Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome 19

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome 19

The Argo next arrived at the island of the Phæaces, where they were

hospitably entertained by King Alcinous and his queen Arete. But the

banquet prepared for them by their kind host was unexpectedly interrupted

by the appearance of a large army of Colchians, sent by Aëtes to demand the

restoration of his daughter.

 

Medea threw herself at the feet of the queen, and implored her to save her

from the anger of her father, and Arete, in her kindness of heart, promised

her her protection. Next morning, in an assembly of the people at which the

Colchians were invited to be present, the latter were informed that as

Medea was the lawful wife of Jason they could not consent to deliver her

up; whereupon the Colchians, seeing that the resolution of the king was not

to be shaken, and fearing to face the anger of Aëtes should they return to

Colchis without her, sought permission of Alcinous to settle in his

kingdom, which request was accorded them.

 

{229}

 

After these events the Argonauts once more set sail, and steered for

Iolcus; but, in the course of a terrible and fearful night, a mighty storm

arose, and in the morning they found themselves stranded on the treacherous

quicksands of Syrtes, on the shores of Libya. Here all was a waste and

barren desert, untenanted by any living creature, save the venomous snakes

which had sprung from the blood of the Medusa when borne by Perseus over

these arid plains.

 

They had already passed several days in this abode of desolation, beneath

the rays of the scorching sun, and had abandoned themselves to the deepest

despair, when the Libyan queen, who was a prophetess of divine origin,

appeared to Jason, and informed him that a sea-horse would be sent by the

gods to act as his guide.

 

Scarcely had she departed when a gigantic hippocamp was seen in the

distance, making its way towards the Argo. Jason now related to his

companions the particulars of his interview with the Libyan prophetess, and

after some deliberation it was decided to carry the Argo on their

shoulders, and to follow wherever the sea-horse should lead them. They then

commenced a long and weary journey through the desert, and at last, after

twelve days of severe toil and terrible suffering, the welcome sight of the

sea greeted their view. In gratitude for having been saved from their

manifold dangers they offered up sacrifices to the gods, and launched their

ship once more into the deep waters of the ocean.

 

ARRIVAL AT CRETE.--With heartfelt joy and gladness they proceeded on their

homeward voyage, and after some days arrived at the island of Crete, where

they purposed to furnish themselves with fresh provisions and water. Their

landing, however, was opposed by a terrible giant who guarded the island

against all intruders. This giant, whose name was Talus, was the last of

the Brazen race, and being formed of brass, was invulnerable, except in his

right ankle, where there was a sinew of flesh and a vein of blood. As he

saw the Argo {230} nearing the coast, he hurled huge rocks at her, which

would inevitably have sunk the vessel had not the crew beat a hasty

retreat. Although sadly in want of food and water, the Argonauts had

decided to proceed on their journey rather than face so powerful an

opponent, when Medea came forward and assured them that if they would trust

to her she would destroy the giant.

 

Enveloped in the folds of a rich purple mantle, she stepped on deck, and

after invoking the aid of the Fates, uttered a magic incantation, which had

the effect of throwing Talus into a deep sleep. He stretched himself at

full length upon the ground, and in doing so grazed his vulnerable ankle

against the point of a sharp rock, whereupon a mighty stream of blood

gushed forth from the wound. Awakened by the pain, he tried to rise, but in

vain, and with a mighty groan of anguish the giant fell dead, and his

enormous body rolled heavily over into the deep. The heroes being now able

to land, provisioned their vessel, after which they resumed their homeward

voyage.

 

ARRIVAL AT IOLCUS.--After a terrible night of storm and darkness they

passed the island of Ægina, and at length reached in safety the port of

Iolcus, where the recital of their numerous adventures and hair-breadth

escapes was listened to with wondering admiration by their

fellow-countrymen.

 

The Argo was consecrated to Poseidon, and was carefully preserved for many

generations till no vestige of it remained, when it was placed in the

heavens as a brilliant constellation.

 

On his arrival at Iolcus, Jason conducted his beautiful bride to the palace

of his uncle Pelias, taking with him the Golden Fleece, for the sake of

which this perilous expedition had been undertaken. But the old king, who

had never expected that Jason would return alive, basely refused to fulfil

his part of the compact, and declined to abdicate the throne.

 

{231}

 

Indignant at the wrongs of her husband, Medea avenged them in a most

shocking manner. She made friends with the daughters of the king, and

feigned great interest in all their concerns. Having gained their

confidence, she informed them, that among her numerous magic arts, she

possessed the power of restoring to the aged all the vigour and strength of

youth, and in order to give them a convincing proof of the truth of her

assertion, she cut up an old ram, which she boiled in a cauldron,

whereupon, after uttering various mystic incantations, there came forth

from the vessel a beautiful young lamb. She then assured them, that in a

similar manner they could restore to their old father his former youthful

frame and vigour. The fond and credulous daughters of Pelias lent an all

too willing ear to the wicked sorceress, and thus the old king perished at

the hands of his innocent children.

 

DEATH OF JASON.--Medea and Jason now fled to Corinth, where at length they

found, for a time, peace and tranquillity, their happiness being completed

by the birth of three children.

 

As time passed on, however, and Medea began to lose the beauty which had

won the love of her husband, he grew weary of her, and became attracted by

the youthful charms of Glauce, the beautiful daughter of Creon, king of

Corinth. Jason had obtained her father's consent to their union, and the

wedding-day was already fixed, before he disclosed to Medea the treachery

which he meditated against her. He used all his persuasive powers in order

to induce her to consent to his union with Glauce, assuring her that his

affection had in no way diminished, but that for the sake of the advantages

which would thereby accrue to their children, he had decided on forming

this alliance with the royal house. Though justly enraged at his deceitful

conduct, Medea dissembled her wrath, and, feigning to be satisfied with

this explanation, sent, as a wedding-gift to her rival, a magnificent robe

of cloth-of-gold. This robe was imbued with a deadly {232} poison which

penetrated to the flesh and bone of the wearer, and burned them as though

with a consuming fire. Pleased with the beauty and costliness of the

garment, the unsuspecting Glauce lost no time in donning it; but no sooner

had she done so than the fell poison began to take effect. In vain she

tried to tear the robe away; it defied all efforts to be removed, and after

horrible and protracted sufferings, she expired.

 

Maddened at the loss of her husband's love Medea next put to death her

three sons, and when Jason, thirsting for revenge, left the chamber of his

dead bride, and flew to his own house in search of Medea, the ghastly

spectacle of his murdered children met his view. He rushed frantically to

seek the murderess, but nowhere could she be found. At length, hearing a

sound above his head, he looked up, and beheld Medea gliding through the

air in a golden chariot drawn by dragons.

 

In a fit of despair Jason threw himself on his own sword, and perished on

the threshold of his desolate and deserted home.

 

PELOPS.

 

Pelops, the son of the cruel Tantalus, was a pious and virtuous prince.

After his father was banished into Tartarus, a war ensued between Pelops

and the king of Troy, in which the former was vanquished and forced to fly

from his dominions in Phrygia. He emigrated into Greece, where, at the

court of Oenomaus, king of Elis, he beheld Hippodamia, the king's daughter,

whose beauty won his heart. But an oracle having foretold to Oenomaus that

he would die on the day of his daughter's marriage, he threw every obstacle

in the way of her suitors, and declared that he would only give her to him

who succeeded in vanquishing him in a chariot race, but that all

unsuccessful competitors should suffer death at his hands.

 

The conditions of the contest were as follows:--The race was to be run from

a given point at Pisa to the altar of Poseidon at Corinth; the suitor was

allowed to start {233} on his course whilst Oenomaus performed his

sacrifice to Zeus, and only on its completion did the king mount his

chariot, guided by the skilful Myrtilus, and drawn by his two famous

horses, Phylla and Harpinna, who surpassed in swiftness the winds

themselves. In this manner many a gallant young prince had perished; for

although a considerable start was given to all competitors, still Oenomaus,

with his swift team, always overtook them before they reached the goal, and

killed them with his spear. But the love of Pelops for Hippodamia overcame

all fears, and, undeterred by the terrible fate of his predecessors, he

announced himself to Oenomaus as a suitor for the hand of his daughter.

 

On the eve of the race, Pelops repaired to the sea-shore and earnestly

implored Poseidon to assist him in his perilous undertaking. The sea-god

heard his prayer, and sent him out of the deep a chariot drawn by two

winged horses.

 

When Pelops appeared on the course, the king at once recognized the horses

of Poseidon; but, nothing daunted, he relied on his own supernatural team,

and the contest was allowed to proceed.

 

Whilst the king was offering his sacrifice to Zeus Pelops set out on the

race, and had nearly reached the goal, when, turning round, he beheld

Oenomaus, spear in hand, who, with his magic steeds, had nearly overtaken

him. But in this emergency Poseidon came to the aid of the son of Tantalus.

He caused the wheels of the royal chariot to fly off, whereupon the king

was thrown out violently, and killed on the spot, just as Pelops arrived at

the altar of Poseidon.

 

As the hero was about to return to Pisa to claim his bride, he beheld, in

the distance, flames issuing from the royal castle, which at that instant

had been struck by lightning. With his winged horses he flew to rescue his

lovely bride, and succeeded in extricating her uninjured from the burning

building. They soon afterwards became united, and Pelops reigned in Pisa

for many years in great splendour.

 

{234}

 

HERACLES (HERCULES).

 

Heracles, the most renowned hero of antiquity, was the son of Zeus and

Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus.

 

At the time of his birth Alcmene was living at Thebes with her husband

Amphitryon, and thus the infant Heracles was born in the palace of his

stepfather.

 

Aware of the animosity with which Hera persecuted all those who rivalled

her in the affections of Zeus, Alcmene, fearful lest this hatred should be

visited on her innocent child, intrusted him, soon after his birth, to the

care of a faithful servant, with instructions to expose him in a certain

field, and there leave him, feeling assured that the divine offspring of

Zeus would not long remain without the protection of the gods.

 

Soon after the child had been thus abandoned, Hera and Pallas-Athene

happened to pass by the field, and were attracted by its cries. Athene

pityingly took up the infant in her arms, and prevailed upon the queen of

heaven to put it to her breast; but no sooner had she done so, than the

child, causing her pain, she angrily threw him to the ground, and left the

spot. Athene, moved with compassion, carried him to Alcmene, and entreated

her kind offices on behalf of the poor little foundling. Alcmene at once

recognized her child, and joyfully accepted the charge.

 

Soon afterwards Hera, to her extreme annoyance, discovered whom she had

nursed, and became filled with jealous rage. She now sent two venomous

snakes into the chamber of Alcmene, which crept, unperceived by the nurses,

to the cradle of the sleeping child. He awoke with a cry, and grasping a

snake in each hand, strangled them both. Alcmene and her attendants, whom

the cry of the child had awakened, rushed to the cradle, where, to their

astonishment and terror, they beheld the two reptiles dead in the hands of

the infant Heracles. Amphitryon was also attracted to the chamber by the

{235} commotion, and when he beheld this astounding proof of supernatural

strength, he declared that the child must have been sent to him as a

special gift from Zeus. He accordingly consulted the famous seer Tiresias,

who now informed him of the divine origin of his stepson, and

prognosticated for him a great and distinguished future.

 

When Amphitryon heard the noble destiny which awaited the child intrusted

to his care, he resolved to educate him in a manner worthy of his future

career. At a suitable age he himself taught him how to guide a chariot;

Eurytus, how to handle the bow; Autolycus, dexterity in wrestling and

boxing; and Castor, the art of armed warfare; whilst Linus, the son of

Apollo, instructed him in music and letters.

 

Heracles was an apt pupil; but undue harshness was intolerable to his high

spirit, and old Linus, who was not the gentlest of teachers, one day

corrected him with blows, whereupon the boy angrily took up his lyre, and,

with one stroke of his powerful arm, killed his tutor on the spot.

 

Apprehensive lest the ungovernable temper of the youth might again involve

him in similar acts of violence, Amphitryon sent him into the country,

where he placed him under the charge of one of his most trusted herdsmen.

Here, as he grew up to manhood, his extraordinary stature and strength

became the wonder and admiration of all beholders. His aim, whether with

spear, lance, or bow, was unerring, and at the age of eighteen he was

considered to be the strongest as well as the most beautiful youth in all

Greece.

 

THE CHOICE OF HERACLES.--Heracles felt that the time had now arrived when

it became necessary to decide for himself how to make use of the

extraordinary powers with which he had been endowed by the gods; and in

order to meditate in solitude on this all-important subject, he repaired to

a lonely and secluded spot in the heart of the forest.

 

Here two females of great beauty appeared to him. {236} One was Vice, the

other Virtue. The former was full of artificial wiles and fascinating arts,

her face painted and her dress gaudy and attractive; whilst the latter was

of noble bearing and modest mien, her robes of spotless purity.

 

Vice stepped forward and thus addressed him: "If you will walk in my paths,

and make me your friend, your life shall be one round of pleasure and

enjoyment. You shall taste of every delight which can be procured on earth;

the choicest viands, the most delicious wines, the most luxuriant of

couches shall be ever at your disposal; and all this without any exertion

on your part, either physical or mental."

 

Virtue now spoke in her turn: "If you will follow me and be my friend, I

promise you the reward of a good conscience, and the love and respect of

your fellowmen. I cannot undertake to smooth your path with roses, or to

give you a life of idleness and pleasure; for you must know that the gods

grant no good and desirable thing that is not earned by labour; and as you

sow, so must you reap."

 

Heracles listened patiently and attentively to both speakers, and then,

after mature deliberation, decided to follow in the paths of virtue, and

henceforth to honour the gods, and to devote his life to the service of his

country.

 

Full of these noble resolves he sought once more his rural home, where he

was informed that on Mount Cithæron, at the foot of which the herds of

Amphitryon were grazing, a ferocious lion had fixed his lair, and was

committing such frightful ravages among the flocks and herds that he had

become the scourge and terror of the whole neighbourhood. Heracles at once

armed himself and ascended the mountain, where he soon caught sight of the

lion, and rushing at him with his sword succeeded in killing him. The hide

of the animal he wore ever afterwards over his shoulders, and the head

served him as a helmet.

 

As he was returning from this, his first exploit, he met {237} the heralds

of Erginus, king of the Minyans, who were proceeding to Thebes to demand

their annual tribute of 100 oxen. Indignant at this humiliation of his

native city, Heracles mutilated the heralds, and sent them back, with ropes

round their necks, to their royal master.

 

Erginus was so incensed at the ill-treatment of his messengers that he

collected an army and appeared before the gates of Thebes, demanding the

surrender of Heracles. Creon, who was at this time king of Thebes, fearing

the consequences of a refusal, was about to yield, when the hero, with the

assistance of Amphitryon and a band of brave youths, advanced against the

Minyans.

 

Heracles took possession of a narrow defile through which the enemy were

compelled to pass, and as they entered the pass the Thebans fell upon them,

killed their king Erginus, and completely routed them. In this engagement

Amphitryon, the kind friend and foster-father of Heracles, lost his life.

The hero now advanced upon Orchomenus, the capital of the Minyans, where he

burned the royal castle and sacked the town.

 

After this signal victory all Greece rang with the fame of the young hero,

and Creon, in gratitude for his great services, bestowed upon him his

daughter Megara in marriage. The Olympian gods testified their appreciation

of his valour by sending him presents; Hermes gave him a sword,

Phoebus-Apollo a bundle of arrows, Hephæstus a golden quiver, and Athene a

coat of leather.

 

HERACLES AND EURYSTHEUS.--And now it will be necessary to retrace our

steps. Just before the birth of Heracles, Zeus, in an assembly of the gods,

exultingly declared that the child who should be born on that day to the

house of Perseus should rule over all his race. When Hera heard her lord's

boastful announcement she knew well that it was for the child of the hated

Alcmene that this brilliant destiny was designed; and in order to rob the

son of her rival of his rights, she called to her aid the goddess

Eilithyia, who retarded the birth of {238} Heracles, and caused his cousin

Eurystheus (another grandson of Perseus) to precede him into the world. And

thus, as the word of the mighty Zeus was irrevocable, Heracles became the

subject and servant of his cousin Eurystheus.

 

When, after his splendid victory over Erginus, the fame of Heracles spread

throughout Greece, Eurystheus (who had become king of Mycenæ), jealous of

the reputation of the young hero, asserted his rights, and commanded him to

undertake for him various difficult tasks. But the proud spirit of the hero

rebelled against this humiliation, and he was about to refuse compliance,

when Zeus appeared to him and desired him not to rebel against the Fates.

Heracles now repaired to Delphi in order to consult the oracle, and

received the answer that after performing ten tasks for his cousin

Eurystheus his servitude would be at an end.

 

Soon afterwards Heracles fell into a state of the deepest melancholy, and

through the influence of his inveterate enemy, the goddess Hera, this

despondency developed into raving madness, in which condition he killed his

own children. When he at length regained his reason he was so horrified and

grieved at what he had done, that he shut himself up in his chamber and

avoided all intercourse with men. But in his loneliness and seclusion the

conviction that work would be the best means of procuring oblivion of the

past decided him to enter, without delay, upon the tasks appointed him by

Eurystheus.

 

1. THE NEMEAN LION.--His first task was to bring to Eurystheus the skin of

the much-dreaded Nemean lion, which ravaged the territory between Cleone

and Nemea, and whose hide was invulnerable against any mortal weapon.

 

Heracles proceeded to the forest of Nemea, where, having discovered the

lion's lair, he attempted to pierce him with his arrows; but finding these

of no avail he felled him to the ground with his club, and before the

animal had time to recover from the terrible blow, {239} Heracles seized

him by the neck and, with a mighty effort, succeeded in strangling him. He

then made himself a coat of mail of the skin, and a new helmet of the head

of the animal. Thus attired, he so alarmed Eurystheus by appearing suddenly

before him, that the king concealed himself in his palace, and henceforth

forbade Heracles to enter his presence, but commanded him to receive his

behests, for the future, through his messenger Copreus.

 

2. THE HYDRA.--His second task was to slay the Hydra, a monster serpent

(the offspring of Typhon and Echidna), bristling with nine heads, one of

which was immortal. This monster infested the neighbourhood of Lerna, where

she committed great depredations among the herds.

 

[Illustration]

 

Heracles, accompanied by his nephew Iolaus, set out in a chariot for the

marsh of Lerna, in the slimy waters of which he found her. He commenced the

attack by assailing her with his fierce arrows, in order to force her to

leave her lair, from which she at length emerged, and sought refuge in a

wood on a neighbouring hill. Heracles now rushed forward and endeavoured to

crush her heads by means of well-directed blows from his tremendous club;

but no sooner was one head destroyed than it was immediately replaced by

two others. He next seized the monster in his powerful grasp; but at this

juncture a giant crab came to the assistance of the Hydra and commenced

biting the feet of her assailant. Heracles destroyed this new adversary

with his club, and now called upon his nephew to come to his aid. At his

command Iolaus set fire to the neighbouring trees, {240} and, with a

burning branch, seared the necks of the monster as Heracles cut them off,

thus effectually preventing the growth of more. Heracles next struck off

the immortal head, which he buried by the road-side, and placed over it a

heavy stone. Into the poisonous blood of the monster he then dipped his

arrows, which ever afterwards rendered wounds inflicted by them incurable.

 

3. THE HORNED HIND.--The third labour of Heracles was to bring the horned

hind Cerunitis alive to Mycenæ. This animal, which was sacred to Artemis,

had golden antlers and hoofs of brass.

 

Not wishing to wound the hind Heracles patiently pursued her through many

countries for a whole year, and overtook her at last on the banks of the

river Ladon; but even there he was compelled, in order to secure her, to

wound her with one of his arrows, after which he lifted her on his

shoulders and carried her through Arcadia. On his way he met Artemis with

her brother Phoebus-Apollo, when the goddess angrily reproved him for

wounding her favourite hind; but Heracles succeeded in appeasing her

displeasure, whereupon she permitted him to take the animal alive to Mycenæ.