster. Once in his youth he hadvisited Troezen and had been secretlymarried to PrincessAethra.He did notbringAethrabacktoAthenswithhim,butbeforeheleft,hesaidtoher,“Shouldyou bear me a son and should he grow up strong enough to lift this boulderunderwhichIhidemyswordandgoldensandals,sendhimtome,for thenhewillbetheworthyheirtothethroneofAthens.”KingAegeusinthosedayswasknownforhisgreatstrength.Theseus, the young hero, arrived in Athens andwent straight to the king’s

palace. Tall and handsome, he stood before Aegeus with the sandals and thesword,andthekingwasoverjoyed.Atlasthehadasonwhowasaheroaswell.ThekinghappilyproclaimedTheseus the rightfulheir to the throneofAthensandhebecametheheroofallAthenswhenheofferedtotaketheplaceofoneofthevictimswhoweretobesenttoCrete.OldKingAegeusbeggedhissonnottogo, but Theseus would not change his mind. “I shall make an end of theMinotaurandweshallreturnsafely,”hesaid.“Wesailwithblacksails,butwe

shallreturnwithwhitesailsasasignalofmysuccess.”Theshipsailed toCreteand the fourteenyoungAthenianswere locked ina

dungeontoawaittheirdoom.ButKingMinoshadalovelydaughter,Ariadne,asfairamaidenaseyescouldsee.Shecouldnotbear the thought thathandsomeTheseus should be sacrificed to the uglyMinotaur. Shewent toDaedalus andbeggedforhelptosavehim.HegaveAriadneamagicballofthreadandtoldherthatatmidnight,when theMinotaurwas fastasleep,shemust takeTheseus tothelabyrinth.Themagicballofthreadwouldrollaheadofhimthroughthemazeand lead him to themonster, and then itwas up toTheseus to overpower thebeast.Inthedarkofthenight,AriadnewenttoTheseus’prisonandwhisperedthat,

ifhewouldpromisetomarryherandcarryherawaywithhim,shewouldhelphim. Gladly Theseus gave his word, and Ariadne led him to the gate of thelabyrinth,tiedtheendofthethreadtothegatesohewouldfindhiswayback,andgavehimtheball.AssoonasTheseusputtheballofthreadontheground,itrolled aheadof him throughdark corridors, up stairs, down stairs, and aroundwindingpassageways.Holdingontotheunwindingthread,Theseusfolloweditwherever it led him, and before long he heard the thunderous snoring of theMinotaur,andthere,surroundedbyskullsandbleachedbones, laythemonsterfastasleep.

Theseussprangat theMinotaur. It roaredso loudly that thewholepalaceofCnossus shook, but the monster was taken by surprise, and so strong wasTheseusthat,withhisbarehands,hekilledthecruelMinotaur.TheseusquicklyfollowedthethreadbacktoAriadne,whostoodwatchatthe

gate.TogethertheyfreedtheotherAtheniansandrantotheirshipintheharbor.Beforetheysailed,theyboredholesinallofKingMinos’shipssohecouldnotpursue them.Ariadne urged them to hurry, for even she could not save themfromTalos,thebronzerobotwhoguardedtheisland.Ifheshouldseetheirshipleaving,hewould throwrocksat itandsink it.Shouldoneof themmanage toswimashore,Taloswouldthrowhimselfintoablazingbonfireuntilhewasredhot.Thenhewouldburn the survivor to ashes in a fieryembrace.Theycouldalreadyhearhis clanking steps,when just in time theyhoisted their sail andabriskwindblewthemouttosea.Intheirrushtheyforgottohoistthewhitesailofvictoryinsteadoftheblacksailofmourning.Theseus’heartwasfilledwithjoy.NotonlyhadhesavedtheAtheniansfrom

theMinotaur,hewasalsobringingabeautifulbridehometoAthens.ButinthemiddleofthenightthegodDionysusappearedtohimandspoke:“Iforbidyouto marry Ariadne. I myself have chosen her for my bride. You must set herashoreontheislandofNaxos.”Theseus couldnotoppose anOlympiangod.When they came toNaxos, he

orderedeveryonetogoashoreandrest.ThereAriadnefellintoaheavyslumber,andwhilesheslept,Theseusledtheothersbacktotheshipandtheysailedoffwithouther.

PoorAriadneweptbitterlywhensheawokeandfoundherselfdeserted.Little

didshesuspect that thehandsomestrangerwhocamewalking towardherwasthegodDionysusandthat itwashewhohadorderedTheseus toabandonher.Thegodgentlydriedhertearsandgaveheradrinkfromthecupinhishandandrightawaythesadnesslefther.Shesmiledupatthegodandheputacrownofsparklingjewelsonherheadandmadeherhisbride.Theylivedhappilytogetherformanyyearsandtheirsonsbecamekingsofthesurroundingislands.DionysuslovedAriadnegreatly,andwhenshediedheputherjeweledcrownintotheskyasaconstellationsoshewouldneverbeforgotten.Theseus, in his grief at having lostAriadne, again forgot to hoist thewhite

sail. When King Aegeus saw the black-sailed ship returning from Crete, hethrewhimselfintotheseaindespair.Theseus inherited his father’s throne and he and all ofAthensmourned the

lossoftheoldkingandinhishonornamedtheseainwhichhehaddrownedtheAegean.King Minos was beside himself with fury when he discovered that his

daughter had fled with the Athenians. He knew that no one but the brilliantDaedalus could have helped Theseus unravel themystery of the labyrinth, soDaedaluswaskept aprisoner in thepalaceand treatedveryharshly.Daedaluscouldnotbeartobelockedupandlethistalentsgotowaste.Secretlyhemadetwo sets ofwings, one pair for himself and one pair for his son, Icarus.Theywerecleverly fashionedof feathersset inbeeswax.Heshowedhissonhowtousethemandwarnedhimnottoflytoohighortheheatofthesunwouldmeltthewax.Thenheledhimuptothehighesttower,and,flappingtheirwings,theyflewoffliketwobirds.NeitherKingMinosnorTalos,therobot,couldstoptheirflight.Youngand foolish, Icaruscouldnot resist the temptation to riseeverhigher

intothesky;thewholeworldseemedathisfeet.Heflewtooclosetothesunandthewaxbegantomelt.Thefeatherscameloose,thewingsfellapart,andIcarusplungedintotheseaanddrowned.SadlyDaedalusflewonaloneandcametotheisland of Sicily. His fame had flown ahead of him and the King of Sicilywelcomedhimwarmly,forhetoowantedasplendidpalaceandbathroomswith

runningwater.

AssoonasKingMinos’shipsweremended,hesetoffinpursuitofDaedalus,thecunningcraftsman.Hesailedeastandhesailedwest,andwhenhecametotheSicilianshoreandsawthewondrouspalacegoingup,hehadnodoubtswhowasbuildingit.ButthekingofSicilyhidDaedalusanddeniedthathehadhimin his service. Slyly KingMinos sent a conch shell up to the palace, with amessagethat,ifanyonecouldpullathreadthroughthewindingsoftheconch,hewouldgivehimasackofgoldasareward.TheKingofSicilyaskedDaedalustosolvetheproblem.Daedalusthoughtforawhile,thenhetiedasilkenthreadtoanant,puttheantatoneendoftheconchshellandabitofhoneyattheotherend.Theantsmelledthehoneyandfounditswaythroughtheconch,pullingthethread alongwith it.WhenKingMinos saw this, he demanded the immediatesurrenderofDaedalus,fornowhehadproofthattheKingofSicilywashidinghim.NobodybutDaedaluscouldhavethreadedtheconch!

TheKingofSicilyhadtogivein.HeinvitedMinostoafeast,promisingtosurrenderDaedalus.Aswasthecustom,KingMinostookabathbeforethefeast.But when he stepped into the fabulous bath that Daedalus had built, boilingwaterrushedoutofthetapandscaldedhimtodeath.AndDaedalusremainedfortherestofhislifeatthecourtoftheKingofSicily.AfterthedeathofKingMinostherewaspeacebetweenCreteandAthens,and

TheseusmarriedPhaedra,Ariadne’syoungersister.Hebecamethegreatestking

Athenseverhad,andhis fameasaherospreadalloverGreece.Anothergreathero, Pirithoüs, King of the Lapith people in northern Greece, was hisinseparablefriend.Thefirsttimethetwoheroeshadmet,theyfacedeachotherincombat.Buteachwassoimpressedbytheotherthatinsteadoffighting,theydropped theirweapons and swore eternal friendship. Together they performedmany great deeds, andwhen Pirithoüsmarried a Lapith princess, Theseus, ofcourse, was invited to the wedding feast. The centaurs were invited too, forthough wild and lawless they were nonetheless distant relatives. At first theybehavedquitemannerly,butasthewinejugswerepassedaround,theybecameboisterousandrowdy.Suddenlyayoungcentaursprangup,graspedthebridebythehair,andgallopedawaywithher.Atthat,theothercentaurseachgraspedascreaminggirlandtooktothehills.

TheseusandPirithoüswiththeirmensetoffinswiftpursuitandsooncaughtupwiththecentaurs.Therewasabrutalbattle,forthewildcentaurstoreupbigtrees and swung them as clubs. But in Theseus and Pirithoüs they had foundtheirmasters.TheywerechasedoutofGreece,and thevictoriousheroes,with

thebrideandtheotherLapithgirls,returnedtothefeast.

Pirithoüslivedhappilyforawhile,thenhebecameawidowerandaskedhisfriendTheseus to help himwin a newbride.Theseus vowed to help him, butshudderedwhenheheardthatPirithoüswantednoonelessthanPersephone,thequeen of the dead. Shewas unhappywithHades, he said. Since Theseus hadpromisedtohelphisfriend,andapromisecouldnotbebroken,hedescendedtotheunderworldwithPirithoüs.TheyforcedtheirwaypastCerberusandenteredthegloomypalace.Hadesgloweredatthetwoheroes,whohaddaredtoenterhisrealm,buthelistenedpolitelywhiletheystatedtheirerrand.“Sitdownonthatbench,”hesaid,“sowecandiscussthematter.”GrimHadessmiledasthetwofriendssatdown,for itwasamagicbenchfromwhichnoonecouldeverrise.Theretheyweretositforeverwithghostsandbatsflittingabouttheirheads.A long time laterHeracles came toHades on an errand, and pitied the two

heroestryingvainlytogetupfromthebench.HetookholdofTheseusandtorehim loosewithamighty tug.Butwhenhe tried to freePirithoüs therecamealoud earthquake. The gods did not allowHeracles to set him free, for he hadshown too great irreverence by daring towant a goddess for a wife. TheseusreturnedtoAthenswiserbutthinner,forapartofhimhadremainedstucktothebench.Eversince,theAthenianshavehadleanthighs.

OEDIPUS

ONEDAYablindoldmancametoTheseusandaskedforpermissiontostayinhiskingdomanddieinpeace.Noonedaredlethimstayintheircountry,forhewaspursuedbytheavengingfuries,theErinyes.Homelesshewanderedabout.Theoldman,whosenamewasOedipus,thentoldTheseushissadstory.His misfortunes had started before he was born. His father, King Laius of

Thebes,hadbeentoldbytheoracleofDelphithatthechildhisqueen,Jocasta,wascarryingwasfatedtokillhisfatherandmarryhismother.Thismustneverhappen,thoughttheking,sowhenOedipuswasbornheorderedaservanttotakethe child away and abandon him in the mountains. But destiny had willed itdifferently. A shepherd from the neighboring kingdom of Corinth heard thechild’scries.Hepickedupthelittleboyandcarriedhimtohisking.TheKingandQueen of Corinth were childless and happily they adopted the handsomelittleboy.They lovedhimdearlyandheneverknewthathewasnot their realson.Without a care in the world he grew to manhood, and one day went toDelphitofindwhatthefuturehadinstoreforhim.Greatwashishorrorwhenheheardthewordsof theoracle!Hewasdestinedtokillhisfatherandmarryhismother.Thismustneverhappen,thoughtOedipus.Hetookdestinyinhisownhands

andfledacrossthemountains,nevertoseehisdearparentsagain.Onanarrowmountainpath,hemetthechariotofahaughtylord.“Giveway

forourmaster’schariot,”shoutedtheservants,andtriedtopushOedipusoffthepath. Angrily Oedipus fought back and in the struggle the lord and all hisservantswerekilled,exceptforonewhoescaped.OedipuscontinuedonhiswayandcametothecityofThebes.Butitssevengateswereclosed.Nobodydaredtoenteror leave, foramonster, theSphinx,hadsettledonacliff justoutside thecity wall. This winged monster with a woman’s head and a lion’s bodychallengedallwhopassedbytosolveherriddle.Iftheycouldn’t,shetorethem

topieces.NobodyyethadsolvedtheriddleoftheSphinx.“Whatcreature is it thatwalkson four feet in themorning,on twoatnoon,

and on three in the evening,” she asked with a sinister leer when she sawOedipus.

“Itisman,”Oedipusanswered.“Asachildhecrawlsonfour.Whengrown,hewalksuprightonhistwofeet,andinoldageheleansonastaff.”

TheSphinxletoutahorriblescream.Herriddlewassolvedandshehadlostherpowers.Indespairshethrewherselftoherdeath.ThegatesofThebesburstopen and the people crowded out to thank the stranger who had freed them.Theiroldkinghadrecentlybeenkilled,leavingnosontoinheritthethroneandwhen they heard that Oedipus was a prince from Corinth, they asked him tomarry theirwidowedqueenandbecome theirking.Tobe sure,Queen JocastawasmucholderthanOedipus,butshewasstillbeautiful,forsheworeamagicnecklace that the gods had givenHarmonia, the firstQueen ofThebes. Thosewhoworethatnecklacestayedyoungandbeautifulalltheirlives.ThusOedipusbecameKingofThebes,andheruledthecityjustlyandwiselyformanyyears.OnedaythenewsreachedhimthattheKingofCorinthhaddiedthepeaceful

deathofoldage,andwhilehemournedhisfather,hewasgladthathehadbeenspared from a terrible destiny. Shortly afterward, a pestilence broke out in

Thebesandpeoplediedingreatnumbers.Oedipussentforaseerandaskedhowhe could save his people. The pestilencewould last until the death of the oldkinghadbeenavenged,saidtheseer.Oedipussworethathewouldfindthemanwhohadkilledtheoldking,andputouthiseyes.HesenthismentosearchtilltheyfoundtheonesurvivingservantofKingLaius’party.WhenhewasbroughtbeforeKingOedipus,theservantrecognizedhimatonceastheslayeroftheoldking!Andnowthewhole terrible truthcameout, forhewasalso theselfsameservantwhohadabandonedtheinfantOedipusinthemountains,andhadknownallthewhilethatthechildhadbeenfoundandadoptedbytheKingofCorinth.IndespairQueenJocastawenttoherroomandtookherownlifeandOedipus

inhorrorputouthisowneyesandleftThebes,abrokenoldman.HisdaughterAntigonewentwithhim,and theywandered fromplace toplace, turnedawayfromeverycity,till,atlast,theycametoAthens.“Notcursedbutblessedwillbetheplacewhereyouliedownandcloseyour

eyes,” said Theseus when he had heard the story. “No man could have triedharderthanyoutoescapehisdestiny.”TheavengingErinyes,whohadbeenchasinghim,nowdroppedtheirwhips,

andOedipuscoulddieinpeace.Histwosons,EteoclesandPolynices,hadnoregardforthesufferingsoftheir

father.TheystayedinThebesandfoughtoverthethrone.Atlasttheyagreedtotaketurnsbeingking,oneyearatatime.EteoclesruledThebesfirst,andwhenhisyearwasupherefusedtogiveupthethrone.Polynices left Thebes in a rage, taking with him the magic necklace of

Harmonia,vowingtoreturnwithanarmyandtakehisrightfulthronebyforce.Hewenttohisfather-in-law,theKingofArgos,andtriedtopersuadehimto

send an army toThebes.Thekinghad an aging andveryvain sisterwhohadgreat influence over him. Polynices promised her the magic necklace ofHarmonia, which would make her young and beautiful again, if she couldpersuade her brother to go against Thebes. So great are the powers of a vainwomanthat,notonlytheKingofArgosandhismen,butsevenarmiesofbravemensetforthwithPolynicestostormthesevengatesofThebes,mostofthem

nevertoreturn.NeithercouldthesevenarmiesstormthesevengatesofThebes,norcouldthe

Thebansdrivetheattackersaway.Soitwasdecidedthatthetwobrothersshouldfightinsinglecombat,thewinnertobeking.Eteoclesgavehisbrotheramortalwound,butPolynices,beforehefell,dealt

himadeadlyblowinreturn.Sidebysidetheylaydeadonthefield,andallthebloodshedhadbeeninvain.ThesonofEteoclesbecameKingofThebes,andHarmonia’snecklace,which

had brought so much misfortune, was hung up in a temple in Delphi, so nowomanwouldeverwearitagain.

THEGOLDENFLEECE

THEMUSESSANGabouthandsomeJasonandhisquestfortheGoldenFleece.

JasonofIolcuswasasstrongandwellbredashewashandsome,forhehadbeenraisedbythewisecentaurChiron.Jason’sfatherhadbroughttheboytothecentaurandhadaskedhimtobringhimup,forhefearedthathisownbrother,Pelias,who had taken from him the throne of Iolcus,might harm his heir. InChiron’slonelymountaincaveyoungJasonwasraisedtobeahero,skilledinallmanly sports.Whenhewasgrownhe lefthis foster father togo to Iolcusandreclaimhisfather’sthrone.Hera,whowaspayingavisittoearth,sawthehandsomeyouthashewalked

downfromthemountain.Hisgoldenhairhung tohisshouldersandhisstrongbody was wrapped in a leopard skin. Hera was taken by his fine looks. Shequicklychangedherselfintoanoldcroneandstoodhelplesslyatthebrinkofaswollen streamas if shedidnotdare towadeacross. Jasonofferedpolitely tocarryherandliftedheronhisstrongshoulders.Hestartedtowadeandatfirstshewasvery light.Butwitheachstepshegrewheavier,andwhenhereachedmidstream,shewassoheavythathisfeetsankdeepintothemud.Helostoneofhissandals,butstruggledbravelyon,andwhenhereachedtheotherside,theoldcronerevealedherselfasthegoddessHera.“Lo,” she said. “You are amortal aftermy liking, I shall standbyyou and

helpyouwinbackyourthronefromyourunclePelias.”Thiswasapromisethegoddessgladlygave,forshehadagrudgeagainstPelias,whohadonceforgottentoincludeherwhenhesacrificedtothegods.Jason thanked her andwent on hisway in high spirits.When he arrived in

Iolcus, people crowded around him, wondering who the handsome strangermight be, but when King Pelias saw him, his cheeks paled. An oracle hadpredictedthatayouthwithonlyonesandalwouldbehisundoing.Peliasfeignedgreat friendship when Jason said who he was and why he had come, butunderneathhehelddarkthoughtsandplannedtodoawaywithhisguest.Pelias

feastedJasonandflatteredhimandpromisedhimthethroneassoonashehadperformedaheroicdeedtoprovehimselfworthyofbeingaking.“InthekingdomofColchis,attheshoresoftheBlackSea,”saidPelias,“ona

branch in a dark grove, there hangs a golden fleece shining as brightly as thesun.Bringthefleecetomeandthethroneshallbeyours.”TheGoldenFleecewasoncethecoatofaflyingram,sentbyZeustosavethe

lifeofyoungPrincePhrixusofThessaly.ThecropshadfailedandPhrixus’evilstepmother had convinced his father that hemust sacrifice his son to save hiscountryfromfamine.Sadlythekingbuiltanaltarandputhissononit,butZeushatedhuman sacrifice, and as theking liftedhis knife, a golden ram swoopeddownfromtheskiesandflewoffwithPhrixusonhisback.TheyflewfartotheeastandlandedinthekingdomofColchis.TheKingofColchisunderstoodthatPhrixushadbeen sentby thegods.Hegavehimhisdaughter inmarriageandsacrificedtheram.Itsglitteringfleecewashunginasacredgroveanditwasthegreatesttreasureofthecountry.KingPeliaswascertainthatJasonwouldnotreturnalive,forheknewthatthe

warlikekingofColchiswouldnotpartwiththefleeceandthatanever-sleepingdragonwasguardingit.ButPeliasdidnotknowthatJasonhadHera’shelp.“GivemetimberandmentobuildformeasturdyshipandIshallsailoffat

once,” said Jason.The king gave himwhat he asked for and a great ship, theArgo, was built. It was the most seaworthy ship ever seen. Athena, herselfproddedbyHera,putapieceofsacredoakinitsprow.TheoakhadthepowertospeakintimeofdangerandadviseJasonwhattodo.

WithashiplikethatitwasnothardforJasontogatheracrewofheroes.EvenHeraclescamewithhisyoungfriendHylas.CalaïsandZetes,wingedsonsoftheNorthWind,joined,andOrpheuscamealongtoinspirethecrewwithhismusic.SooneachofthefiftyoarsoftheshipwasmannedbyaherowhosworetostandbyJasonthroughalldangers.Before they set sail, the heroes who called themselves the Argonauts,

sacrificedrichlytothegodsandmadesuretoforgetnoone.Poseidonwasinagood mood. He called for the West Wind and under full sail the Argo spedtowardtheeast.Whenthewindgrewtiredanddieddown,theArgonautsputouttheiroarsandrowedwithalltheirmight.Orpheusbeatoutthetimewithhislyreandtheshipcutthroughthewaveslikeanarrow.Oneaftertheothertheheroesgrew tiredandpulled in theiroars.OnlyHeraclesandJasonwere left rowing,each trying to outlast the other. Jason finally fainted, but just as he slumpedforward,Heracles’hugeoarbrokeintwo,soequalglorywaswonbythemboth.TheArgonautslandedatawoodedcoastsoHeraclescouldcuthimselfanew

oar.WhileHeraclessearchedforasuitabletree,hisyoungfriendHylaswenttoapool to fill his jar with fresh water. When the nymph of the pool saw thehandsomeboybendingdown, she fell in lovewithhim.ShepulledhimdownwithhertothebottomofthepoolandHylasvanishedforeverwithoutleavingatrace.Heracleswentoutofhismindwithgriefwhenhecouldnotfindhisfriend.He

ranthroughthewoods,callingforHylas,beatingdownwhateverwasinhisway.TheArgonauts,braveastheywere,allfearedHeracleswhenhewasstruckwithfolly.Theyhastilyboardedtheshipandsailedawaywithouthim.OntowardtheeasttheArgonautssaileduntiltheycametoacountryruledby

akingwhowasknownforhisknowledgeandwisdom.TheywentashoretoaskthewaytoColchis,butthekingwassoweakthathecouldbarelyanswertheirquestions.Hewassothinthatonlyhisskinheldhisbonestogether.Wheneverfoodwassetbeforehim,threedisgustingHarpies,fatbirdswithwomen’sheads,swoopeddownanddevouredit.Whattheydidnoteattheyleftsofoulandfilthythat itwas not fit to be eaten.Noone in his kingdomcould keep theHarpies

away.

TheArgonautsfeltsorryforthestarvingking.Theytoldhimtohavehistableset,andwhentheHarpiesswoopeddownagain,ZetesandCalaïs,thesonsoftheNorthWind, took to their wings. They could fly faster than the Harpies, andwhen they caught them, they whipped the evil pests so hard that they barelyescapedwiththeirlives.TheHarpiesflewtothesouth,nevertobeseenagain.Atlastthefamishedkingcouldeatinpeace.HecouldnotthanktheArgonautsenough and told them how to set their course and what dangers they wouldencounter.NoshiphadyetbeenabletoreachtheshoresofColchis,hesaid,forthepassagetotheBlackSeawasblockedbytwomovingrocks.Therocksrolledapartandclashedtogether,crushingwhatevercamebetweenthem.Butifashipcouldmoveasfastasabirdinflight,itmightgetthrough.HegaveJasonadoveandtoldhimtosendthebirdaheadoftheship.Ifthedovecamethroughalive,theyhadachance,hesaid.Ifnot,theyhadbettergiveupandturnback.TheArgonauts took leave of the king and sailed toward the clashing rocks.

From afar they could hear the din and the heroes trembled, but as the rocksrolledapart,Jasonreleasedthedoveandthebirdflewbetweenthemlikeadart.Only thevery tips of its tail featherswere clippedoffwhen the rocks clashedtogether.“Allmentotheoars!”Jasonshouted.Orpheusgraspedhislyreandplayedand

hismusicinspiredtheheroestorowasneverbefore.TheArgoshotaheadlikean arrowwhen the rocks rolled apart, and only the very end of its stern wascrushedastheyclashedtogether.Againtherocksrolledapartandstoodfirmlyanchored.Thespellwasbroken,andfromthenonshipscouldsafelysailinandoutoftheBlackSea.TheBlackSeawasadangerousseatosailupon,andHerahadherhandsfull,

guidingtheArgonauts throughperils.ButwithherhelpJasonbroughthisshipsafely through raging storms, past pirate shores and cannibal island, and theArgonautsfinallyarrivedinColchis.Aeëtes, King of Colchis, a son of Helios, the sun, was a very inhospitable

king.Infacthewassoinhospitablethathekilledallforeignerswhocametohiscountry.WhenhesawtheArgolandinghewasfurious,andwhenJasonledhis

mentohispalaceandsaidthattheywereallgreatheroesandhadcometoofferthe king their services in return for the Golden Fleece, he fumed with rage.“Verywell,”hesaidtoJason.“Tomorrow,betweensunriseandsunset,youmustharnessmyfire-breathingbulls,plowupafield,andsowitwithdragon’steethasCadmusdidatThebes.Ifyousucceed,theGoldenFleeceisyours.Butifyoufail, Ishallcutout the tonguesandlopoff thehandsofyouandallyourgreatheroes.”KingAeëtes knewwell that noman couldwithstand the searingheatthat blew from the bulls’ nostrils.What he did not know was that Hera washelpingJason.Hera knew that the king’s daughter,Medea, who stood at her father’s side

withmodestlydowncasteyes,wastheonlyonewhocouldsaveJason.Shewasalovely young sorceress, a priestess of the witch-goddess Hecate, andmust bemadetofall inlovewithJason.SoHeraaskedAphroditetosendherlittlesonErostoshootoneofhisarrowsofloveintoMedea’sheart.AphroditepromisedErosabeautifulenamelball,andheshotanarrowintoMedea’sheartjustasshelifteduphereyesandsawJason.Hergoldeneyesgleamed;neverhadsheseenanyonesohandsome.Shejusthadtousehermagicandsavehimfromhercruelfather; there was nothing she would not do to save Jason’s life. She went toHecate’stempleandimploredthewitch-goddesstohelpherand,guidedbythewitch-goddess,sheconcoctedamagicsalvesopowerfulthatforonedayneitherironnorfirecouldharmtheonewhowascoveredwithit.Inthedarkofthenight,MedeasentforJason.Whenhecametothetemple,

sheblushinglytoldhimthatshelovedhimsomuchshewouldbetrayherownfather tosavehim.Shegavehimthemagicsalveandtoldhimtogoupto thefire-breathingbullswithoutfear.Jasontooktheyoungsorceressinhisarmsandswore by all the gods ofOlympus tomake her his queen and love her to hisdyingday.Heraheardhimandnodded,verypleased.Whenthesunroseinthemorning,Jasonwentstraightuptothefire-breathing

bulls.Theybellowedandbelchedflamesathim,butwithMedea’ssalvehewasinvulnerableandsostrongthatheharnessedthebullsanddrovethembackandforth till thewhole fieldwas plowed. Then he seeded the dragon’s teeth, and

rightawayahostofwarriorssprangupfromthefurrows.AsCadmushaddone,hethrewarockamongthemandwatchedfromafarastheykilledoneanother.Beforethesunhadset,theyalllaydead.Jasonhadfulfilledhis task,butKingAeëteshadnointentionofkeepinghis

part of the bargain.He called hismen together and ordered them to seize theArgo andkill the foreignersatdaybreak. Insecrecy,Medeawent toJasonandtoldhimthathemusttaketheGoldenFleece,nowrightfullyhis,andfleefromColchisbeforedawn.UndercoverofnightsheledhimtothedarkgrovewheretheGoldenFleece,shininglikethesun,hungonabranchofatree.Aroundthetrunk of the tree lay coiled the never-sleeping dragon. But Medea chantedincantationsandbewitchedthedragon.Shestaredatitwithhergoldeneyesandit fell into a deepmagic sleep.Quickly Jason took theGoldenFleece and ranwithMedeatothewaitingArgo,andquietlytheyslippedouttosea.

Atdaybreak,whentheking’smenweretoattacktheship,theyfounditwasgone. So were the Golden Fleece and the king’s daughter,Medea. Red-facedwithfury,AeëtessetoffinpursuitwithhisgreatfleetofColchianwarships.Hewanted the Golden Fleece back and he wanted to punish his daughter. Thefastestofhisships,steeredbyoneofhissons,soonovertooktheArgo.TheArgonautsthoughtthemselveslost,butagainMedeasavedthem.Shecalledtoherbrother,whostoodatthehelmofhisship,andpretendedto

be sorry forwhat she had done. She said shewould go homewith him if hewouldmeet her alone on a nearby island.At the same time, shewhispered toJasontolieinwaitandkillherbrotherwhenhecame.Sheknewthatherfatherwouldhavetostopthepursuittogivehissonafuneral.Hera and all thegods looked inhorror atMedea, stainedwithherbrother’s

blood.Nomortalcouldcommitaworsecrimethantocausethedeathofhisownkin.Zeusinangerthrewthunderbolts.Lightningflashed,thunderroared,andtheseafoamed.ThenthesacredpieceofoakinthebowoftheArgospoke.“Woe,”itsaid,“woetoyouall.NotaoneamongyouwillreachGreeceunlessthegreatsorceressCirceconsentstopurifyMedeaandJasonoftheirsin.”Tossedaboutbyhowlingwindsandtoweringwaves,theArgonautssailedin

search ofCirce’s dwelling.At long last, off the coast of Italy, they found herpalace. Medea warned the Argonauts not to leave the ship, for Circe was adangerous sorceress who amused herself by changing men who came to herislandintotheanimalnearestthenatureofeachman.Somebecamelions,somerabbits,butmostofthemwerechangedintopigsandasses.MedeatookJasonbythehandsonoharmwouldbefallhim,andwentashore.

CircewasMedea’saunt.LikeallthedescendantsofHelios,thesun,shehadagoldenglintinhereyes,andthemomentshesawMedea,sherecognizedherasherkin.Butshewasnothappytoseeherniece,forthroughhermagicsheknewwhatMedeahaddone.Still she consented to sacrifice toZeus and askhim toforgive Medea and Jason for their crime. The scented smoke of her burntofferingofsweetmeatsandcakesreachedZeusandputhiminagoodhumor.HelistenedtoCirce’swordsandagainsmileddownuponMedeaandJason.TheythankedCirceandrushedbacktotheship.TheArgonautsrejoiced.Now

theycouldsetsailforGreece.Butstilltheyhadtopassthroughdangerousandbewitchedwaters.Soontheycameto the islandof theSirens.TheSirenswerehalfbirds,halfwomen,notloathsomeliketheHarpies,butenchantingcreatures.They sat on a cliff, half hidden by sea spray, and sang so beautifully that allsailorswho heard them dived into the sea and tried to swim to them, only todrownorpinetodeathattheSirens’feet.WhenthealluringvoicesoftheSirensreachedtheearsoftheArgonauts,Orpheusgraspedhislyreandsangsoloudlyand sweetly that all other sounds were drowned out, and not one of theArgonautsjumpedoverboard.

AfterawhiletheArgohadtosailthroughanarrowstraitthatwasguardedbytwomonsters. On one side lurked themonster Scylla. From herwaist up shelooked like awoman, but instead of legs, six furious, snarling dogs grew outfromherhips,andtheytoretopieceswhatevercameclosetothem.Themonster

Charybdis lived on the other side of the strait. She was forever hungry andsuckedintohergulletallshipsthatventuredwithinherreach.Helplessly, the Argo drifted between the two monsters, and the Argonauts

againgavethemselvesupforlost,whenupfromthebottomofthesearosetheplayfulNereids.TheyhadcomeatHera’sbiddingand they liftedup theArgoand threw it fromhand tohandover thedangerouswatersuntil it reached theopen sea beyond. Poseidon called for the West Wind and the Argo spedhomewardunderfullsail.A loudcheer rangout fromthevaliantcrewwhen theysighted theshoreof

Greece.Theyhadbeenawayformanylongyearsandwerehomesick.ButastheArgonearedtheportofIolcus,theshipwashailedbyafishermanwhowarnedJason thatKingPeliashadheardofhis safe returnandhadmadeplans tokillhim.Jasonwasdowncastathisuncle’streachery,butMedea,hereyesflashing,askedtobesetashorealone.Onceagainshewantedtosavehislife.Disguisedasanoldwitch,sheenteredIolcus,sayingthatshehadmagicherbs

tosellthatwouldmakeoldcreaturesyoungagain.Thepeoplecrowdedaroundher,wondering fromwhere thewitchhadcome.KingPeliashimselfcameoutfromhispalaceandaskedhertoprovethatwhatshesaidwastrue,forhefelthewasgrowingold.“BringmetheoldestraminyourflockandIwillshowyouthemagicofmy

herbs,”saidMedea.Anoldramwasbroughttoherandsheputitintoacaldronfullofwater.On

top she sprinkled some of her magic herbs, and lo! the water in the caldronboiledandoutofthesteamandbubblessprangafriskyyounglamb.NowKing Pelias askedMedea tomake him young too. She answered that

onlyhisdaughterscoulddothat,butshewouldgladlysellthemhermagicherbs.Buttheherbsshegavethemhadnomagicatall,andsoKingPeliasfoundhisdeathintheboilingcaldronathisowndaughters’hands.Now the throne of Iolcus was Jason’s, but again Medea had committed a

terriblecrime.Shehadtrickedinnocentdaughters intokillingtheirownfather.Thegodsturnedfromherandshechangedfromalovelyyoungsorceressintoan

evilwitch.Thepeopleof Iolcusrefused toaccepther for theirqueenand tookanotherkinginJason’sstead.Withthelossofhisthrone,JasonalsolosthisloveforMedea.Heforgotthathehadsworntolovehertillhisdyingdayandthatshehadcommittedhercrimesforhissake.HeaskedhertoleavesohecouldmarrythePrincessofCorinthandinheritherfather’skingdom.Medea,scornedandfurious,turnedmoreandmoretoevilsorcery.Torevenge

herselfonJason,shesentamagicrobetohisnewbride.Itwasabeautifulgown,butthemomentthebrideputitonshewentupinflamesandsodidthewholepalace.ThenMedeadisappearedintoadarkcloud,ridinginacarriagedrawnbytwodragons.

Jasonfoundnomorehappiness,forwhenhebrokehissacredoathtoMedea,he lostHera’s goodwill.His good looks left him and so did his luck and hisfriends.Lonesomeandforgotten,hesatonedayintheshadeofhisoncegloriousship,theArgo,nowrottingonthebeachofCorinth.Suddenlythesacredpieceofoakintheprowbrokeoff,fellonhim,andkilledhim.

TheGoldenFleecewashunginApollo’s temple inDelphi,awonderforallGreekstobeholdandareminderofthegreatdeedsofJasonandtheArgonauts.

THECALYDONIANBOARHUNT

MELEAGERofCalydoniawasoneoftheheroeswhohadsailedwithJasonontheArgo.No one could throw a spearwith greater skill than he. Still hewaspowerless to stop a fearful boar that was ravaging his father’s kingdom. Theking,oneday,hadforgottentoincludeArtemiswhenhesacrificedtothegods,andinrevengetheangrygoddesssentthebiggestboareverseen.Theboarhadtusksasbigasanelephant’sandbristlesassharpassteel.MeleagersentfortheArgonauts and all the great athletes of Greece and asked them to come toCalydoniaandhuntdownthemonstrousbeast.GreatgloryawaitedtheonewhocoulddestroytheCalydonianBoar.Manyheroescametothehunt,andalsoagirlwhosenamewasAtalanta.She

wasthefastestrunnerinGreeceandagreathuntressaswell.Whensomeofthemengrumbledathuntingwithagirl,Meleagerruledthatagirlwhocouldoutrunthemallwouldcertainlybewelcometojointhechase.Stillgrumbling,themenhadtogivein.For days the heroes feasted at theCalydonian court.Then they offered rich

sacrificestothegodsandwentofftothehunt.Theydrovetheboaroutofitslair,andasitcharged,spearsandarrowsflewwild.Whenthedustsettled,sevenmenlay dead, some killed by the boar, some by the arrows of their excitedcompanions.Atalantaalonekeptacoolhead.Sheranswiftlyhitherandthithertillshecouldtakegoodaim,andthensheletanarrowfly.Thearrowstoppedtheboar just in time to save the life of a herowho had stumbled in front of theonrushingbeast.QuicklyMeleagerleapedforwardandhurledhisspearwithallhismight.Thebeastrolledoverandlaydead.MeleagerofferedthehideandthetuskstoAtalanta.Thesetrophieswerehers,

hesaid,foritwasshewhostoppedtheboar.Againthemenprotested,forithurttheirpridetoseeagirlwalkoffwithalltheglory.Meleager’stwounclesteasedhimandsaidthathemustbeinlovewiththegirl.“Justwaittillyourwifefindsoutaboutthis!”theysaid,smilingmaliciously.

InarageMeleagerhurledhisspearathistauntinguncles,killingthemboth.WhenMeleager’smotherheardthathersonhadslainhertwobrothers,she,too,flewintoarage.Sherantohertreasurechestandtookoutahalf-charredlog.ItwasamagiclogthatheldMeleager’slife.ThisloghadbeenburninginthehearthwhenMeleagerwasborn.Thethree

Fateshadcometoseetheinfant,andthemotherhadoverheardthemsayitwasapity that the handsome child would die as soon as the log had burned up.Quicklythemotherhadseizedthelog,beatenouttheflames,andhadhiddenitamongherdearesttreasures.ThusMeleagerhadlivedtobecomeagreathero.Nowinherfury,thequeenflungtheolddrylogintothefire.Asitburstinto

flamesandwasconsumed,Meleagerfeltasearingpainshootthroughhisbodyandfelldead.The Calydonian Boar Hunt, which had begun with a feast, ended with a

funeral.OnlyAtalantawashappy.ShehadwonhertrophiesincompetitionwiththegreatestheroesofGreece.

THEAPPLESOFLOVEANDTHEAPPLEOFDISCORD

ATALANTA, likeArtemis, lovednomen, thoughmanymen fell in lovewithherbecauseshewassogracefulwhensheran.Whenshewasbornherfatherhadcruellyabandonedherinthewilderness,for

hehadhopedforason.Butshedidnotperish,forashe-bearheardhercriesandcarriedhergentlytoherden,nursedher,andraisedherwithhercubs.Yearslater,anastonishedhuntsmansawagirlracingwithwildbeaststhrough

thewoods.Hecaughtherinasnareandbroughtherhomewithhim.Soonshelearnedtotalkandactlikeahuman,andherfosterfatherwasveryproudofherfleetnessof foot.He tookher toathleticgamesandshewonall the races.HerfamespreadoverGreece,andnowherrealfatherproudlyreclaimedherashislong-lostdaughter.Hewasakingandaking’sdaughtercouldnotbeallowedtorunaboutunmarried,sohebegan tosearchforasuitablehusbandforher.ButAtalantadidnotwantahusband.Tobe left inpeace, shesaidshewouldonlymarryamanwhocouldbeatherinarunningrace.However,anyonewhoracedherandlostwouldforfeithislife.Thatwouldscareallsuitorsaway,shethought.Butshewassolovelythatmanysuitorstriedtheirluckanywayandtheyalllost

theirlives.OnedayayoungprincewhosenamewasMelanioncametocourther.Hewas

smarter than the others. He knew that he could not outrun Atalanta, so hesacrificed to Aphrodite and prayed for her help. The goddess of love, whowanted to see all pretty girlsmarried, gaveMelanion three golden apples andtoldhimwhattodo.Whentheracebegan,Atalanta,certainthatshewouldwin,letMelanionhave

aheadstart.Whenshecaughtupwithhim,Melanionthrewagoldenappleatherfeet. It glittered so beautifully that she had to stop and pick it up. Soon sheovertookhimagainandMelanionthrewthesecondapple,thistimeabitfartheraway.She left the trackandmadeadash for theapple.WhenagainMelanionheardherlightfootstepsbehindhim,hethrewthethirdapplefarintothebushes.Atalanta just had to have that one too, and before she found it,Melanion hadcrossedthefinishline.SohehadwonherandtheyweremarriedandAtalantatreasured her golden apples and loved her clever husband dearly. They livedhappily formanyyearsandnever forgot tohonorAphrodite,whohadbroughtthem together. But they did not show proper respect to Zeus and he changedthemintoapairof lions forpunishment.For the restof their lives they ranaslionshuntingsidebysidethroughthewoods.Peleus,ayoungkingofThessaly,hadAtalantatothankforhislife,foritwas

hewhohadstumbledinfrontoftheCalydonianBoarwhenshestoppeditwithherarrow.Hehadalsobeenoneof theArgonautsandwasoneof thegreatestathletes in Greece, a favorite of the gods. Zeus gave him a beautiful Nereid,Thetis,forhisbride,andallthegodscametothewedding.OnlyEris,thespiritof strife, had not been invited. She was furious, and while everybody wasmakingmerry she threw a golden apple among the guests and shouted, “Thefairestofthegoddessesshallhaveit!”Hera,Aphrodite, andAthena rushed topick itup, eachone thinkingherself

thefairest.ItwasnotagoldenappleoflovethatErishadthrown,buttheappleofdiscord,andthe threegoddessesbegantoquarrelaboutwhoshouldhaveit.The wedding broke up on a sour note, and in heated dispute the goddesses

retiredtohighOlympus.Thetis,thebride,wasnothappyatbeingmarriedtoamortal,forherchildren

wouldnotbeimmortal,asshewas.Nogodhaddaredtomarryher,foranoraclehadpredictedthatshewouldbearherhusbandasonwhowouldbecomegreaterthanhisfather.Peleus,ofcourse,thoughthimselfthemostfortunateofmen.In time, Thetis bore her husband many children. Trying to make them

immortal,sheheldthemoversacredfiretoburnawaytheirmortality,butnonesurvivedtheordeal.Atlast,shegavebirthtoaboysturdierthantheothers.Hewithstoodthefire,andshehadalmostsucceededinmakinghimimmortal,whenPeleusrushedintoherroomandsnatchedthechildaway.Thetiswassohurtanddisappointedthatshewentbacktotheseaandneverreturned.ThelittleboywasbroughtupbyChiron, thewisecentaur,andhegrewtobethegreatestwarriorthatGreecehaseverknown.Hewasinvulnerableexceptforhisheelbywhichhismotherheldhimoverthefire.HisnamewasAchilles.Meanwhile discord reigned onOlympus. The three goddesses quarreled on,

andnoneofthegodsdaredtosaywhichofthemwasthefairest.One day as Zeus looked down on earth, his eyes fell on Paris, a prince of

Troy.Hewasoverwhelminglyhandsome,asweremostmenintheroyalhouseofTroy.Hisgrand-uncleGanymedewassuchagood-lookingboythatZeus,intheshapeofaneagle,hadstolenhimfromhisfatherandcarriedhimtoOlympusto be his cupbearer. Anchises, another relative of Paris, was so exceedinglyhandsomethatAphroditeherselffellinlovewithhim.ShetookontheshapeofaprincesssoshecouldmarryhimandborehimasonwhosenamewasAeneas.ButParisoutshoneallhisrelatives,andsomeoneashandsomeashemustbe

the best judge of beauty, thought Zeus. He told Hermes to lead the threegoddesses down to Mount Ida near Troy, where Paris was herding the royalsheepandcows,andletParisjudgebetweenthem.Parisstaredinspeechlesswonderwhenthethreeradiantgoddessesappeared

beforehim.Hermesgavehimthegoldenappleandtoldhimtoawardit to themostbeautifulofthem.“Give it to me,” said white-armed Hera, “and all of Asia shall be your

kingdom.”“Chooseme,”saidgray-eyedAthena,“andyoushallbethewisestofmen.”“Themostbeautifulwomanonearthshallbeyoursifyougivemetheapple,”

saidAphrodite.Paris was young and loved beautymore than power or wisdom, and so he

gavetheappletoAphrodite.Aphroditehappilytookthegoldenapple,anddidnotgiveitathoughtthatthe

mostbeautifulwomanonearth,Helen,QueenofSparta,alreadyhadahusband.

LOVELYwasthesongof theMusesabout thegreatbeautyofHelenofTroy.ShewasadaughterofZeusandherbeautyhadbeenawonder toall fromthetime she was born. Zeus in the disguise of a swan had flown down fromOlympustocourthermother,Leda,andLedahadlaidtwoblueeggs.Whentheeggswerehatched,Helenandherbrother,Pollux,cameoutfromoneof them.Theywere the children ofZeus and immortal. From the other egg came theirhalf sister and brother, Clytemnestra and Castor, children of Leda’s mortalhusband,KingTyndareus.Castor andPolluxwere inseparable from the time theywereborn, andboth

grewuptobegreatathletes.Castorwonfameasatamerofhorses,Polluxasaboxer.Theyprotectedeachothertothelastbreath.Whensidebysidetheyfellin battle, Pollux went to Olympus, while Castor, being mortal, was sent toHades.TheymissedeachothersomuchthatZeustookpityonthem.HeallowedPolluxtogivehisbrotherhalfofhisimmortalityandfromthenontheHeavenlyTwins always stayed together, half the time on Olympus, the other half inHades’realm.Thetwosisters,HelenandClytemnestra,grewupatthecourtoftheirmortal

father, King Tyndareus. Clytemnestra soon was given in marriage toAgamemnon, the greatKing ofMycenae.ButHelen had somany suitors that

Tyndareusdidnotknowwhomtochoose.Hefearedthatifhegaveherhandtoonethecrowdofrejectedsuitorswouldfalluponhim.HispalacewasbesiegedbyHelen’s admirers andevermorecame.Among themwasOdysseus, awiseyoung prince.When he saw all the suitors, he withdrew his proposal, for heknew that there would always be fighting over a woman as lovely as Helen.Instead he asked for the hand of her gentle cousin, Penelope, and he advisedKingTyndareushowtosolvehisproblem.HemustaskallthesuitorstoaccepttheonehechoseforHelen’shusbandandsweartostandbyandhelptowinherbackshouldanyonetrytostealher.Thesuitorsagreed.Eachonehopedthatthechoice would fall on him, and they all took the oath. Tyndareus then gaveHelen’s hand to Menelaus of Sparta, and all the other suitors left withoutgrumbling.HelenhadbeentheQueenofSpartaformanyhappyyearsandherfameasthe

mostbeautifulwomanonearthhad spreadall over,whenAphroditepromisedher to Paris. The Trojans begged Paris to forget Aphrodite’s promise, or aterriblemisfortunewould surely befall them.But Paris ignored theirwarningsandsailedacrosstheAegeanSea,tostealHelenfromKingMenelausandbringherbacktoTroy.Helensatsereneandhappy,surroundedbyherladies,weavingandsewingher

finestwools,whenParisenteredthepalaceinSparta.Justasshelookedupandsawhim,Erosshotanarrowof love intoherheart.Shegatheredher treasureswithouthesitationandelopedwithhimforTroy.Abriskwindcarriedthemouttosea,butbeforetheyhadsailedfar,thewine-

darkwatersgrewglassyandcalm,andNereus,thekindoldmanofthesea,rosefromthedepths.Hewarned themto returnordirewoewouldbefall themandtheirkin.ButHelenandParishadeyesandearsonlyforeachotheranddidnothearhiswarning.They landed inTroyand theTrojansreceivedherwithgreat joy,proud that

themostbeautifulwomanonearthwasnowHelenofTroy.ButMenelauswasnotamantostandidlyby,whetherornothisqueenhad

beenpromised toParisbyagoddess.HeremindedHelen’soldsuitorsof their

oath.Theyjoinedhimwithalltheirwarriors,anditwasnotlongbeforeahugeGreekfleetarrivedinTroytofetchHelenbacktoSparta.TheTrojansrefusedtogiveHelenup,andTroywashard toconquer, for itwassurroundedbyahighwallbuiltbyApolloandPoseidon.Afterlongtalks,itwasdecidedthatParisandMenelausshouldfightinsinglecombatandHelenwouldgotothewinner.Pariswas no warrior. He preferred to rest on silken pillows and gaze into Helen’sbeautiful eyes. ButAphrodite came to his rescue and hid him in a cloud andsinceMenelauscouldnot findhisopponent, theduelwasundecided.Then thetwoarmiesclashedtogether.For ten longyears, theGreeksand theTrojansfoughtoverHelen.Thegods

watchedwithgreatinterestandeventookpartinthefightingthemselves.Hera,angrywithParisfornotgivingtheappletoher,foughtfortheGreeks.WiseandjustAthenawasalsoannoyedwithParis,soeventhoughshewasprotectressofTroy,shefoughtfortheGreeks.Aresfoughtwhereverthebattlewashottest,andwhenhehimselfwaswounded,hefrightenedbotharmieswithhishowls.SweetAphroditeherselfenteredtheragingbattletohelpherdarlingParisandshealsowaswounded.“Enough!”calledZeus,andheorderedall thegodstowithdrawfromthebattle.TheysatonthewallsofTroyandwatchedthemortalsdecidetheoutcomeforthemselves.Many great heroes fell on both sides, but the Greeks could not storm the

mightywallsofTroyandtheTrojanscouldnotputtheGreekstoflightaslongasAchilles, the invulnerablesonofThetis, fought for them.ThoughPariswasnogreatmarksman,fatehadchosenhimtoslaythegreatheroAchilles.Apollo,unseenbytheothergods,rantoParis’ssideandguidedhishandashedrewtauthis bow. The arrow struck Achilles in the heel, his only vulnerable spot.Mortallywounded,hefelltotheground.TheGreeksmournedgreatlythelossoftheirheroAchilles,and took their revengeonParis.Hefell,piercedbyoneofthepoisonedarrowsthatHeracleshadgiventoPhiloctetes.Shortly afterward, the Greeks broke camp, boarded their ships, and sailed

away.Theyleftontheshorealargewoodenhorse.TheTrojansthoughttheyhadfinallyroutedtheGreeks,andintriumph,theypulledthehorseintotheircityas

atrophy.ButthehorsewashollowandfilledwithGreekwarriors.Inthedarkofthenight,theycreptoutandopenedwidethecitygates.ThewilyGreekshadnotleft,buthadbeenhidingbehindanisland.NowtheycamepouringintothecityandproudTroywasdestroyed.HelenwasbroughtbacktoSpartaintriumphtositamongherladiesaslovely

asever,embroideringinlavenderandpurplethreadsonthefinestwools.

OftheroyalhouseofTroynoonebutAphrodite’ssonAeneas,hisfather,andhisyoungsonremained.Thegoddessreturnedtotakethemoutofthesmokingruinsandleadthemtosafety.

Aeneas wandered from land to land, till at last he came to Italy, where hefoundedakingdom.Thegodslookedonhimwithfavor,foritwasfatedthathisdescendantsshouldbuildthemightycityofRome.

Soitcametopass!TheRomansbuilthugetemplestotheOlympiangods,notsobeautiful as theGreekones,butmuchmore luxurious, and thegloryof thegodsbecamegreaterthanever.TheyweregivenRomannamesinsteadoftheirGreekones,buttheywerestillthesamegodsanditisundertheirRomannamesthatweknowthembesttoday.

EVERYTHINGmustcometoanend,andsodid theruleofZeusand theotherOlympiangods.All that is left of their gloryon earth are broken temples andnoblestatues.AlsotheMusesfellsilent,buttheirsongsliveontothisveryday,andtheconstellationsputupbythegodsstillglitteronthedarkbluevaultofthesky.

AFTERWORD

WhenIngriandEdgarParind’AulairewerefirstapproachedbyPeggyLesser,theireditoratDoubleday,aboutcreatingabookonclassicalGreekmythologyfor young people, the happy thoughtwas that theymight collaboratewith thewriterRobertGraves.Thefamouspoet,novelist,critic,andscholarhaddrawninternationalacclaimfortwoofhisbooksaboutthemythologiesoftheancientworld—TheWhiteGoddess(1948)andTheGreekMyths(1955).The d’Aulaires, too, were fascinated withmythology and its close relative,

folklore.Elementsoffolkloreandlegendhadappearedinanumberofthebookstheyhadwrittenandillustratedduringthe1930sand’40s,especiallyworkslikeLeif the Lucky and others that drew on traditional customs and lore ofScandinavian culture. They had also begun what would become a series ofpicture book biographies of iconic American heroes, such as GeorgeWashington,BenjaminFranklin,andChristopherColumbus.Bythe late1950s, thed’Aulaireshadtwenty-threebooks to theircredit,and

theywereeagertodiscusstheideaofacollectionofGreekmythswithGraves.LikeGraves, theywerewellknown, though theyoccupiedadifferent, smallerorbit—theAmerican children’s bookworld.Theyhad received the prestigiousCaldecottMedalin1940fortheirbiographyofAbrahamLincoln,andtheirotherluminous picture bookswere highly praised. Their unique artistic style was ablendofmodernabstractimagesandtraditionalfolkmotifs,andtheirinnovativeuseofcolorlithographygavetheirpicturesarichlytexturedhand-drawnlook.

Anearlycoversketch.Eventhoughthed’AulairesreplacedPrometheuswithPhaëthononthefinalcover,thebasicelementswerealreadyinplace:largetypeontop,amaincentralimage,andabandoffiguresacrossthebottom.Thissketch

ofPrometheusfounditswayintothefinalbookintheimageonpage73.

PeggyLesser’s pitch to the d’Aulaires about collaboratingwithGraves hadbeen extravagantly optimistic. When the d’Aulaires contacted him about theprojectinMarch1957,theyquotedherassaying“thebookwouldbeaclassicthatwouldoutliveHawthorne’smythsinnouncertainterms.Infact,wesuspectit would keep you all comfortably in your old age.” (Lesser was referring toNathanielHawthorne’spioneeringcollectionofGreekmyths, the1851volumeAWonderBookforGirlsandBoys.)Thed’AulairesvisitedGravesandhisfamilyontheislandofMajorca,inthe

Mediterranean, “so we could look at each other and talk things over.” TheyknewandadmiredGraves’sworkandwerehopefulabout theproject—uptoapoint. They acknowledged from the outset that their idea for the book “was

neveracollectionofmythswithourillustrations,butapersonalapproachandatrytomakethegods,thehalfgods,thedemonsandthewoodspritescomealivefor children.”But theyhurried to add that they “would feel veryhonoured, toworktogetherwithyou—andbetweenuswemightworkoutawaythatwouldgiveusallfreedomofexpression—orwemightnot—fromyoursideorours.”

Thed’AulaireswithRobertGraves(center)ontheislandofMajorca

Over thenext severalyears,which includedanumberofvisits, the familiesbecame friends and even had an incident that became a cherished d’Aulairefamilystory:Oneevening,Graveswashavingdinnerwiththed’Aulairesintheirrented house in Geneva, Switzerland, where they were taking one of theirfrequentworkingvacationsinEuropetorechargetheircreativespirits.Astheywererelaxingafterthemeal,Gravessatbackinaneasychairand,indoingso,tippedoverafloorlamp.Theshadefromthelampfellontohishead.Accordingto the d’Aulaires’ son Nils, it was “your classic party joke, except it wasn’tintendedasajokeatall.Myfatherwaslaughingsohardthattearsrolleddownhischeek,andhegrabbedsomepaperandcharcoalandquicklysketchedGraves

sittinginaneasychairwithalampshadeoverhisface.”NilsremembershearingfromhisparentsthatGraveswasnotatallamusedat

beingthesubjectofthe“joke.”Still,theprojectmovedahead.Gravesgavethed’Aulairesamanuscript for thebook,and theyworkedon theprojectover thenextfewyears.Intheend,though,theywrotetoGravesin1959tosaythatthey“werenotabletomakeyoursandourversionoftheGreekstoriesintoonegreatbook.”AstheycandidlytoldGraves,“Allwesucceededinwastowastetime,atleastayearofourlives,whicharesoshortanyway,andtomakeamixmashinwhich our two versions killed each other.” With their wry, acerbic wit, theycommiserated with Graves, “Well, there goes our common great dream ofsecurityinouroldage,asDoubledaysooptimisticallyprophesized,butwestillfeel that it is better to sacrifice the security of our old age to the joy in ourwork.”

Thed’AulairesonaresearchtriptoGreece

Theireditoragreedthatthecollaborationwasn’tworking,andsheofferedthed’Aulaires a contract to do the book on their own, as they had originallyintended.Thisfortunateturnofeventsprovidedthecouplewithenoughmoney

tomakenumeroustripstoGreecefromSwitzerlandoverthenextyear.Astheyhaddonewiththeirotherbooks,thed’Aulairesdidextensiveresearch,steepingthemselves in their subject, visiting libraries andmuseums, and sketching thelandscape,ruins,andartifactsofancientGreekcivilization.When the d’Aulaires returned to their home in Wilton, Connecticut, they

beganthechallengingworkoftransformingtheirdetailedresearchandthemanysketchbooks of images from Greece into a book. They had been told byDoubleday that, to save printing costs for the book, they could no longer usetheir color-lithography process, which had been their signature style.Lithography,which literallymeans “stonewriting” inGreek, involves using agrease pencil to draw pictures on limestone blocks several inches thick,weighing75to150pounds.Eachpictureiscomposedoffourdrawingsonfourseparateblocks,oneforblackinkandoneforeachoftheprimarycolors—red,yellow,andblue.Theinkisrolledontoeachblock,andthecoloradherestothecorrespondingpartsoftheillustration.Thenthecolorsareprintedonpaper,oneontopoftheother,tocreatethefinishedpicture.

IntheirWilton,Connecticut,studiopreparinglithographsforBenjaminFranklin

WithGeorgeC.Miller(left),thed’Aulaires’lithographer,creatinginitialproofsfromlithographicstones.MillerwasconsideredoneofAmerica’sgreatprintmakersandiscreditedwithspreadingtheinterestinlithography.

Lithographyisacomplexanddemandingartistictechnique,butthed’Aulaireshaddonealloftheillustrationsintheirotherbooksthisway,andtheyhadfilledthebasementoftheirhomewithshelfaftershelfofthesecumbersomeblocksoflimestone.Foreachbook,theblockshadbeentransportedbytrucktotheprinteronLong Island,NewYork, and thenbroughtback toConnecticut for storage.Allbutaveryfewstonesare,tothisday,stillcarefullyshelvedinthebasementof the d’Aulaires’Wilton home. Their eldest son, Per Ola, estimates that thestonescompriseanarchivethatweighssomefortythousandpounds!

Acollectionofthed’Aulaires’lithographicstones.Eachstonecanweighupto150pounds!

When he was a teenager, Per Ola had assisted his parents with this heavylifting, and they had even thanked him for his help by dedicatingD’Aulaires’Book of GreekMyths to him. Their younger son, Nils, occupied a somewhatdifferentplaceinthed’Aulaires’dailyworkingroutine.Inthecopyofthebooktheygavetohim,theyjoked:“ToNilsMaarten,thisfirstcopyofthefirstedition(withoutwhosehelpthisbookwouldhavebeenfinishedoneyearearlier)fromhisparents.”Explainingthisinscription,Nilsrecallsthefamily’smorninghabits:“Wewouldhavebreakfast together,andthenthey’dgotowork.I learnedasayoungchildthatwhentheywereworking,theywerenottobedisturbed.Itwasaconstant,managedpresencesothattheycouldgettheirworkdone,butIwasnotalwayssuccessfulinnotbotheringthem.”Nilsdid,however,playakeyroleinhelpinghisparentsintheirwork—asa

criticratherthanalifterofBavarianlimestoneblocks.Inaninterviewin1959,Edgar Parin d’Aulaire told the newspaper columnist Art Buchwald that Nils,whowastenyearsoldatthetime,hadthefinalsayineverythingtheydid.“Ifhesaysit’snotgood,”Edgarreported,“wethrowitinthefireplace.Ifhesaysit’s

good,itdoesn’tmatterwhatwethinkofit,wekeepitin.”

Fourcutoutpaperhorsesusedbythed’Aulairestopracticethepositionofthehorsesonthebook’sjacket.SaysPerOlad’Aulaire:“Theyfrequentlycutoutportionsofsketches,bothforcoversandillustrations,movingelementsaroundandtemporarilyattachingthemwithScotchtapeonanimagetheywereworking

ontoseehowthingslookedcomposition-wise.”

Forthed’Aulaires,theradicalchangeofartisticmethodsinD’Aulaires’BookofGreekMythsinvolvedabandoningtheiruseoflithographicstonesinexchangefor sheets of clear acetate plastic. With this technique—as with lithographicstones—thedrawingswitheachcolor inkareprintedseparately,oneon topofthe other, as the paper passes through a series of four printing presses. Nilsrecallsthathisparentswouldhavepreferredtocontinueusingstonelithographybecauseoftheearthytexturesitgavetotheirpictures,but“theywerenotanyonetocryoverspiltmilk;theyjusttookitinstrideandmovedon.”Thed’Aulaires

were highly disciplined, hardworking artists—sharing an ethos that had beenwiththemfromthebeginningoftheircreativelifetogether.

Thed’AulairesintheMontrougeneighborhoodofParis,1926

Ingriwasborn inNorwayandhaddeep family roots inNordicculture.SheandEdgarspentmanysummersatIngri’sfamilyfarmincentralNorway,where,as Nils observes, his father “fell in love with everything that had to do withNorway because it was the first time in his life that he felt totally at home.”EdgarwasSwiss,thesonofartists.Hisparentshaddivorcedandhehadenduredanunhappy,unsettledchildhood.HeandIngrihadmet in themid-1920satartschool inMunich, Germany, where they had been students of the artist HansHofmann. Ingri andEdgar fell in love,married,andbegan theirbohemian lifetogether as struggling artists in Paris. In 1929, they immigrated to America,wheretheylivedinNewYorkCityasstrugglingartistsinBrooklynand,later,Manhattan,beforemoving toConnecticut.Edgar created illustrations forotherpeople’s bookswhile Ingri found commissions to paint portraits.As their son

Nilsnotes,theytookthesejobs“toeatandpaytherent”sothattheycouldbothcontinue to work on their own art. Neither had any interest in illustratingadvertisements,whichisoftenhowartistsmakealiving.EdgarwouldlaterquiptoArtBuchwaldaboutcommercialartists,“Alltheyknowhowtodoispaintagoodpotatosalad.”Yet “even though theydidn’thavemuchmoney,”Nils explains,hisparents

“loved to entertain.”Nils remembers hismother as a living expression of thefamousfolktale“StoneSoup,”inwhichabigbowlofsoupiscreatedbymanypeoplecomingtogethertoshareingredients.Ingri“hadlearnedtocookinParis,and she could take the barest of ingredients and turn it into somethinginteresting.Butmoreimportantly,theylovedtobearoundpeople,andtheysortof collected people from very different walks of life.” One personwho camewithafriendtooneofthed’Aulaires’festivepartieswasAnneCarrollMoore,aninfluentialbutintimidatingbookreviewerandtheheadchildren’slibrarianatthe New York Public Library. Moore saw the d’Aulaires’ paintings hung orstacked all over their small apartment and urged them to consider doingchildren’sbooks.Moorewasavisionary force inchildren’sbooksat the time,andthischanceencountereventuallyledtothed’Aulaires’careersaschildren’sbookartists.From their first books—The Magic Rug (1931) and Ola (1932)—the

d’Aulaireswere highly focused, dedicated artists. “Theyworked ten to twelvehoursaday,”theirsonNilsremembers.“Oneofthemwouldstartadrawing,andthe other onewouldmake changes and fix it, and itwent back and forth.Mymotherwasthetypistinthefamily,andshe,inasense,heldthepen.Shewouldstart on something, and then theywould read it together, cross things out andmakecorrectionsandtrytogettheflowofthelanguageandthenarrativelogicright.Theydiddozensofdraftsoftheirbooksandmultiplesketchestowardanultimatepicture that theywoulduse for thebook.”Thisprocesswas firmly inplaceas theydistilled thematerial fromtheir research forD’Aulaires’BookofGreekMyths.Their visits to Greece inspired Ingri and Edgar to fill their illustrations for

D’Aulaires’BookofGreekMythswithlight.TheydidnotleaveouttheshadowsofGreekmythology,andtheyportrayedmanyofthedarkerepisodeswithbrownbackgroundsintheillustrations.Yetwhatisstrikingaboutmanypicturesinthebookisthevividcolorthed’Aulairesusedtoconveythebright,sunnyyellows,the vibrant greens and lavenders, and the cerulean blues that they hadexperiencedinGreece.Anotherdistinctqualityofthisbookisthed’Aulaires’adaptationofclassical

artforms,suchasfiguresthatappearonvasepaintingsandreliefsculptures,toportray the pantheon of goddesses and gods who inhabited the ancient Greekimagination.WecanseethisclearlyinthelovelyprocessionoftheMuses,fromErato to Calliope, flowing across the double-page spread in the center of thebook,eachholdingan instrumentorotherobjectassociatedwithhersphereofinfluence.Thed’Aulaires’researchforthebookwasthorough,andtheywerecarefulto

depict lesser-known Greek figures along with the famous ones. Among theimportant yet often overlooked gods of the ancient Greeks is Hermes—thetrickster,messenger, and conductor of souls to the afterlife.He appears in thepagesofD’Aulaires’BookofGreekMythsasagoldenchildinabasket,fullofjoyandmischief.Inanotherhalf-pageillustration,heisserenadinghismother,Maia,inhercave,playingthelyrehecreatedfromatortoise’sshell.Laterstill,weseehim—withhiswingedhatandshoes,bearinghisherald’swand—asheshowershumanitywithhismanygifts,amongthemthemusicalscale,writing,andpropheciesabout the future.There is aplayful, radiantcheerfulness in thed’Aulaires’depictionofthislegendarytrickstergod:theirHermesislighterthanair.

SketchofHermesandhismotherinthecave,onpaperandacetate.Youcanseethefinalillustrationonpage52.

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths is full of compelling pictures. Here isPersephone’s dark descent into Hades and, in a companion illustration, hereventualreturntohermotheramidstgiant,glowingflowersanddandelionpuffsthathoverintheairlikegoldenorbs.Aphroditerisesonacloudofseafoam;thethreeGracesawaitherarrivalontheislandofCytherawhiletheskyislitbyraysof sunlight. The d’Aulaires offer the reader a swirling portrait of the windsBoreas,Notus, and Zephyr, showing each of these forces trying to break freefromthecaveinwhichZeushasconfinedthem.Pandoraisinthebookaswell,opening her jar and releasing themiseries that will forever plague the world.Eachonehasasurrealfacewithanaccompanyingdipinto,acaptionusedbytheancientGreek vase painters, to remind readerswhat they are seeing:Distrust,Gossip,Deceit,Despair.OneofthemostcaptivatingoftheillustrationsinD’Aulaires’BookofGreek

Myths is that of the creation of life on Earth, whenGaea, the goddess of theEarth,firstseesandfallsinlovewithUranus,thegodofthesky.Thed’Aulairesbringarealitytothisdreamlikevision:Gaeaisapersonwithabeautifulgreen

face,herbodydissolving into therollinghillsandmountainsof the landscape.Blue Uranus hovers above her, with a sprinkling of multicolored starsornamentinghis hair andbeard and filling the sky. In this remarkable picture,oldmeetsnew,andtheancientmythsfeelentirelymodern.Children are not spared the darker stories in D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek

Myths.Oedipus,theriddlesolver,appearstofulfilltheancient,tragiccursethathasbeenplaceduponhim;Orpheus, thebrilliantmusician,fails inhisquest tobring his dead wife back from the underworld; Sisyphus is doomed toceaselesslyrollhis rockup thehill,only tohave it rolldownagain;Phaëthon,sonof the sungod,Helios, can’t control thehorsesofhis father’s chariot andsendsitandhimselfcrashingtoEarth;Daedalus’ssonIcarus,despitehisfather’swarnings,carelesslyfliestooclosetothesunandfallstohisdeathfromthesky.And the d’Aulaires bring it all to life—fearlessly, openly, without dumbingdownorsugarcoating.There ismuch todiscover in this bookabout themyths themselves through

thevitalpowerof the stories and their all-too-human feelings. In thehandsofsensitivestorytellerslikethed’Aulaires,weseehowmoving,strange,andtragicthese talescanbe. It isa fluid,unsettledworld inwhich impossible thingsarecommonplace.Onthestrikingdouble-pagespreadat theendof thebook,onlythe head and one hand of the once-colossal Zeus remain, fallen like a brokenpieceofsculptureonthesandsoftime,whilecastabovehimisthedreamchartthatistheeternallegacyofthegods:theconstellationsofthezodiac.Inmany respects,D’Aulaires’BookofGreekMythsbecameacapstone ina

long artistic career. The advance and royalties from the book enabled thed’AulairestobuyanoldfarminSouthRoyalton,Vermont,thattheyusedduringthesummers. (TheirsonNilseventually inherited itandstill lives there.)EventhoughtheyspentmanyyearsinAmerica,becomingnaturalizedcitizensinthe1930s, the d’Aulaires’ spirits depended on Europe, and Scandinavia inparticular, for regular infusionsof creativeenergy.They frequently traveled toNorway in the summers and often took side trips to Paris and other culturalcenters. But with the passing of Ingri’s parents, and the Norwegian farm’s

migrating into the hands of others in the family, the d’Aulaires sought to re-createtheirsummersinNorwayintheGreenMountainsofVermont,wheretheycouldestablishtheirownbitofNorwayonthissideoftheAtlantic.Whentheyhadfinishedtherenovationsofthehousein1965,thed’Aulaires

followed theNorwegian tradition of naming their home.They called itUpperLea, and over the lintel of the front door, they hung a hand-carved sign thatplayfullyechoedtheirlivesspentcreatingbooksforchildren.Itread:

THISISTHEHOUSETHATBOOKSBUILT.

Thesignoverthedoorofthed’Aulaires’houseinVermont,wheretheirsonNilsstilllives

Nils d’Aulaire has remarked that his parents always felt fortunate that theycould work so long, and with such intense delight, at something they loveddoing. Years earlier, Ingri had told Art Buchwald, “We discovered it was adecentwaytomakealiving.Insteadofpaintingbadportraits,wecouldpaintaswellaswewantedto.Wealsodiscoveredthatwhenyoupaintforchildren,youdon’thavetostoop.Childrenappreciategoodart.Theyinstinctivelyknowwhathasquality.”

D’Aulaires’BookofGreekMythswaswidelypraisedwhenitfirstappeared.DespitethemanybooksaboutGreekmythologythathavefollowed,itremainsthemostbeloved,forboththepicturesandthelyricalrhythmsofthed’Aulaires’writing, which retells these ancient stories with such directness and style.D’Aulaires’BookofGreekMythsisacornucopiaofbeautifulartandexquisitelytoldtalesthatwillliveonourshelvesandinourimaginationsformanyyearstocome.In thisfreshnewedition, it is,quitesimply, likehavingreceivedoneofHermes’mythicgifts.

JohnCechDirector of the Center for Children’s Literature and Culture, University ofFlorida

D’AULAIRESKETCHBOOK

Thesketchesonthesepagesarereproducedfromthenotebookthed’AulairesusedonaresearchtriptoGreecebeforestartingD’Aulaires’BookofGreek

Myths.

Twoearlycoversketchconcepts

Wingedgoblinsfromtheunderworld.TheyappearintwoscenesofHades,onpage103andpages126-127.

Foururns.Comparethissketchwiththefinalimageonpage142andyou’llseethatmanyofthedecorativedetailsareidentical.

SketchofamarblethroneattheTheaterofDionysusinAthens.Similarlyornatethronescanbefoundonpages68–69.

AncientGreeksandals

AGorgonsister.Seethefinalillustrationonpage119.

TheGreekgods’familytree,seenatthebeginningofthisbook.

Zeus.Thecompositionofthissketchisveryclosetothefinalimageonpage19.

HeracleswearingtheskinoftheNemeanlion.Asimilarimage,withoutthebowandarrow,isonpage134.

PageofHermessketches

Twocows.Thesesketcheswerestudiesforthewoodencowonpage148,inwhichQueenPasiphaëhides.

AcetatesketchoftheCalydonianBoarHunt.Manyofthedetailsinthefinalimageonpage176aresimilar,thoughtherewerestillsomesignificant

alterationsafterthisstage.

D’AULAIREFAMILYALBUM

IngrionafishingboatinNorway,1920s

EdgarandIngriintraditionalNorwegiandress,1920s

Edgarinthed’Aulaires’NewYorkCityapartment,early1930s

IngriinNewYorkCity,early1930s

Ingri,PerOla,andEdgar,NewYorkCity,1939

EdgarandIngripaintingthelithographicstonesforAnimalsEverywhere,whichwaspublishedin1940

Edgarwithfalconsherearedfromnestlings,atthefamilyfishingcamp,Børsjøen,Norway,circa1954

EdgaractinglikeCharlieChaplin,Norway,1967

INDEX

ACHELOUS,largestofthreethousandriver-gods,145ACHILLES,greatestwarriorofGreece,106,180,184ACRISIUS,fatherofDanaë,KingofArgos,115,122ACTAEON,changedintoastagbyArtemis,44ADMETUS,thekingwholethiswifeAlcestisdieinhisstead,143–45AEËTES,KingofColchis,fatherofMedea,166,168,170AEGEUS,KingofAthens,fatherofTheseus,107,149–50,153AEGINA,nymphchangedintoanislandbyZeus,106,126AEGIS,armorofZeusandAthena,16AEGYPTUS,brotherofDanaüs,107,114–15AENEAS,survivorofTroy,whosedescendantsfoundedRome,107,180,184,186AEOLUS,keeperofthewinds,78AESCULAPIUS,RomannameforAsclepiusAESON,fatherofJason,106,162AETNA,volcanoinSicily,18AETHRA,motherofTheseus,107,149AGAMEMNON,KingofMycenae,ledtheGreeksagainstTroy,106,182AGENOR,fatherofEuropaandCadmus,107,108ALCESTIS,diedforherhusbandKingAdmetus,106,143–45ALCMENA,motherofHeracles,107,132AMALTHEIA,fairygoat,Zeus’snurse,16AMAZONS,tribeofwarlikewomen,136–37AMOR,RomannameforErosAMPHITRION,mortalfatherofHeracles,107AMPHITRITE,Poseidon’squeen,38ANCHISES,amortalhusbandofAphrodite,106,180ANDROMEDA,princessofEthiopia,brideofPerseus,107,118,120,122,132ANTAEUS,giantwrestlerdefeatedbyHeracles,140,146ANTIGONE,daughterofOedipus,161APHRODITE,goddessoflove,2,22,28,30,32,74,123,168,179–80,183–84,186APOLLO,godoflight,musicandreason,2,22–23,40–41,42,43,46–47,49ff.,53,84,94–95,97ff.,123–

25,143,183ff.,187ARACHNE,girlchangedintoaspiderbyAthena,36ARCADIA,homeofPan,27ARES,godofwar,2,22,30,32,47,112–13,184,186Argo,shipofJason,164,166,168,170,173ff.ARGONAUTS,heroeswhosailedinquestoftheGoldenFleece,164–66,170,173,175ff.,179

ARGOS,city-stateofPeloponnesus,8,115,122,161ARGUS,Hera’shundred-eyedwatchman,24,26–27,54ARIADNE,daughterofKingMinosofCrete,107,150,152–53,156ARTEMIS,goddessofthehunt,2,22–23,40–41,44,46–49,135,176,178,187ASCLEPIUS,worshipedasthegodofmedicine,sonofApollo,97–99ASOPUS,river-god,fatherofAegina,126ATALANTA,wonfameforswiftness,106,177–79ATHENA,goddessofwisdom,victoryandhandicrafts,2,22,32,34,36–37,74,110,117,120,123,129,

140,164,179–80,184,187ATHENS,city-stateinAttica,8,37,149–50,156ff.,161ATLAS,aTitan’ssonwhocarriedthevaultoftheskyonhisshoulders,2,17,139–40ATROPOS,oneofthethreeFates,70AUGEAS,KinginEliswhosestableswerecleanedbyHeracles,135,139AURORA,RomannameforEos

BACCHUS,RomannameforDionysus,187BELLEROPHON,tamedtheflyinghorsePegasus,106,128–30BOREAS,theNorthWind,79BOSPORUS,straitseparatingEuropefromAsia,27

CADMUS,founderofThebes,brotherofEuropa,107,110,166,168CAIRN,moundofstonesinwhichHermesisembodied,54CALAÏS,sonoftheNorthWind,164,166CALLIOPE,Museofeloquence,motherofOrpheus,101CALYDONIANBOAR,monsterslainbyMeleager,176–77,179CASSIOPEIA,QueenofEthiopia,motherofAndromeda,118,120,122CASTOR,mortaltwinbrotherofPollux,106,182CENTAUR,halfhorseandhalfman,96–97,156CEPHEUS,KingofEthiopia,fatherofAndromeda,107,118,120,122CERBERUS,three-headedwatchdogoftheunderworld,18,56,102,140,142,144,157CERES,RomannameforDemeter,186CHARON,ferrieddeadsoulsacrosstheriverStyx,56CHARYBDIS,monsterwhoswallowedships,173CHIMERA,three-headedfire-breathingmonster,18,129CHIOS,islandintheAegeanSea,8,48CHIRON,wisecentaur,teacherofgreatheroes,97–99,162,180CIRCE,greatsorceress,daughterofHelios,170,172CLIO,Museofhistory,101CLOTHO,oneofthethreeFates,70CLYTEMNESTRA,wifeofAgamemnon,106,182CNOSSUS,fabulouspalaceinCrete,148,150COLCHIS,landontheBlackSeawheretheGoldenFleecehung,163,165–66CORINTH,city-statefoundedbySisyphus,8,126,129,158,160,174–75CRETE,islandwhereZeuswasraisedasanew-borngod,8,15,49,108,110,138,148–50,153,156

CRONUS,Titan,secondlordoftheuniverse,2,12,14–17,34,38,97,186CUPID,RomannameforErosCYCLOPES,one-eyedsmithswhoforgedthethunderbolts,12,17,20,28,48,99CYLLENE,mountain,birthplaceofHermes,50,52CYTHERA,islandwhereAphroditewaswaftedashore,30

DAEDALUS,Athenianarchitectofgreatskill,builderofthepalaceofCnossus,148–50,153–54DANAË,motherofPerseus,107,115–16,120,122DANAÏDES,thefiftydaughtersofKingDanaüs,114–15DANAÜS,KingofArgos,107,114–15,132DEIANIRA,Calydonianprincess,wifeofHeracles,106,145–46DELOS,island,birthplaceofApolloandArtemis,8,40–41DELPHI,wheretheoracleofMotherEarthwas,42,110,132,158,161,175DEMETER,goddessoftheharvest,2,17,22,58,60,62,186DEUCALION,sonofPrometheus,ancestoroftheGreekrace,74,76–78,106DIANA,RomannameforArtemis,187

DIOMEDES,KingofThrace,138DIONYSUS,godofwine,2,22–23,64,66,68–69,107,124,152–53,187

ECHIDNA,monstrousmateofTyphon,17–18,24,132–33ECHO,nymphwhofellinlovewithNarcissus,92ELEUSIS,placewherePersephonewaskidnapedbyHades,8ELIS,kingdominPeloponnesus,112–13ELYSIANFIELDS,happylandofdeadheroes,60ENDYMION,shepherdlovedbySelene,86EOS,thedawn,sisterofthesun,2,80–81,86EPHIALTES,giant,sonofPoseidon,46–48EPIMETHEUS,brotherofPrometheus,2,17,70–71,74ERATO,Museoflyrics,100ERINYES,avengingspirits,theFuries,60,102,158,161ERIS,spiritofdiscord,32,179EROS,godoflove,30,168,183ERYMANTHIANBOAR,monstercaughtbyHeracles,135ETEOCLES,sonofOedipus,161EURIDICE,wifeofOrpheus,102,104EUROPA,firstQueenofCrete,107ff.,110,148EURUS,theEastWind,79EURYSTHEUS,KingofMycenae,cousinofHeracles,107,132,134–36,138ff.EUTERPE,Museofmusic,100

FATES,threeoldgoddesseswhodeterminedthelifespanofman,70,99,127,143,146,177FURIES,seeErinyes

GAEA,MotherEarth,10,12GANYMEDE,cupbearerofthegods,69,106,180GERYON,monsterwiththreebodies,138GIANTS,snake-leggedsonsofMotherEarth,146GOLDENFLEECE,coatoftheflyingram,hunginColchis,162,163,166ff.,175GORGONS,threefrightfulsisters,116–18GRACES,thethreegoddessesofbeauty,30GRAYSISTERS,thethreesistersoftheGorgons,117–18

HADES,godofthedead,2,17,23,54,56,58,60,62,66,69,99,102,126–27,140,142,144ff.,157,182HARMONIA,wifeofCadmus,110,160–61HARPIES,birdswithwomen’sheads,165–66,172HEBE,goddessofyouth,daughterofHera,146HECATE,witchgoddess,168HELEN,daughterofLedaandZeus,mostbeautifulwomanintheworld,106,180,182ff.HELIADES,daughtersofHelios,82HELIOS,godofthesun,2,82,84,86,138,140,148,166,172HEPHAESTUS,godoffire,smithsandforges,2,22,28,30,32,34,48,74,84,108,186HERA,goddessofmarriage,QueenofOlympus,2,17,22,24,26ff.,38,40–41,47,50,54,64,66,68,92,

96,123,132,134,136,138ff.,142,146,162ff.,166,168,170,173,175,179–80,184,186HERACLES,strongestmanwhoeverlived,sonofZeus,107,132,134–40,142–46,148–49,157,164–65,

184HERCULES,RomannameforHeraclesHERMES,godofmanytrades,heraldofthegods,2,22,26,50,52–54,56,62,66,74,90,92,102,104,

117–18,127,180,187HESPERIDES,Hera’ssacredgarden,24,139–40HESTIA,goddessofthehearth,2,17,23,68,186HIPPODAMIA,princessofElis,wifeofPelops,112–13HIPPOLYTA,QueenoftheAmazons,136–37HYDRA,nine-headedmonster,18,134,139,146HYGEIA,daughterofAsclepius,99HYLAS,youngfriendofHeracles,164–65HYPERION,TitanfatherofHelios,SeleneandEos,2HYPERNMESTRA,daughterofKingDanaüs,107,115

ICARUS,sonofDaedalus,153–54IDA,mountaininCretewhereZeusspenthischildhood,8,180ILITHYIA,goddessofchildbirth,40ff.INACHOS,river-god,fatherofIo,26,27IO,brideofZeus,changedintoacow,24,26–27,108IOLCOS,city-stateinThessaly,8,162–63,174IRIS,messengerofthegods,20,41IXION,KingoftheLapiths,fatheroftheCentaurs,96

JAPET,aTitan,fatherofPrometheus,EpimetheusandAtlas,2JASON,leaderoftheArgonauts,106,162–64,166,168,170,172,174–76JOCASTA,motherofOedipus,158,160–61JOVE,RomannameforZeusJUNO,RomannameforHera,186JUPITER,RomannameforZeus,187

LACHESIS,oneofthethreeFates,70LADON,dragon,guardianofthegardenoftheHesperides,18,95,140LAIUS,fatherofOedipus,107,158,160LAPITHS,apeopleinThessaly,96–97,156LEDA,motherofHelenofTroy,Clytemnestra,CastorandPollux,106,182LEMNOS,Aegeanisland,8,28,48LERNA,swampwheretheHydralived,134LESBOS,islandwhereOrpheuswasburied,8,104LETHE,springofforgetfulnessintheunderworld,60LETO,motherofApolloandArtemis,2,40–42,46LIBYA,GreeknameforthecontinentofAfrica,107,114LINUS,Heracles’musicteacher,132LYNCEUS,husbandofHypermnestra,107,115

MAENADS,wildcompanionsofDionysus,66MAIA,motherofHermes,50,53MARS,RomannameforAres,186MARSYAS,satyrofPhrygia,123>–25MEDEA,sorceress,wifeofJason,168,170,172,174–75MEDUSA,GorgonslainbyPerseus,116–18,123,128MELAMPUS,healerwhounderstoodthelanguageofanimals,106,130–31MELANION,husbandofAtalanta,178–79MELEAGER,killedtheCalydonianBoar,106,176–77MELPOMENE,Museoftragedy,100MENELAUS,KingofSparta,husbandofHelenofTroy,106,183–84MERCURY,RomannameforHermes,187METIS,goddessofprudence,2,16–17,34MIDAS,KingofPhrygia,123–25MINERVA,RomannameforAthena,187MINOS,KingofCrete,107,108,148–50,152–54,156MINOTAUR,halfbullandhalfman,149–50,152MNEMOSYNE,goddessofmemory,motheroftheMuses,2,100MUSES,ninegoddessesofthearts,2,99–101,104,106ff.,112,114,123ff.,128,132,148,162,189MYCENAE,city-stateinPeloponnesus,8,122,132,134ff,142,182

NARCISSUS,youthwhofellinlovewithhisimage,92NAXOS,islandintheAegeanSea,8,47,152

NEMEANLION,monsterslainbyHeracles,18,132,134NEMESIS,spiritofretribution,70NEPTUNE,RomannameforPoseidon,187NEREIDS,thefiftydaughtersofNereus,goddessesofthesea,38,108,118,173NEREUS,thefirstlordofthesea,38,139,183NESSUS,centaurwhocausedthedeathofHeracles,145–46NIKE,spiritofvictory,companionofZeusandAthena,36NIOBE,vainqueenwhosechildrenwereslainbyApolloandArtemis,46,107NOTUS,theSouthWind,79NYMPHS,femalespiritsofnature,16,20,24,90ff.,117ff.NYSA,valleywhereDionysuswasraised,66

OCEANUS,aTitan,2ODYSSEUS,Greekprince,107,182–83OEDIPUS,KingofThebeswhounknowinglykilledhisfatherandmarriedhismother,107,158,160–61OENOMAÜS,sonofAres,KingofElis,112–13OLYMPICGAMES,113OLYMPUS,highestmountaininGreece,homeofthegods,8ff.,20,23–24,26,28,30,32,46,52–53,58,

68ff.,72,78,90,92,99,101,108,112,123,129,146,168,179ff.,182OMPHALE,QueenofLydia,142ORION,gianthunter,companionofArtemis,48–49ORPHEUS,greatestmortalmusician,101–2,104,164,166,173OTUS,giant,brotherofEphialtes,46–48

PAN,godofnature,89–92;94PANDORA,firstbeautifulmortalwoman,72,74,77PARIS,princeofTroy,106,180,183–84PARNASSUS,mountainsacredtotheMuses,8,42,101PASIPHAË,wifeofKingMinos,motheroftheMinotaur,148–49PEGASUS,wingedhorsethatsprangfromMedusa’sseveredneck,118,128–29PELEUS,husbandtoThetis,fatherofAchilles,106,179–80PELIAS,Jason’sevilunclewhosenthimtofetchtheGoldenFleece,106,162–63,174PELION,mountainhomeofthecentaurChiron,97PELOPONNESUS,southernpartofGreecenamedforPelops,8PELOPS,sonofTantalus,107,112–13PENELOPE,wifeofOdysseus,107,183PERSEPHONE,daughterofDemeter,Hades’queen,2,22,56,58,60,62,102,157,186PERSEUS,sonofZeusandDanaë,slayeroftheGorgonMedusa,107,115–18,120,122ff.,132PHAEDRA,sisterofAriadne,wifeofTheseus,107,156PHAËTHON,sonofHelios,82,84PHILOCTETES,friendofHeracleswhoinheritedhispoisonedarrowsandkilledParis,146,184PHRIXUS,savedbythegoldenram,106,163PHRYGIA,landinAsiaMinor,123–25PIRITHOUS,hero,KingoftheLapiths,156–57

PLUTO,RomannameforHadesPOLLUX,immortaltwinbrotherofCastor,106,182POLYHYMNIA,Museofsacredhymns,101POLYNICES,sonofOedipus,161PONTUS,theSeas,secondhusbandofMotherEarth,12,38POSEIDON,lordofthesea,2,17,22,36ff.,40,46,48,78,112,115,118,148–49,164,173,183,187PROETUS,KingofTirynswhosethreedaughtersthoughttheywerecows,131PROMETHEUS,creatorofman,sonoftheTitanJapet,2,17,70–72,74,76,100,139PROSERPINE,RomannameforPersephone,186PYRRHA,wifeofDeucalion,76–78,106PYTHON,dragon,sonofMotherEarth,guardianoftheoracleinDelphi,42

RHADAMANTHUS,sonofZeusandEuropa,judgeoftheunderworld,60,107,108RHEA,Titaness,sister-wifeofCronus,motherofZeus,2,14–15

SARPEDON,sonofZeusandEuropa,107,108SATURN,RomannameforCronus,186SATYRS,goat-leggedspiritsofforestsandhills,90–91SCYLLA,monsteratthestraitsofMessina,173SELENE,goddessofthemoon,2,86,88SEMELE,motherofDionysus,64,66,107SIBYL,priestessofMotherEarthatDelphi,42SILENI,oldsatyrs,91SIRENS,singingmaidenswholuredsailorstotheirdeath,172SISYPHUS,KingofCorinth,106,126–29SPARTA,city-stateinPeloponnesus,8,180,183–84SPHINX,offspringofEchidna,18,158,160STYMPHALIANBIRDS,monstrousbirdswithfeathersofbrass,135STYX,riverintheunderworld,56,60,64,82,127SYRINX,nymphwhoturnedintoareed,92,94

TALOS,CretanrobotmadebyHephaestus,108,152–53TANTALUS,sonofZeus,fatherofPelops,107,112–13TARTARUS,infernalabyss,12,17,46–47,146TERPSICHORE,Museofthedance,100THALIA,Museofcomedy,100THEBES,city-statefoundedbyCadmus,8,46,110,132,158,160–61,168THESEUS,heroofAthenswhoslewtheMinotaur,107,149–50,152–53,156–58,161THETIS,Nereid,motherofAchilles,28,179–80,184TIRYNS,citywithCyclopianwalls,8,131TITANS,childrenofMotherEarthandtheSky,thefirstgods,12,15–17,38,46,100TITHONUS,husbandofEoswhoturnedintoagrasshopper,80–81TRIPTOLEMUS,sentbyDemetertoscatterhergrainovertheworld,60,62TRITON,sonofPoseidonandAmphitrite,38

TROEZEN,kingdomwhereTheseuswasborn,8,149TROY,cityinAsiaMinor,8,180,183–84TYNDAREUS,mortalhusbandofLeda,182–83TYPHON,fire-breathingmonster,17–18TYRE,citywhereEuropawasborn,108,110

URANIA,Museofastronomy,101URANUS,theSky,firsthusbandofMotherEarth,10,12,34

VENUS,RomannameforAphrodite,186VESTA,RomannameforHestia,186VULCAN,RomannameforHephaestus,186

ZEPHYR,theWestWind,79ZETES,sonoftheNorthWind,164–65ZEUS,godofthunder,mightiestoftheOlympiangods,2,15ff.,20,22ff.,26–28,30,32,34,36,38,40–42,

44,46–47,53,60,62,64,66,68–72,74,76–78,80,84,86,91–92,96,99ff.,107–8,110,112,115–17,126–27,129,132,139,142,146,148,163,170,172,179ff.,182,184,187,189

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