Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome 21

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome 21

Heracles now regained his former vigour. He rid the territory of Omphale of

the robbers which infested it and performed for her various other services

requiring strength and courage. It was about this time that he took part in

the Calydonian boar-hunt, details of which have already been given.

 

When Omphale learned that her slave was none other than the renowned

Heracles himself she at once gave him his liberty, and offered him her hand

and kingdom. In her palace Heracles abandoned himself to all the enervating

luxuries of an oriental life, and so completely was the great hero

enthralled by the fascination which his mistress exercised over him, that

whilst she playfully donned his lion's skin and helmet, he, attired in

female garments, sat at her feet spinning wool, and beguiling the time by

the relation of his past adventures.

 

But when at length, his term of bondage having expired, he became master of

his own actions, the manly and energetic spirit of the hero reasserted

itself, and tearing himself away from the palace of the Mæonian queen, he

determined to carry out the revenge he had so long meditated against the

treacherous Laomedon and the faithless Augeas.

 

HERACLES EXECUTES VENGEANCE ON LAOMEDON AND AUGEAS.--Gathering round him

some of his old brave companions-in-arms, Heracles collected a fleet of

vessels and set sail for Troy, where he landed, took the city by storm, and

killed Laomedon, who thus met at length the retribution he had so richly

deserved.

 

To Telamon, one of his bravest followers, he gave Hesione, the daughter of

the king, in marriage. When Heracles gave her permission to release one of

the prisoners of war she chose her own brother Podarces, whereupon she was

informed that as he was already a prisoner of war she would be compelled to

ransom him. {254} On hearing this Hesione took off her golden diadem, which

she joyfully handed to the hero. Owing to this circumstance Podarces

henceforth bore the name of Priamus (or Priam), which signifies the

"ransomed one."

 

Heracles now marched against Augeas to execute his vengeance on him also

for his perfidious conduct. He stormed the city of Elis and put to death

Augeas and his sons, sparing only his brave advocate and staunch defender

Phyleus, on whom he bestowed the vacant throne of his father.

 

HERACLES AND DEIANEIRA.--Heracles now proceeded to Calydon, where he wooed

the beautiful Deianeira, daughter of Oeneus, king of Ætolia; but he

encountered a formidable rival in Achelous, the river-god, and it was

agreed that their claims should be decided by single combat. Trusting to

his power of assuming various forms at will, Achelous felt confident of

success; but this availed him nothing, for having at last transformed

himself into a bull, his mighty adversary broke off one of his horns, and

compelled him to acknowledge himself defeated.

 

After passing three happy years with Deianeira an unfortunate accident

occurred, which for a time marred their felicity. Heracles was one day

present at a banquet given by Oeneus, when, by a sudden swing of his hand,

he had the misfortune to strike on the head a youth of noble birth, who,

according to the custom of the ancients, was serving the guests at table,

and so violent was the blow that it caused his death. The father of the

unfortunate youth, who had witnessed the occurrence, saw that it was the

result of accident, and therefore absolved the hero from blame. But

Heracles resolved to act according to the law of the land, banished himself

from the country, and bidding farewell to his father-in-law, set out for

Trachin to visit his friend King Ceyx, taking with him his wife Deianeira,

and his young son Hyllus.

 

In the course of their journey they arrived at the river Evenus, over which

the Centaur Nessus was in the habit {255} of carrying travellers for hire.

Heracles, with his little son in his arms, forded the stream unaided,

intrusting his wife to the care of the Centaur, who, charmed with the

beauty of his fair burden, attempted to carry her off. But her cries were

heard by her husband, who without hesitation shot Nessus through the heart

with one of his poisoned arrows. Now the dying Centaur was thirsting for

revenge. He called Deianeira to his side, and directed her to secure some

of the blood which flowed from his wound, assuring her that if, when in

danger of losing her husband's affection, she used it in the manner

indicated by him, it would act as a charm, and prevent her from being

supplanted by a rival. Heracles and Deianeira now pursued their journey,

and after several adventures at length arrived at their destination.

 

DEATH OF HERACLES.--The last expedition undertaken by the great hero was

against Eurytus, king of Oechalia, to revenge himself upon this king and

his sons for having refused to bestow upon him the hand of Iole, after

having fairly won the maiden. Having collected a large army Heracles set

out for Euboea in order to besiege Oechalia, its capital. Success crowned

his arms. He stormed the citadel, slew the king and his three sons, reduced

the town to ashes, and carried away captive the young and beautiful Iole.

 

Returning from his victorious expedition, Heracles halted at Cenoeus in

order to offer a sacrifice to Zeus, and sent to Deianeira to Trachin for a

sacrificial robe. Deianeira having been informed that the fair Iole was in

the train of Heracles was fearful lest her youthful charms might supplant

her in the affection of her husband, and calling to mind the advice of the

dying Centaur, she determined to test the efficacy of the love-charm which

he had given to her. Taking out the phial which she had carefully

preserved, she imbued the robe with a portion of the liquid which it

contained, and then sent it to Heracles.

 

The victorious hero clothed himself with the garment, {256} and was about

to perform the sacrifice, when the hot flames rising from the altar heated

the poison with which it was imbued, and soon every fibre of his body was

penetrated by the deadly venom. The unfortunate hero, suffering the most

fearful tortures, endeavoured to tear off the robe, but it adhered so

closely to the skin that all his efforts to remove it only increased his

agonies.

 

In this pitiable condition he was conveyed to Trachin, where Deianeira, on

beholding the terrible suffering of which she was the innocent cause, was

overcome with grief and remorse, and hanged herself in despair. The dying

hero called his son Hyllus to his side, and desired him to make Iole his

wife, and then ordering his followers to erect a funeral pyre, he mounted

it and implored the by-standers to set fire to it, and thus in mercy to

terminate his insufferable torments. But no one had the courage to obey

him, until at last his friend and companion Philoctetes, yielding to his

piteous appeal, lighted the pile, and received in return the bow and arrows

of the hero.

 

Soon flames on flames ascended, and amidst vivid flashes of lightning,

accompanied by awful peals of thunder, Pallas-Athene descended in a cloud,

and bore her favourite hero in a chariot to Olympus.

 

Heracles became admitted among the immortals; and Hera, in token of her

reconciliation, bestowed upon him the hand of her beautiful daughter Hebe,

the goddess of eternal youth.

 

BELLEROPHON.

 

Bellerophon, or Bellerophontes, was the son of Glaucus, king of Corinth,

and grandson of Sisyphus. In consequence of an unpremeditated murder

Bellerophon fled to Tiryns, where he was kindly received by King Proetus,

who purified him from his crime. Antea, the wife of Proetus, was so charmed

with the comely youth that she fell in love with him; but Bellerophon did

not return her affection, and she, in revenge, slandered him to the king by

a gross misrepresentation of the facts. {257}

 

The first impulse of Proetus, when informed of the conduct of Bellerophon,

was to kill him; but the youth, with his gentle and winning manners, had so

endeared himself to his host that he felt it impossible to take his life

with his own hands. He therefore sent him to his father-in-law, Iobates,

king of Lycia, with a kind of letter or tablet which contained mysterious

signs, indicating his desire that the bearer of the missive should be put

to death. But the gods watched over the true and loyal youth, and inclined

the heart of Iobates, who was an amiable prince, towards his guest. Judging

by his appearance that he was of noble birth, he entertained him, according

to the hospitable custom of the Greeks, in the most princely manner for

nine days, and not until the morning of the tenth did he inquire his name

and errand.

 

Bellerophon now presented to him the letter intrusted to him by Proetus.

Iobates, who had become greatly attached to the youth, was horror-struck at

its contents. Nevertheless he concluded that Proetus must have good reasons

for his conduct, and that probably Bellerophon had committed a crime which

deserved death. But as he could not make up his mind to murder the guest he

had grown to esteem, he decided to despatch him upon dangerous enterprises,

in which he would in all probability lose his life.

 

[Illustration]

 

He first sent him to kill the Chimæra, a monster which was at this time

devastating the country. The fore part of its body was that of a lion, the

centre of a goat, and the hind part of a dragon; whilst out of its jaws

issued flames of fire.

 

Before starting on this difficult task Bellerophon invoked the protection

of the gods, and in answer to his prayer they despatched to his aid the

immortal-winged horse Pegasus, the offspring of Poseidon and Medusa. But

the divine animal would not suffer himself to be {258} caught, and at last,

worn out with his fruitless exertions, Bellerophon fell into a deep sleep

beside the sacred spring Pirene. Here Pallas-Athene appeared to him in a

dream, and presented him with a magic bridle for the purpose of capturing

the divine steed. On awaking Bellerophon instinctively put out his hand to

grasp it, when, to his amazement, there lay beside him the bridle of his

dream, whilst Pegasus was quietly drinking at the fountain close by.

Seizing him by the mane Bellerophon threw the bridle over his head, and

succeeded in mounting him without further difficulty; then rising with him

into the air he slew the Chimæra with his arrows.

 

[Illustration]

 

Iobates next sent him on an expedition against the Solymans, a fierce

neighbouring tribe with whom he was at enmity. Bellerophon succeeded in

vanquishing them, and was then despatched against the much-dreaded Amazons;

but greatly to the astonishment of Iobates the hero again returned

victorious.

 

Finally, Iobates placed a number of the bravest Lycians in ambush for the

purpose of destroying him, but not one returned alive, for Bellerophon

bravely defended himself and slew them all. Convinced at length that

Bellerophon, far from deserving death, was the special favourite of the

gods, who had evidently protected him throughout his perilous exploits, the

king now ceased his persecutions.

 

Iobates admitted him to a share in the government, and gave him his

daughter in marriage. But Bellerophon having attained the summit of earthly

prosperity became intoxicated with pride and vanity, and incurred the

displeasure of the gods by endeavouring to mount to heaven on his winged

horse, for the purpose of gratifying his idle curiosity. Zeus punished him

for his impiety by sending {259} a gadfly to sting the horse, who became so

restive that he threw his rider, who was precipitated to the earth. Filled

with remorse at having offended the gods Bellerophon fell a prey to the

deepest melancholy, and wandered about for the remainder of his life in the

loneliest and most desolate places.

 

After death he was honoured in Corinth as a hero, and an altar was erected

to him in the grove of Poseidon.

 

THESEUS.

 

Aegeus, king of Athens, being twice married, and having no children, was so

desirous of an heir to his throne that he made a pilgrimage to Delphi in

order to consult the oracle. But the response being ambiguous, he repaired

to Troezen to consult his wise friend Pittheus, who reigned over that city,

by whose advice he contracted a secret marriage with his friend's daughter

Aethra.

 

After passing some time with his bride, Aegeus prepared to take his

departure for his own dominions; but before doing so he led Aethra to the

sea-shore, where, after depositing his sword and sandals under a huge rock,

he thus addressed her: "Should the gods bless our union with a son, do not

reveal to him the name and rank of his father until he is old enough to

possess the strength requisite for moving this stone. Then send him to my

palace at Athens bearing these tokens of his identity."

 

A son was born to Aethra, whom she called Theseus, and who was carefully

trained and educated by his grandfather Pittheus. When he had developed

into a strong and manly youth his mother conducted him to the spot where

the rock had been placed by Aegeus, and at her command he rolled away the

stone, and took possession of the sword and sandals which had lain there

for sixteen years, and which she now desired him to convey to his father

Aegeus, king of Athens.

 

His mother and grandfather were anxious that the youth should travel by the

safe sea route, the road between Troezen and Athens being at this time

infested {260} with robbers of great ferocity and enormous strength. But

feeling within himself the spirit of a hero, Theseus resolved to emulate

the deeds of Heracles, with whose fame all Greece resounded, and therefore

chose the more dangerous journey by land, as calculated to afford him an

opportunity of distinguishing himself by feats of valour.

 

His first adventure occurred at Epidaurus, where he met Periphetes, a son

of Hephæstus, who was armed with an iron club, with which he killed all

travellers. Having received from his grandfather a full description of this

savage, Theseus at once recognized him, and rushing upon him with his

sword, succeeded after a desperate encounter in killing him. He

appropriated the club as a trophy of his victory, and proceeded on his

journey without hinderance until he arrived at the Isthmus of Corinth.

 

Here the people warned him to beware of Sinnis the robber, who forced all

travellers to bend with him one of the branches of a tall pine-tree. Having

dragged it to the ground, the cruel Sinnis suddenly released his hold,

whereupon the bough rebounding high up into the air, the unfortunate victim

was dashed to the ground and killed. When Theseus beheld Sinnis advancing

towards him he steadily awaited his approach; then seizing his powerful

club, he killed the inhuman wretch with one blow.

 

Passing through the woody district of Crommyon Theseus next slew a wild and

dangerous sow which had long ravaged the country.

 

He then continued his journey and approached the borders of Megara, where,

on a narrow path overhanging the sea, dwelt the wicked Scyron, another

terror to travellers. It was his custom to compel all strangers who passed

his abode to wash his feet, during which operation he kicked them over the

rock into the sea. Theseus boldly attacked the giant, overcame him, and

then flung his body over the cliff where so many of his victims had

perished.

 

Theseus now journeyed on to Eleusis, where he found {261} another adversary

in the person of King Cercyon, who forced all comers to wrestle with him,

and killed those whom he vanquished; but Theseus overcame the mighty

wrestler and slew him.

 

Near Eleusis, on the banks of the river Cephissus, Theseus met with a new

adventure. Here lived the giant Damastes, called Procrustes or the

Stretcher, who had two iron beds, one being long and the other short, into

which he forced all strangers; In the short one he placed the tall men,

whose limbs he cut to the size of the bed, whilst to the short ones he

assigned the large bed, stretching them out to fit it; and thus he left his

victims to expire in the most cruel torments. Theseus freed the country

from this inhuman monster by serving him as he had done his unfortunate

victims.

 

The hero now continued his journey, and at length reached Athens without

meeting with any further adventures. When he arrived at his destination he

found his father a helpless tool in the hands of the sorceress Medea, whom

he had married after her departure from Corinth. Knowing, by means of her

supernatural powers, that Theseus was the king's son, and fearing that her

influence might be weakened by his presence, she poisoned the mind of the

old king against the stranger, whom she represented as being a spy. It was

accordingly arranged that Theseus should be invited to a banquet, and a

strong poison mixed with his wine.

 

Now Theseus had resolved to reveal himself at this feast to the father whom

he yearned to embrace. Before tasting the wine he put his plan into

execution, and drew out his sword so that the eyes of the king might rest

upon it. When Aegeus beheld once more the well-known weapon which he had so

often wielded, he knew that it was his son who stood before him. He warmly

embraced him, presented him as his heir to his courtiers and subjects, and

then, no longer able to endure the sight of Medea, he banished her for ever

from his dominions.

 

When Theseus was acknowledged as the rightful heir to the throne he was

opposed by the fifty sons of Pallas, {262} the king's brother, who had

confidently expected that on the demise of the old king the government of

the country would devolve upon them. They therefore resolved to put Theseus

to death; but their plans becoming known to him, he surprised them as they

lay in ambush awaiting his approach, and destroyed them all.

 

Fearing, however, lest the Athenians might entertain a prejudice against

him on account of his extermination of their fellow-citizens, the

Pallantids, Theseus resolved to perform some signal service for the state,

which should gain for him the hearts of the people. He accordingly decided

to rid the country of the famous bull of Marathon, which had become a

terror to the cultivators of the land. He captured the animal and brought

him in chains to Athens, where, after publicly exhibiting him to the

astonished multitude, he solemnly sacrificed him to Apollo.

 

The next enterprise undertaken by Theseus far surpassed all his other feats

of heroic daring, and secured to him the universal admiration and gratitude

of his fellow-citizens. This was the slaying of the Minotaur, which put an

end for ever to the shameful tribute of seven youths and seven maidens

which was exacted from the Athenians every nine years.

 

The origin of this barbarous tribute was as follows: Androgeos, the

youthful son of Minos, king of Crete, having been treacherously murdered by

the Athenians, his father, anxious to avenge the death of his son, declared

war against their king Aegeus, and conquered Athens and the villages in its

vicinity. The conqueror henceforth compelled the Athenians to send to him

every nine years a tribute of seven youths and seven maidens of the noblest

families of the land, who became the prey of the Minotaur, a monster,

half-man, half-bull, whose lair was in the wonderful labyrinth, constructed

by Dædalus for the Cretan king.

 

When Theseus informed his father of his heroic determination, he was

overwhelmed with grief, and endeavoured, by every means in his power, to

shake his son's resolution, but, confident of success, Theseus assured his

{263} father that he would slay the Minotaur and return home victorious.

 

It was customary for the vessel bearing its unhappy freight of human

victims to use on this voyage black sails only; but Theseus promised his

father that, should he return in safety, he would hoist white ones in their

place.

 

Before leaving Athens Theseus, by the advice of an oracle, chose Aphrodite

as his guardian and protectress, and accordingly offered up a sacrifice to

her. When he arrived in the presence of king Minos, the goddess of Love

inspired Ariadne, the beautiful daughter of the king, with an ardent

attachment for the noble young hero. During a secret interview, in which a

mutual confession of affection took place, Ariadne furnished him with a

sharp sword and a clue of thread, the end of which she desired him to

fasten at the entrance to the labyrinth and to continue to unwind it till

he reached the lair of the Minotaur. Full of hope as to the successful

issue of his undertaking, Theseus took leave of the kind maiden, after

expressing his gratitude for her timely aid.

 

At the head of his companions he was now conducted by Minos to the entrance

of the labyrinth. Strictly adhering to the injunctions of the fair Ariadne

he succeeded in finding the Minotaur, whom, after a fierce and violent

struggle, he defeated and killed; then carefully feeling his way, by means

of the clue of thread, he led his companions safely out of the labyrinth.

They then fled to their ship, taking with them the lovely maiden to whose

affection for their deliverer they owed their safety.

 

Arrived at the island of Naxos, Theseus had a dream, in which Dionysus, the

wine-god, appeared to him, and informed him that the Fates had decreed that

Ariadne should be his bride, at the same time menacing the hero with all

kinds of misfortunes should he refuse to resign her. Now Theseus, having

been taught from his youth to reverence the gods, feared to disobey the

wishes of Dionysus. He accordingly took a sad farewell of the {264}

beautiful maiden who so tenderly loved him, and left her on the lonely

island, where she was found and wooed by the wine-god.

 

Theseus and his companions felt keenly the loss of their benefactress, and

in their grief at parting with her, forgot that the ship still bore the

black sails with which she had left the Attic coast. As she neared the port

of Athens, Aegeus, who was anxiously awaiting the return of his son on the

beach, caught sight of the vessel with its black sails, and concluding that

his gallant son had perished, threw himself in despair into the sea.

 

With the unanimous approval of the Athenians, Theseus now ascended the

vacant throne, and soon proved himself to be not only a valiant hero but

also a wise prince and prudent legislator. Athens was at this time but a

small city surrounded by a number of villages, each of which possessed its

own separate form of government; but by means of kind and conciliatory

measures Theseus induced the heads of these different communities to resign

their sovereignty, and to intrust the administration of public affairs to a

court which should sit constantly at Athens, and exercise jurisdiction over

all the inhabitants of Attica. The result of these judicious measures was,

that the Athenians became a united and powerful people, and that numbers of

strangers and foreigners flocked to Athens, which became a flourishing

maritime port and a commercial centre of great importance.

 

Theseus renewed the Isthmian Games, and also instituted numerous festivals,

the principal of which was the Panathenæa, held in honour of Athene-Polias.

 

It is related that Theseus upon one occasion arrived during a voyage at the

Amazonian coast. Anxious to ascertain the object of his visit, the Amazons

sent Hippolyte, one of their number, with presents to the stranger; but no

sooner did the fair herald set foot on board his vessel than Theseus set

sail and carried her off to Athens, where he made her his queen. Enraged at

this indignity the Amazons determined to be revenged. Some time afterwards,

when the whole affair would {265} appear to have been forgotten, they

seized the opportunity when the city of Athens was in a defenceless

condition and landed an army in Attica. So sudden was their attack that

they had penetrated into the very heart of the city before the Athenians

could organize their forces; but Theseus expeditiously collected his troops

and commenced such a furious onslaught upon the invaders that, after a

desperate encounter, they were driven from the city. Peace was then

concluded, whereupon the Amazons evacuated the country. During this

engagement Hippolyte, forgetful of her origin, fought valiantly by the side

of her husband against her own kinsfolk, and perished on the field of battle.