INTRODUCTION

TO

SCIENTIFIC

MYTHOLOGY.

SYSTEM

OF

INTRODUCTION

SCIENTIFIC

SYSTEM

BY
Author

MYTHOLOGY.

OF

of

"

The

C. 0. MULLER,

History and

TRANSLATED

BY

Antiquities of the Doric

JOHN

BROWN,

GREEN,
MDCCCXLIV.

"c.

LEITCH.

LONDON

LONGMAN,

"c.,

GERMAN.

THE

FROM

Race,"

AND

LONGMANS.

EDINBUKGH

Prince's
Printed

107,
William
by

Tait,

SUeet.

DEDICATION.

Dear

Sib,
I

indebted

AM

writings
his

to

Miiller;

of

Prolegomena,

high

opinion

an

translating
that

well

it

of

in

to

However

task

respect

you

for

to

Your

stands

Sir,

obliged

and

faithful

JOHN

Professor

scholarship,

remain.
Dear

L.

my

estimation.

your

E.

and

LuSHiNGTON,

of

Greek

Esq.,
in

the

M.A.,

Unhersity

Cantab.

of

Glasgow.

of

gret
re-

peculiarly
that

which

work

of

matter

are

so

time,

one

me

elegant

you

character,

and

of

at

be

may

which

for

your

Translation

this

entertained

you

gratifying

varied,

profound,

it

translate

to

me

thought,

have

much

undertake

my

that

to

as

is, nevertheless,

it

your

inscribing

work,

that

determined

chiefly

the

with

acquaintance

first

my

circumstance

the

not

testify

to

what

yourself.

qualified,

enabled

high

of

did

you

and

was

for

you

Servant,

LEITCH.

am

ration
admi-

by
so

PEEFACE,

Throughout
the

Greek

few

the

instances,
almost

are

of the

names

which

properly

to

however,

mythological

be

them,)

with
in

the

with

with

Greek

those

writers, who

of

benefit

the

have

where

also

those

borrowed

the

them

Latin

of

list

from

the

seems

be

not

may

very

subjoin,
perfectly

these

names,

used

by English

the

Romans

gether
to-

"

Zeus,

Jupiter.

Ares,

Mars.

Hades,

Pluto.

Chronus,

Saturn.

Poseidon,

Neptune.

Artemis,

Diana.

Hermes,

Mercury.

Athena,

Minerva.

Dionysus,

Bacchus.

Demeter,

Ceres.

Hera,

Juno.

Persephone,

Hephaestus,

Vulcan.

Odysseus,

Ulysses.

Aphrodite,

Venus.

Eos,

Aurora.

It

also

orthography
if

Proserpine.

Cora,
.

was

I did

many

so

my
of

Greek

changes

established

which

as

the
in

names

could

to

should

not

present
this

first

at

proper

systematically,

general reader,
firmly

intention

fail

vicious

country,

follow
but

be
to

mode
that

in

names

with

country.

commonly

are

(except

which

and

in this

employed

accordance

who

authors,

which

in

Germany,

gaining ground

have

personages,

Esculapius,

as

prevails

for

familiar

such

identical

practice

Translation

following

Miiller
soon

found

obliged
shock
of

in

at

to

the
that

adopt

least

the

spelling is

innovation

would

so

viii

PREFACE.

hardly be tolerated,especiallyin

Take

required.

Circe

as

Milton

says
it

ought

daughter

but

to

me

so,

spelt and

many

matter,

have

Grecian

of them
done

so

presumptuous

in

entitled

do

are

necessityof

little towards

so

herself

possibly recog-

be

who

the

admit

as

be

could

those

pronounced

would

it would

I felt that

lead, while

to

attempt

although

this

name

but

none

Besides,

is most

Circe,

not

Sun

of the

her

were

transformed, that
flise her.

knows

be, (Kirkfe,)the transformer

to

names

example.

an

-Who

The

the

where

cases

where, therefore, innovation

disguised,and

most

are

those

to

in

reform

better

introducing a

system.
the

For

the

Dorians,

and

Lewis's
I

have

Miiller

I have

made

excellent

the

one

other

from

the

on

the

on

of that

Appendix

Mythi

the

Grotto

author's

History

of the first edition

use

the

the

to

translation
in

inserted

of Orion,
the

references

numerous

of

short

the
for

Museum

Pylus,

at

by

essays

with

connected

Hermes

of Tuffnell

work.

two

Bheinisches

of

lation
constel-

1834,

and

from

the

Hyperhoreisch-Edmische Studienfur Archdologie.

I have

only

further

to

Hamilton,

of

Edinburgh,

portion of

my

translation

with

the

learning
judge,
his

and

gave

opinion

for his
in

me

the

of the

conclusion.

that

assurance

such

as

to

thanks

kindness

high

my

in which

manner

best

manuscript,

genius, expressed by

certainlynot

was

to

original. While

offer my

in
and

examining

comparing

it

admiration
one

task
I had

discourage me

of

well

so

was

Sir Wm.

to

not

executed

from

Miiller's

qualifiedto
ill

chosen,

it

so

far,

bringing it

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David

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Gray, Glasgow College.
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W.

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Gunn,

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High

School,

Edinburgh.

Hudson
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don
Joseph Colling,Esq., Merchant, Lon2 copies.
Square, London
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James

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Davie, Esq., Glasgow.

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John

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J. M.
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David
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Capt. Marshall, Rothesay.
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Alexander
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ReT. J. S. Memes, LL.D., Hamilton.
ReY.
C. Merivale, St John's, Cambridge.

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Ivie H.
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Archibald

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M.

Professor

Pagan, Glasgow College.

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Professor

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LIST

Xll

Alan

Sterenson,

Esq.,

Civil

SUBSCRIBERS.

OF

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Rev.

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Merchant,

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Weir,

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White,

Peter

Esq.,

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bridge.
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Terzetti,

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copies.
Thompson,

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of

W.

H.

Esq.,

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ock.
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John

Wilson,

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of

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"

Daniel

James's,

St

of

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2

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Judge

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PiccadiUy,

Rothesay.
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"

Cambridge.

copies.

CONTENTS.

Chap.

Page
I.

External

Idea

of

the

Mythus,

1
....

II.

Stdps

towards

Internal

tlie

Idea

the

of

Mythus,

8
.

III.

The

Sources

of

Of

the

Mythus,

of

rather

or

ledge
know-

our

it,

of
IV.

the

22

Sources

of

Origin

or

the

Mythus

itself,

43
.

V.

On

Determination

the
the

mention

of

of
it in

Age

the

of

Authors,

.64
.

VI.

Determination

of

the

from

Mythus

Age

from

Mythi

of

Historical

Events,
VII.

72

Extension

of

this

Process

Mythic

the

to

Ages,

85
.

VIII.

On

the

of

Age

Great

the

Mythi,

of

Body

104
.

IX.

Approximate
Creation

Determination
of

of

ceased

Mythi

to

Time

the

when

the

prevail,

.109
.

Appendix
X.

How

to

Separate

to

of

Poets

IX.

Chapter
the

How

resolve

to

the

"Writers,

.145
.

Materials

Mythic

into

their

ginal
ori-

Elements,

.158
.

XII.

gion
XIII.

and

Auxiliary

On

the

and

Interpretation

Propositions

Adminicular

Symbolism

130

Modifications

the

XI.

Mythi,

Astronomical
from

Mythus

Prose

and

On

of

of

the
the

on

the

Beli-

Greeks,

Mythus

itself,

206
.

CONTENTS.

APPENDIX
:"

On

the

Relation

which

bear

phici,

to

elder

Homer,
Tradition,

Homer,

and

the

Or-

285

ib.

Hesiod,
The

Hesiod,

304

Orphici,

310
.

Orion,

324
....

The

Grotto

of

Hermes

at

Pylus,

348

ERRATA.

19,

1,

note

Andent

for

Andeut.

read

37,

line

40,

from

the

bottom,

for

from

the

bottom,

for

Te"d

far

latter

for.

later.

read

"

44,

delete

8,

the

Eros.

after
comma

"

58,

20,

for

16,

for

read

^iffT^v

iiS^i^r^v,

"

60,

read

xi^"fM7s,

xteetfAits

"

153,

1,

for

3,

for

Hereclea

Heraclea.

read

"

read

200,

note

201,

line

237,

no^e

2,

for

Aenead

289,

line

3,

for

IIikj^

22,

p.

read

iov

power,

person

20,

301,

read

ni"i"b"r.

Merm/reus

for

Aeneid,

read

iVfermerws.

read

"

2,

319,

souls,

after

the

delete

comma
"

319,

6,

?2ofe

insert

4,

s.

v.

sec.

line

321,

read

for

v.

Commotis

before

sacris.

"

328,

line

328,

Koie

7,

1,

1,

331,

referable

for

for

referrible,

read

read
jD.

line

u.

5,

for

Aer

read^Aim,

"

18,

1,

347,

"
"

for

AntonimtSf

Liber

12,

read

Antoninm

Liber.

12,

INTRODUCTION

SYSTEM

SCIMTiriC

OF

CHAPTER

External

In

order

that

I.

Idea

of the Mythus.

subject

our

it is first necessary
idea

an

of

them

to

men

of

the

Greece,

of

Bibliotheca

Dionysius,

which
are

recorded,

are

connected

it

from

contains

by

are

to

of

which

and
and

nothing
as

which

we

find

itself

than

to

merely
and

what

consideration
in

to

the

expresses

they

but

are.

form
rather
This

in

personages

the

way

they
dent
antece-

and

separated

This

definition

of the

ApoUodorus,
it is

the

fivdiKog

period

as

as

narrations

by

of Greece,

treated

of individual

them

learned

kukKos

of

distinct boundary.
tolerably

presented,
be

and

the

mass

interwoven,
era

the

enable

compilations

and

least

What

"dl relate,

immediately suggest

confines

such

destinies

the historical

materials,
not

and

it.

readers

our

at

mdoi,

ApoUodorus,

the deeds

to

called

consists

to

will

recognise

then,

stood,
clearly under-

convey

which

materials, in

homogeneous

of

and

be

may

to

mythus,

discover

MYTHOLOGY.

mythic
would

wholly external,
in

which

mythi
they seem

what
may

be

distinctly

OF

IDEA

EXTERNAL

ing,
examples,without our enterconcerningthe
for the present,into investigations
and origin of mythi.
nature
For, in the first place,
the account
even
of an action or event is manifestly

shown

from

individual

in the

mythus. Thus it is
Hesiod, amid an assemblage
in the

denoted

objectsor ideas,are
stated

of

Theogony

that

mythological records,

of

of natural

permanent relations,whether

form, when

Night

birth

gave

to

and
that Discord
(*i\ot"z?,)
brought forth Battle and Slaughter;^although these
insulated facts, but
be regarded as
cannot
events
of dailyoccurrence,
become, on the contrary, matters

by

Desire,

and

Deceit

the substitution

for the

of

take

If you

often

the

the

away

retain what

mythic

one

is

close

and

known

In

like

form

destroy the

you

nothing

same

to

seen

Uranus
a

act

Gsea

and

it may

as

and

after the

all

of

Uranus

is by
personification

Theog., 224

no

means

But

V.

is,at the

the

this

sqq.

wills, acts,
he

as

confined

men.

mythological

forth, while

heaven.^

are*

of

manner

time, constantly represented

eirclingcanopy

mythic

entirelyhuman,

downwards,

so

the

introduced, who*

are

personalexistence.

pleased,angry,

'

than

more

Destruction."

peculiarityof

imagined

never

beings lead
is

Discontent

personifiedbeings

nevertheless,
From

is it

manner

although

rence
occur-

mythus ; as in the wellvariously-applied

adage of the Greeks,

so

that

But

the

to
affinity

begetsDiscontent,

Pride

casion
oc-

tation.
represen-

figurativeproverbialexpression,although

bear

"

singledefinite

to
belongs,of necessity,

or

cause

figurative
expressionto give birth.

it is also clear that the form

other, and

idea to

of the abstract

all-en-

property of
to

the The-

128, 177-

THE

in which

ogony,
and

ideas

MYTHUS,

both

moral

physical and

invested

existences

personality
; it pervades
the entire local or heroic mythology. The life-giving
Streams
from which
the earth derives fertility
and
mankind
sustenance, appear as the first progenitorsi
and
together with them the solid barriers of the
country, the Peaks and Ridges of Mountains
; then
the District,the City,and the People come
into view,
and various features of external nature, and the gods
themselves, often under names
mysterious and hard
to be explained,but which, however, we
shall not at
are

present touch
learned

with

There

upon.

will, in spiteof everything,

assume

actuallyexisted
gave
many

his

its

; and

name

to

name

received

that

King Inachus,

the

But

city.

the

from

called

person

instances, learn from

that

lyingclose
district of
was

secltided
to

the

Argos, who
can,

their

from

once

whom

in

ties
locali-

language,that

their denomination

physical

instance

we

a
Afyos signified
plain,especiallyone
such preciselyvvas
the
to the sea ; and

Argos.^

In

like

manner,

it stood

called Cleitor,because

valley,(from /cXe/w ;) and

been

have

there

surely we

charafcter; for example, in this very

kndw

who

especiallyin foreign countries;

men,

river had

still,indeed,

liiay be

called

after

in

narrow

yet it also ig said

hero

in Arcadia

town

of

that

name.^

might be collected,if
But
the
the localities were
carefullyexamined.
result is still more
same
clearlydeduced from the
of a local mythology, e. g.
connected consideration
Thousands

of such

instances

Argiye. Oceanus, the

begets Inachus, by which
the

'

Orchom.,

p. 125.

source
name
*

of all fresh water,

the

stream

Pausan.,viii. 4.

must,
3.

IDEA

EXTERNAL

meant
originally

been

have
assuredly,

naturallyproduces water
a

smaller

of course,

great primary water,

Niobe,

without

and

be

would

the

Phoronis.^

The

down,

legends, those

of

simple

also

from

and

drav? any

to

here

conclusion

pointed out

localities,"c.

of

the events

relate, by the

way

to

divided

time

from

This, again, is
be

nothing

that

view

'

ApoUod.,

'

See

they
anterior

it

by

But

as

with

the view

now

to

not

to

the

third

mythi speak, all

connected
the

tion
personificato

come

of which
are

do

we

it is suflicient that

the occasional

We

point,viz.,that

consideration

Arcadia, for instance,

similarlyinstructive.

mean

have

In

district,and

handed

was

general explanation of mythi,

to

connexion.

accordingto Acusilaus, the Argive,

tradition

the

similar

and

Peloponnesus,

ed,
present,leave unexamin-

Argos,

son,

race,

ancient poem

we

the

the

was

yet

from

is formed

greater part of the story in ApoUodoms

derived ;^ while he, in his turn, drew
the
upon

whom

of

roneus
Pho-

great god Zeus, the father of

the

by
a

men,

whom

fore,
there-

This

seriouslyinterruptingthe

Pelasgus,the
by

for the

may,

latter had,

gods

first

mysterious mythological being, whose

we
significance

The

married

the

personage.

name
begat Apis, whose
the ancient designationof
'A-n-la,

and

having

Inachus

historical

no

most

water

Argive tradition, and

the

according to

man,

; as

begat Phoroneus,

Oceanus,

of

daughter

^the

"

local water.

and

OF

and

historical

woven,
inter-

period,

tolerablydistinct boundary.
perfectlytrue, if we consider mythi

more

they

than

what

all refer to

they profess to
a period which

ii. 1. 1.

Clem.
particularly

Alex., Strom,

i. p. 321, A.

be.
ter-

THE

rainated

in the

WtKos, with

MYTHUS.

series of

somewhat

was

extended

by

other

that this definition also

refer to

great

occurrence.

of

The

about

family traced
Thessaly.

not

rially,
mate-

The

find,however,

We

the 37th

at

is

cityof Gyrene,in Libya,

Greek

was

form

the

shall,however, confine

The

Olympiad.
from

the

ing
reign-

Minyans,

lolcus,a cityof southern

establishment

of the
principallythe work
Pytho. This is represented in
The

abouts,
there-

really
this side of the boundary,
be pointed
This can
mythi which indubitably

their descent

chief sway

KvkXos

or

only apply to

can

number

one.^

founded

whose

poets.

historical events.

myself to
was

further, but

mythus lies on

is, in fact,a later

in

called

poems

other words, that what

; in

mythus

stated in the

out

epic

Odysseus' last adventures,

and

of the

of

Oracle
a

colony

the

of

mythus

was

Apollo
as

at

follows

heroic

virginCyrene, who dwelt in Thessaly/

of Apollo,and carried away
beloved
was
by him to
Libya.^ But it is not representedas if it had taken
place in the 37th Olympiad. In order that it might
be at all formed
into a mythus, it is translated
back
to the earlyheroic age, and Cyrene brought
into affinity
with the ancient heroes of the Thessalian
to whom
the royal family believed themselves
race,
related.
We

shall

have

an

opportunity hereafter,

for

to speak of the mythic

we
come
example when
Here
expression,of followingup these remarks.
they are merely designed to prove what they do
definition of the mythus in
prove : that the above
'

I have

See

alreadypointed out this case

Pindar; Pyth. 9.
particularly

in my

Orchomenos,

p. 346.

IDEA

EXTERNAL

the

to
appliessolely,

cases

many

how

But

appearance.

Such

import ?

and

real nature

the

form,

arrive at

we

can

OF

idea of its

an

he

cannot

idea

an

esuternal

it only from
ence
experihave
priori,as we
and of itself inteUi; neither is it immediately
a
product of our
as
gihle,being utterlyunknown
attained

It is

times.

by

idea ;

purelyhistorical

which

of

creation

over,
idea, more-

an

remote

very

is

ages

possiblybe arrived at
torical
is its hishow
otherwise
than historically.But
the mythus itself being
perception possible,
of the idea of the mythus, and apthe only source
pearing,
be

to

It cannot

conceived.

too, in

of

In the statement
the

correspond;

contents

the

language forms

But

to the other.

and the

path

must

In other words,

explained,ere
contents.

instances

mythi

attaiu

can

be

must
ere

be
must
interpreted,
a
knowledge of their

be

must

in

done

as

question still remains, whether

the

knowledge
current

passes
of such

attained

thus

us, or

among

ideas; whether

we

to
compounded aiccording

widely-separated,and
union

of which

Were

the

Greek

of narrations,handed

by

by

do

And
can

then

express

idea

an

such

on

as

simple combination
not

notions

our

seize the

to

idea.
we

vidual
indi-

find

something

of multifarious,

heterogeneous materials,

is based

differentfrom

able

generic

the

thousand

shall be

we

of the mythus

essence

the

acquaintance with

an

bridgewhich leads from the one

here, to us they lie further apart ;
first be sought,is itself a problem.

we

This

and

historical fact the form

an

its contents

different from

form

mode

of

the

tirely
thinking en-

ours.

mythology, that
down

to

us

definite whole

alone and

by itself,

THE

did

and

MYTHUS.

knowledge
of Grecian
if this can
be at all imagined,a
antiquity,
systematic and philosophicalexplanation of mythology
would be quiteimpossible; nay, it could not
be shown
with
even
certaintythat it ought to be
we

understood

in any

other

no

possess

other

to

access

than

the usual

words, that it, in fact, required any

all.

And

supposing some

necessityof

this

by

hypothesiswith regardto

systems, by which
narrations
the

should

stands

case

have

the
be

to

merit
would

gies
mytholohave

of

meaning
and

after
one

be determined

very

ascertained.

otherwise

of any

been

actuallyproceeded

devised

true

the

of affording
a
capability

have

Many

and

manner,

the

another

inferior

superioror

generalelucidation.
this

the

out

could be,
interpretation

and
all, merely hypothetical,

in

point

comparison with

the

previouslyknown,

its

explanation at

should

one

of the

sense

nations, assuming these

of other

by

But

ingenious
all

mythic
fortunately

stillpossess^

we

from

quity
antiknowledge of Grecian
which, in reference to mythology, suffices to
for its true explanation. We
furnish starting-points
find from
know
the language,and
it that many
have
a
meaning, and that the
mythologicalnames
sponds
activityof those to whom
they are applied corre-

independent

with

regardedas

sources,

them

accidental

circumstance
and

which

void of

can

we

of the
even

know,

Grecian

the

ascertain

often
soil

means

to what

its rivers,its
ledge
of this know-

particularspot

mythus refers,and, it may

purport of its languageregardingit.

moreover,

the

authentic

be

We
signifl^cance.

know, too, the land of the Greeks, with

mountains, and its ruins; and by

cannot

bej
We

historyof Greece,

IISISa

INTERNAL

OF

observe
and
its civil institutions,and
religion,
that mythology frequently
speaks of their originand
constitution.
Nay, the mythic materials, although
peculiarin their character,are not so distinctly
ated
separbut that
from the other memorials
of antiquity,
they, as it were, pass into each other at the boundary,
its

and

stand

in

relation

purely historical
circumstances

same

and

ideas

which

the

ancient

too, clothed

other

are

mentioned

sources

whence

our

in

of the

mythi

in like manner,

philosophers;

them

by

of this connexion

obtained,

frequentlyspeak

expressed by mythology,are,

reproduced by
means

also

ments
Docu-

transition.

of constant

nay,

times,
some-

in

mythic drapery. By
between
mythology and the
knowledge

of

antiquityis

gain numberless
points where we can
plainlyperceivewhat it speaks of, and the meaning
of its communications.
We
thus graduallylearn to
understand

we

its

of expression,
language and manner
and rise by degreesto a systematic and philosopbical
knowledge of the subject,

CHAPTER

Stepstowa/rds
It is
as

of

only by

the Internal

such

II.

Idea

of the Mythus.

graduallyprogressivemethod
have described,that a perfectidea of the nature
we
the mythus can
be attained.
We
ever,
here, howmay
though without enteringinto minute and exhaustive
determine some
investigations,
pointsregarda

THE

ing it.

MYTHUS.

quiteclear that two

enter into mythology; viz., the
done, and thingsimagined. With
It is

there
mentions
does not
a

be

can

doubt

no

that the Earth

relate

fact

ingredients
statement
of things
ter,
regardto the lat-

whatever

for when

Hesiod

gave birth to the Heavens, he

but he, at all events, expresses

notion, opinion,or whatever

be

distinct

it may

be

called.

It

easilydoubted whether actual events

in mythology ; but, in the
to be found
first
are
ration
place,it would surelybe strange if the form of nar-

might

more

of actions and

destinies should contain

nothing

at all

reallyand

to
directlycorresponding

then

authentic

history frequentlyfurnishes

whereby

the

verified.

To

The
on

Achaean

facts of

coast

that

of the
the

having been expelledby

that

test
be

of illustration

way

Peloponnesus. Now,

Achaean

the Dorians

stands

on

This

once

the

prince,Tisamenus,
from

Argos,took

the

granted,we

be

jected
ob-

confines of history,

of it must, therefore,be

and the account

historical.

may

region. But, perhaps, it will

that this event

as

narration

tribe,within the historical period,dwelt

states

refugein

mythic

givean example, by

the northern

mythus

itself ; and

regarded

ther
penetrate far-

of
mythology, and find that two sons
admit of
Achseus, who
(to pass by whatever
may
dispute)either denote the tribe,or conducted it,removed
We
to Argos from Phthiotis.-^
always find,
therefore, a chain of facts leadingfrom historyinto
mythology. It might,indeed, be said that the mythic
drawn
is merely a conclusion
ventor
statement
by the inof the mythus, in order, as it were,
to give
the Achaeans
a
mythologicalfootingin Argos ; but

into

'

Fauean., vii.

1. 3.

such

on

be

solved,why this

so

exactlywith

both series of
that

or

the

in

These
and
as

suppositionswhich,

elements, fact and

Idecd, to

mythic

this

are

the

corded
re-

stands,

Iliad.

of the

between

to

so

take

the mythus itself and

The

carried away
of

The

examples might

"

Greeks

had

Hypoplaeian Thebes,

temple

be

united
closely

which

one

to

it

ing
without, for the present,endeavour-

source

and

Real

literature, ^the story of

first book

poeticaltreatment.
laid waste

ought

very

Numberless

of Greek

to discriminate

priest.

still,

imagination,the

appear

shall select

the apex

Chryseisjin
from

also

expressionswhich

use

relation.

be adduced.

speak,at

in the

We

inadmissible.

often
generalas possible,

in

son,
per-

follow up

to

meant

one

same

mythi.

two

the

to be

shown

by the

the result,that real events

to

come

of the

alleged that

be

then

invented

were

of the other
be

sequel,will

traditions of the Achae-

must

author

the

to

corresponds

invention

or

numerous

mythi

invention

then,

statement

JPhthiotis.
It

in

ans

the

remain

enigma would

assumption,the

an

OF

IDEA

INTERNAL

10

conquered
the

near

captivefrom

Trojan

the

its
and
ritory,
ter-

ing
neighbour-

Chryse, the daughter of Chryses

father wished

applicationwas

to

her

ransom

harshly refused, and

by Agamemnon,

to

whom

he

she

the

but

his

himself

had

sulted,
in-

fallen

at

the division of the

of the
his

spoil. Hereupon Apollo, the god

sanctuary, at the prayer of Chryses, sent vdth

arrows

into the camp

destructive both to
the

men

of the
and

temple actuallystood

Traces

of it were

seen
"

Greeks

animals.

We

pestilence,
know

that

in the situation referred to.

in later times
Stra.,xiii. 605.

;^ and the appel-

THE

lation of Smintheus,
to. his

MYTHUS.

which

far,then, at all events,

in the

entertained

bodied
em-

that

and
priests,

have

can

no

Apollo sternly

the ancients,of the power

by
; and

ApoUo

it is manifest

in combination

story,so far

with

as

of

means

that

too

in the

god.

must, therefore, leave

that

or

agency

We

birth to the
have

whether
ascertaining

historical tradition

an

and

this idea, placed

certain events, gave

relates to the

as

the

us

be held

It

belief that

the

of his

Thus

represented; viz.,by sendingplagues. This

in perfectharmony with the idea generally

belief is

before

gives

the other hand, the action

On

than

ill usage

here

Homer

circumstances

deity,as such, is purelyideal.

resents

of

actual

are

mythus.

other foundation

way

priestin

the

still preservedin the district.

god, was

of the

11

not

yet

it is to

invention,and

an

questionfor

the

present

undecided.
,

Real

and

the Ideal

united, and

the

one

The

that

there

their

as

mysteries;

example, tradition

wanderings,came

maid, and

it is

taught

plainthat

actual

the

Eleusis
This

is

existence

of the

incorporatedand

the

the main

only on belief,and is not

that had been actuallyseen.

founded

of

stillmore

closely

completely taken

more

for

in her

Demeter,

served

still

When,

into the other.

often

are

to

relates

Eleusis,

Eleusinians
narrative

statement

With

up

is

of anything

it the

fact

goddess'worship

at

interwoven.

union, indeed, is found

in most

mythi;

and

probablyfew in which something real and

Nay, if
something ideal might not be pointed out.
to hint at a result of
be thus earlyallowed
I may
the older the mythus the more
further investigation,
its real and imaginaryconblended
are
intimately
there

are

INTERNAL

12

IDEA

between

distinction

Consequently, the

stituents.

OF

mythi,on which so much

philosophical
more
formerly laid, is of proportionally

historical and
stress

was

part

entire

the

separatedfrom

of it,be

means

small

only a

and
applicability,

limited

can,

by
and

mass

classified.
If
and

proposed,from simple
proceed,in the manner
clear to mdre
complicated examples, and always
we

to ascertain

endeavour

idea, we

to

led

are

aim

to

at

elements

of the

mythus

here

real nature

of the

for this purpose,

as

first

us

in the

unless

mythology from
ideas

The
we

yet
to

be

related

that Zeus

body, in

order

him

good

and

number

these two

the

imaginary,the Ideal,

In the former,

meet

enclosed

that that

cannot

be

"

the physicalidea
Daylight,"

so

to

it is
in his

known

to

clearlythrough.

Erebus, Ether

common
'

latter,

idea that wisdom

shines

Night bore

Theog.,886.

Wisdom,"

of

of the

When

goddess might make

Deity

crowd

in the

his view.

Metis,

to the mind

the fundamental
evil,^

it is said that

'

some

separatethe theogonical
portionof

resides in the supreme

When

the

necessary,

questionregardingit

the rest.

smaller

of

composition.

immediatelypresentthemselves

much

being

Btrriveat

inquirerin tolerablydistinct expression;

a

sure

It

in which

manner

inquireinto

mythus.

answered

the

to

into its

ingredientsenter

it will

endeavour

we

where

even

preliminaryidea

mythus,

that

determinations

Let

obtain

object to

our

; and

divides them.

which

analogy the boundary

these

out, if possible,from

find

fail, to
starting-points

mination
deter-

accurate

more

subsist between

of the relations which

two

what

refers to fact and

what

among

Ibid.,124.

and

the

THE

ancients,that lightsprang
In

expressed.

13

MYTHUS.

like

darkness, is thereby

out of

Hesiod's

in

find

we

manner,

tainty,
Theogony,in so far as we understand them with cerlaid down
a greatvarietyof notions
regarding
the pristine
and the present form
of this world, the
of the gods, and the relation of
and power
essence
in
to a higher nature:
notions which, taken
man
connexion, constitute a kind of philosophy,if we
throw
aside what
belongs to religion. The case is
preciselysimilar with the Orphic cosmogonies, in

there

which, however,
referred

to

in

later

much

by

the

in which

it is

great deal that

period;

the nature

regard to

afforded

is

but

the

be

must

best

tion,
solu-

of this

is
representation,
Pherecydes of Syros,

of

cosmogony

impossiblenot to recognisephilosophical
nine-tenths 6f the
ideas clothed in mythi. But
hind.
Their
Grecian mythi are of a totally
different
are

scenes

laid in

they speak of
and

the Primeval
of native

adventures

legendswill

of these

form.
original
or

heroes, "c.

soon

few

They
persons,

are,
as

that
of itself,

show

that

consfderation

comprehensive

time when

Greece

was

for in their
the work

not
evidently,

may

be

neither

seen

from

manifest

they

individual

acquaintancewith

; and

inhabitants,of the lineage

of the Ideal is not to be looked

connexion

one

of Greece

particulardistricts

an

of

this circumstance
accurate

localities,
which,

at

exploredby antiquaries,

hand-books
exist, could be posgeographical
sessed
only by the inhabitants of those localities.
Accordingly,
any attempt to explain these mythi in

nor

did

order,
"

such, for instance,

ApoUodorus,

as

"

must

prove

as

we

now

find them

in

system of thoughtand knowledge,

fruitless task.

Such

systematic

could,

coherence

merely

extend

most,

at

OF

IDEA

INTERNAL

14

however,

Here,

connected.
portions orgiiially

smaller

to

our

in
inquiryis restricted to the Ideal, as it is exhibited
read mythi simply^
the heroic or local mythus. If we

and

there is
strainingafter interpretation,
point where the Idfeal uniformly meets the

without

only
view

one

the continual

"

deities that

same

Greece.

with

were

to them

ascribed

belief in the

expressionof

shall not

yet try
the

questionwhether

philosophemes.) Religion is therefore, in

to

the only element

histoty,

the

which

while

mythus,

do

direct

of

traces

which

persuasion.

must

lead

It may

be

should

be

amined,
ex-

space

often

very

pear
ap-

usually bear,

not

appellatives;

handed

intimation

reflectingmind

proper

here

that

The

peculiar manner

goddess
at

an

down

to

that

Artemis

Brauron

was

to

it

that

number

Modern
of them

worshipped

in Attica.

of

example

fullydeveloped.

have alreadybrought
investigations

light.

local

or

god, does, nevertheless, frequentlyexhibit

speaks

to

minently
pro-

subject is

their ancient

no

tion
addi-

out

gods gain

they

it has been

as

contain

it may

this kind

they

from

formed

are

that the

find that

which

names

but which

us,

We

importance.

the

in the

faith

stands

of the heroic

deeply

more

does

more

under

and

the

But

mythology.

the

originally
sprung

of

at the first consideration

and

touch

even

nor

have

gods may

country,

of which, however,

determine,

to

of the

gods

(thesource
professionof religion,

out

pers
worship-

their

by

and, therefore, it is clear that these narrations

an

we

consistency

in

always

almost

They act, too,

the character
;

are

of the gods. They are the

worshipped in the temples of

agency

The

in

vir-

THE

ginswho
Hence
the

served

it follows

Arcadia;

and

worship

there

which
informs

corresponded,in

goddess,into
in

Hesibdic

Now,
the

In

her

of the

she gave

So

the

the

tract
ex-

poeticalwork,
a

nymph.^

this,that the circumstance

from

at Brauron

is served

goddess,who

chaste
birth to

people.

another

panion
com-

pregnant by

accordingto

poem,

that

mythus
Lyeaon, was

Hesiod, Callisto is called

to

set out

we

form

in

the

and

wrath

the

of the Arcadian

in Eratosthenes.^

also ascribed

But

Arcadia,

bear, in which

Areas, the father

legend ran

in

to

her

points,to

daughter of

changed, by

was

sacred

worshipped

chase, until she becamie

in the

Zeus, and

several

Brauron.

at

attendant

constant

also

was

that Callisto,the

us

held

was

indications, too, that

are

observed

was

bear

Artemis

there

15

called a|0/cTot "she-bears."^

were

that the

Now

goddess.

her

her

MYTHUS.

of

by she-bears,

having a friend and companion chdnged into a bear,

cannot
possiblybe a freak of chance, but that this
animal
the

can

sacred

was

mythus,

to the

and

at

for^were

the

if the

into

metaniorphosisof

the animaL

See

But

the

Attic

ApolL,

iii. 8. 2.

the

was

back

also of

dramatists

only

religious

nymph by
not

in

derstood
un-

deriving

only,however,
the

do

goddess

accidental

; and

to the sacredness

hence, also, it follows

Lysistr.,
645, "c.
^ Catast.
I. Hygin. Poet.
'

her

bgar, of all animals,

this,again,gtill brings us

to think

the former, he could

the latter from

so,

time

same

this way

for,and their connexion

one

any

In

goddess.

observance, be accounted
:

in the fact that the

has its foundation

metamorphosis

of

that Hesiod

Harpocr., a^xTsueai, Aristoph.

Astron., ii. 1.,p. 419,

Staveren.

16

OF

IDEA

INTERNAL

longer handed down the mythus in its original

consistency
shape ; for it would surelyhave been a glaringinshould,
in the ancient mythus, if Artemis
in her anger, and
a
as
punishment, bestow on her
nymph the form of an animal sacred to herself. The
supposition of an alteration is further supported by
no

the

observation, which,
that

prove,

however,

virginityof Artemis, being

the

generallyreceived

by

the

goddess,even

service

of the

entirelydifferent
With

the

preciselythe

the favourite

made

himself, from

listo into

bear,

It is therefore
the

KaWta-rri,

Artemis

Arcadia

too, where,

mound

that

CaUisto

of the
the
the

little

regarded.

by Sappho ;^and
Pausanias

'

VIII.

35.

more

7.

the
the

the

that

We
a

know

temple

been

to

hymn
ancient

'

in

earthen
lieved
be-

was

The

tive
appella-

formed

latter is

from

evidently

original; besides,

Arcadian
was

high

states, it

diffused

Artemis

also in

reckons

as

buried.^

widely

Greece, where

of

on

have

former

appellativewas

parts

been

cannot

bear, in

beautiful," stood

most

nymph,

derivative, the

that

but

had

cow.

only,that

Pausanias,

that writer

as

Cal-

Artemis.

Msenala

goddess

of the

name

the

"

Mount

near

of

became

reason

to Arcadian

further, that in the time

lo into

changed

this

jealousy,and

of it,transform

clear that CaUisto

sacred

was

an

view, later poets

same

dread

originallegend,for

animal

placeswhere

fable of Hera's

he had

as

to

regardingher originally
prevailed.

notion

introduced
Zeus

idea

an

transferred

poets, was
in

here

cannot

we

through
Callisto

called

the

Pausan., i. 29.

was

KaXX/oTi?

by Pamphus
than

other

whom

Lesbian

2.

THE

MYTHUS.

17

poetess.^ In Attica, where

these

home, there

image

in the

was

wooden

temple dedicated

hymns

had

called

their

KaXKia-rtj

Artemis, in the Academy.^

to

d KoKd, by
tragedians,
of eminence, and as if this were
her peculiar
way
title. But as the name
of Callisto is manifestlyconnected
fer
with the designation
of the goddess,
must inwe
thatKaXXjo-Tw
is the latter'stitle of honour
changed

The

by
goddessis styled,

into

name

proper

and

Attic

arrive

thus

we

at the inevitable

conclusion,that Callisto is justnothing else than

the
one

goddess and

her

idea.

much

adduced
which

This
;

it

suppliedwith
of

man

and

to

might

also

of

source

be

the

as

goddess

fountains; who

ity
brought to maturwell as the offspring

therefore, the

whom,

the

although,as
she

animals, as

in nature, such

creatures

to be

and

drink, and

food and
of wild

the young

lakes

haunted

to

remark, that the

to

fancied his Artemis

who

in

has been

what

the connexion

point at

belongs,it is sufficient

nature,

comprehended

from

is evident

but in order to

ancient Arcadian
of

animal

sacred

powerful

most

sacred

bear, were

youth,growth,and bloom,

called
ideas

"

the

beautiful," in

most

of

primeval humanity.'
in proof of
We
back, therefore,to the position,
come
adduced
this example, that mythological
which
we
cation,
discovers objectsof Grecian deifiresearch frequently
selves
where they did not at first present themeven
accordance

the

with

to the eye.

But

with

ideas

these

class, which
ideas
"
^

of

may

of the
be

ethical

termed

morality and

Pausan., viii. 35. 7.

Dorians, vol. i. p. 390,

other
gods themselves,an-

justice
"

8qq.

"

-were

Ibid.,i. 29.

mental
fundaunited
2.

from

like

refer to
Zeus

disguise;

found

that

of

Lycaon,

else this

expresses

horror

mythus

of

but

purpose

either

or remotely,
directly
theworship of the

has

aimed

its materials

while he may

have

other

some

particularportionsof

in

adapting themselves,
the

at

as
interpretation,

of

for the

should
the

us,

out from

be

to

to

it leads

the

end

as

case

portraitsof

human

particular
persons,

the

hold

from

the

rejecting
back,

cases;

certain

to

rare

in

forced, frigid,and

individual
us

pliability
explained,

pronounced

kind, merely
of

of

might

explain the latter by

joyfullyappropriatethe result.

so

it is not

even

else it

therefore,without

development

shall

we

all events

spun

that

uncertain,

former,

himself

truths, maxims

to be

it were,

as

whole,

find that

we

the matter

time, have

same

unsatisfactory.Let
wait

required

system

been struck with the

of

anything

by

discoveringand

at

"

view, must,

be

made

knowledge and thought, astronomical

in practical
philosophy,or whatever
"

be settled

of -mythology,whether
interpretations

unfolding from

be,

race.

greater portionof the

whoever

modern, which

or

served

If I herewith

anthropophagy.

gods,the point,indeed, cannot at present

proof,as a very complete induction would

ancient

in humble

contain, it certainly

mythology, relates

familiar with

stance.
in-

having

their

may

the assertion,that the

that

mythi.

their

well-known

mediatelyor immediately,to

for

in

are,

flesh,destroyed their whole

human

Ideal in heroic

and

his sons,

or

of

in consequence

Whatever

connect

as

in

expressed

visited him,

once

and

him

to

up

be

to

manner,

I may

the Greeks

earlyperiod among

an

OF

IDEA

INTERNAL

18

to

recognise in

and
and
to

the
At
thology
my-

character,sometimes
far

across

the limits

THE

of tradition

"

MYTHUS.

witness

SisypiuSjWand

the

stories of the

sometimes

historyat all,as in
Epimetheus.^ We

19

not

traceable

cunning of
to

sonal
any per-

legendsof Prometheus
and
also recogniserepresentations
of a physicalnature ; in iEolus, for example,
(who is brought into connexion with heroic genealogies,)
with whom
the Homeric
sant
legend makes pleais born
in volcanic
sport; in Typhoeus who
and lies bound, "c.
regions,
fights
have no
we
cluding,
Altogether,
ground whatever for exbeforehand, any class of thoughtsand ideas
from the mythic representation,
if it can
be at all
tual
supposed that they lay within the sphere of intellectrary,
activityin those primitiveages. On the conit is highlyprobable that a completebody of
thought and knowledge is contained, in mythology.
all powers
For the mythic expressionwhich converts
and

existences

into persons,

is at all events
must

we

suppose

from

the

pure

all relations into

its

for its cultivation

togetherfact and
originateand become
accustomed

and

peculiarin

so

in the civilisation of

were

the

people.
idea

in

current

to express

each other,mere

This

character,that

particular
epoch
mode

ing
of blend-

narration, could

one

at

tions,
ac-

time

when

not
men

and keep sepadistinctly,

rate
of speculation
and
matters

results of

expressionwere,

at

experience. But if the mythic

one
periodof Grecian civilisation',

prevalentand universal,it must also have been

found well adapted as a vehicle for such thoughts
and inventions of that period as seemed
deservingof
in an impressive
communication
form, and may, thereso

'
*

Welcker

in Schwenk's

I refer to Welcker's

Etymol. Mythol.,Andent., p. 323.

Mythol.of the Japet.from the beginning.

fore,have
as

assume

time

were,

by

it,handed

in

down

certain

degree of completeness.
This mode
of reasoningdoes not, however,
lead

means

in

within
we

to

us

knowledge

mythology.
sphere of

the

learn what

must

of that

intellectual treasures
of

means

They

these

any
tained
con-

lay

that

those

ideas at that time

by

notions

of the

were

of

mythic form

especiallyflourished, we
the

that

the

time when

assume

representationmore
also

In shortj

extensivelyemployed.

been very

must

we

OF

IDEA

INTERNAL

20

but how

can

except by decyphering

were,

of historyfor that
the only source
mythology itself,
have
To
determine
?
access
period to which we
that only
beforehand, from some
philosophyof history,
certain
which
of

ideas

mankind,

In

the

than

mass,

creations

infancy

is

this.

perhaps no

It

been

has

no

be

tricated
ex-

sight.
historical in-

prejudicemore
long cherished,

who, instead of plying

aphistoryfor instruction,begin by attempting

to
set it

in the

barbarous

lead to

can

is still entertained

and

and

the rude

fact, there

dangerous

for

that these, therefore, should

and

from

to

from

emanated

looked

be

to

are

right.

"

We

by

many

must

not," say they, "seek

beautiful ideas in the

profound or

mythus, which

its existence

solelyfrom poverty of
ingeniihumani imbecillitate et

ab

for

direct
a

rived
depression,
ex-

dictionis

egestate."Instead, therefore, of investigating

why
that epoch of Grecian
humanity, above all others,
employed

this mode

that it
because

Now,
the

it

expression,they

expressed

itself in this

too

and

was

is not

of

this

question,why

coarse

preciselyas
the Greeks

at

cide
de-

once

strange

dull for any

if I should

manner

other.
answer

cultivated poetry alone

THE

until about

the 50th

Verily,no

1 every

only we

must

corn-stalk,nor
to be

ears

gratefulto

mythi, from
forth

into

21

Olympiad, by saying that they

irrational

too

were

MYTHUS.

and

for

unintellectual

prose ?

periodof historyhas its prerogative

from the
not seek to pluck roses
of corn
We
from the rose.
ought

the olden

which

the

bloom,

time, for the invention

poetry of the

burst

length gave birth to our

matre
own
; no
pulchrdJilia
pulchrior. How would
elder antiquityhave been despised,did not the transcendantlybeautiful and god-like form of Homer
stand at its very threshold, with his refined and highly
expressivelanguage,and his exquisiteharmony of
versification ! But
it is according to this analogy
that we must
pass judgment on the ages lyingbehind,
which

appeared

which^a
world

and

Greeks

of

at

to Homer

august

so

notable

intimation

this

^heroes themselves, like the

"

sang

the

must

not, then,

deeds

of other

himself, and

heroes

from

the

early

reposingAchilles,
the

to

lyre.

the firstdawnings of the

even

in

And

glorious

and

beautiful,give indications of its native character ?

Or

must

law

which

species,be regarded
and

races

holds

as

warns

other

every
the

nations

In short, the above

sion
conclu-

not

us

of

inapplicableto

of mankind?

merely

good

to

shut

our

eyes

wilfully

search,
againstanything while engaged in mythologicalrenot even
againstideas of originalbeauty and
purity; and, above all,not to undertake the task of
with a one-sided tendency to a certain
interpretation

limited
We

class of ideas.
have

hitherto

pointswith regardto
and

left the Real

merely soughtto

establish

the Ideal element

of the

untouched.

It is not

so

some

mythus,

difficult

SOURCES

22

question
the

as

OF

has

and

the

substance

in this element

of

the

events

local

or

fall to

fact

it

ascertain

what

to

Genealogies

although much

; and

of

of

preceding observations,

the

ground

mythic expression,(for

as

figureas individuals,and what is not properly

is often representedas such,)yet it cannot
that traditions of the life and

doubted

heroic chieftains in the

great bulk, and

have

earlydays

The

Sources

In the

of the Mythus,

nature

that

as

lead

entire

well
to

as

the

Knowledge of it.

of owr

I have

abstained
carefully

investigation,
determinations
regarding
I have urged throughout,

alone, which

enter

strive to embrace

such

objectof

rather

earlya stage of

mythus.

of the

researches

cases,

or

exhaustive

generaland
the

so

Greece, form

of

III.

foregoingremarks,

laying dowTi, at

from

of

actions

colour to the whole.

given a

CHAPTER

can

actual

tribes

even

be

the

for

wanderings,and marriages;
form the staple
territories,

mythology

this,in conformitywith
must

in the former

introduced.

are

their adventures,

of heroic

than

easier

much

conquest of cities and

the

latter stands

of narration, and

form

mythology

is, therefore, also

heroes

how

pression
presentedin any other, the exclosely
correspondmuch more

be

cannot

occurrences

of

KNOWLEDGE

determine

to

mythus

classes

OUB

determinations.

our

into

individual

the whole

subject,

But, indeed, the

this little treatise is to

point out

the

OF

way,

to show

THE

the method

MYTHUS.

of

23

conductinginvestigations

of this nature.
The

first questionregardsthe

thus.

Whence

whence

did

have

we

obtained

of the

sources

my-

mythic narrations,

that

? To many
this will appear
theyoriginate
and the same
one
question;hut we shall soon see
there are
here put, differing
two
widely from

each

other.

to he

We

who

separated from

are

antiquityby

many

centuries, can

only acquirea knowledge of Grecian

and monuments
memorials
mythi from the literary
of
art
The
ever,
latter,howbequeathed by the ancients.
form only a subordinate
supplementaryclass of
to
sources
literaryrecords
; for, did we
possess no
which
the inscriptions
reliefs and
on
belong even
pictures ^the world of ancient art, as regards its
"

"

historical value, which

must

be held

to humanity,
general significance

distinct from
have

would

been

It is possible,
indeed,
utterlyclosed againstus.
sometimes
even
actuallyhappens, that works of
exhibit
to us,

mythic

in situations

is made
cases,

personages,

in the

and

alreadyotherwise

actions to which

writings of

doubtless, constitute

the
a

no

ancients

valuable

its

and
art

Jenown
allusion

and

such

accession

to

mythologicalknowledge. They are, however,

comparatively rare, and the information they afford
referred to, rather
is always,from the circumstance
ments,
new.
Literarydocusupplementarythan altogether
selves,
the other hand, are
intelligible
by themon
and their contents can be decipheredwithout the
the latter throw
aid of works of art ; although,
certainly,
our

additional
Almost

lighton

the communications

all classes

of writers, as

of the former.
well in prose

as

24

SOURCES

in

OF

poetry, here

and
lyric,

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

under

come

consideration

our

of

authors

poets, together with

dramatic

epic,

mythographand idyls;logographers,
hymns, elegies,
asts,
scholilexicographers,
ers, historians,orators, sophists,
There
probably
are
and ecclesiastical writers.
few

very

authors

notice

is not

discover how
from

they

designsand

aims

their works

in

in

mythus

The

conclusion

in this way

with

of the two

contents

of the

"We

drawn

shall

of them.

some

of Homer

great poems

of

according to the definition given above,

entirelymythic character.
They treat divers
legends,which
and

others

only here

off and

are

so

handled,

divine breed

feel ; and

The

their most

actions
minute

the

exhibited

with

are
'

I must

to the
the

here

of

men

series

is

series,

rounded

brought

fashion.

; nay,

even

of

notice

these

each

acts in human

into

Gods

horses

of

swine, though merely enchanted,

recorded
; and

are

carried

the will which

out

into

begets

thought which prompts the will,

equal precision. All hearts are

remark, that whatever judgment may be formed as

wholes, I think I must, with others,assume
the endeavour
to produce them, to have been given

originof these

aiming at,
in the first germ

take

Whatever

details

the deed, and

there

to form

as

complete whole.^

action in these poems,

behave after the manner

think.

and

an

catenation,
uninterruptedcon-

this connexion

lyingapart from

moreover,

in close

stand

as

try what

are,

of

the

well in

as

be

may

of this treatment.

be done

can

authors,

in their treatment

general,as

a
particular,

to the method

various

of these

ever,
How-

itself,and from

literarycharacter

the

difficult to

available.

all be made

can

such

amid

it becomes

sources,

logical
mytho-

some

; and

found

be

to

varietyof

and

mass

whom

antiquityin

of

and

commencement.

OF

laid open

to the

THE

MYTHUS.

poet'seye.

excluded:

deeds

of his heroes, the

limits of
of

an

if the

and

on
possibility;

and

upper

modelled

this

the

poet with

the

other

is

by

exalts

never

no

the

actions, beyond the

purelyideal supernatural
in the way

of

imaginaryis,in

after the

reminded

scarcelyever

poet

apparent

the other hand, the influence

nether,

But

marvellous

main

world, is powerfullyexerted

cooperation.

all this

With

of representation,
the
fidelity
means

25

real

of the

speciesof

so

cause

and
spects,
re-

many

world, that

we

are

marvellous, and follow

faith.

This

gether
linkingtoof descripinto a whole, this circumstantiality
tion,
this systematic expositionof the motives
to
of the wonderful,
action,togetherwith the treatment
here be alreadylaid down
as
principlesof mymay
thic
but, on
representationin the Homeric
poems;
a

hand, it may

properties are

designto
mind

may

Demodocus

also be observed, that all these

yet perfectlycompatible with

relate the actual

and

reflecting

gather this from the praisebestowed

by Odysseus, for having sung the
in strict

fates of the Achseans

order, and

truth; the chief excellence

to

The

true.

of

the

on

sad

conformably

the

dea-Tm

api"!j

being made to consist preciselyin that quality.^But

with regardto the relations in which Homer, generally
vations
obserstands to tradition and history,
some
speaking,
in a following
will be communicated
chapter.
Hesiod's

in like

Theogony,

relation,in the historical form, wherein

first appear

who

of external
Sea

then

are

nature,
come

as

the chief

Od.,

an

objectsand

viii. 489

order
sqq.

the charaicters
elements

the Earth, the Heavens, and

into action
'

furnishes

manner,

of

the

beingscalled

SOURCES

26

OF

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

Titans, evidentlybelongingin part to the sensible,and

partlyto
by

the

who

gods

were

progeny,

their

the

to whom

the

usuallyworshipped

in the temples

and

wars

It is manifest

combats.

and

adored

were

Greece.

ancient

in

that

in this poem,

is ascribed

dominion

that

same

in the descendants

beings,their marriages

classes of

of these three

are

succeeded

sequeltakes

The

of Greece.

gods

these, again,are

; and

ideal world

an

This, indeed, is pointed out by the poet in regard to

Hecate,^ to the Aphrodite worshipped

Cythera, and

The

others.

alreadycelebrated

were

the

not

here

bore

in Grecian

in the

even

would,

aU

at

these bear to his

refer the reader

the so-called Cyclic

copious Eoeos
epic poets, such
considerable
enable

us

as

of

and

in all these works.

justmentioned

V.

417.

bard,

"

Theogony

into his

ion.
connex-

of the proportion

must, in

the astonishingly

the

genealogical

Asius,
and
to

We

have

we

notices, which
the treatment
know

bear less resemblance

'

self,
him-

deceived

Epopees,

as

impose

to

followingchapter.

fragments

judgment

aim

form

to

they

then must

of the

Hesiod, and

Eumelus
of

mass

to form

the materials
poems

what

creations,we

own

names

contrary is clear, it

should

we

were

events, require

framer
original

the

the estimate

like manner,

From

If this

ancient

more

materials
adopted previously-existing

which

that

been

If the

strong foundation.

follows that

have

by

way,

same

suppositionswhich

For

those

from

it his deliberate

made

his hearers, or he must

very

are

and legends of Greece,

religion

poet have

upon

and

that these

to suppose

were

we

Cyprus

mythi.

different
signification

in the

bear

the

and

case,

heroes, too,

in

of.

that the
to

circle

THE

OF

line

than

to

their

authors

other the
also from

on

very loose thread, without

Homeric

of

art

not

well

so

may

they

be

chroniclers.^

be

heje

compared

rather

said to

Hence

it is

to

know

we

events

corded
re-

in the relation.

naked

more

the

each

for,evolved, and

accounted

detailed,that they stood

If Homer

Further,

as

sessing
pos-

connecting with

beginningand the end.

these fragments,that

were

may

27

indefinitely
prolonged; inasmuch
frequentlystrung togethernumerous

legendarystories
the

MYTHUS.

regularhistorian,

resemble

that
plain,

annalists

the

and

predominant

works was
to hand down legends
poetical
undisguisedby drapery,that their main object was
these the ground
the transmission
of mythi. To.make
soul as Homer
of so animated
a pictureof the human
produced,was a task for which perhapsthey altogether
aim

of these

genius.

wanted

Lyric

The

had

far

epicpoets,not only in

the

but also in the treatment

celebrate

to

definite aim

more

than

the

compositionof their works,

of the mythus. They wrote

the festival of

deity,to

extol

queror
con-

publicgames ; they wrote for banquets and

funeral solemnities. Accordingly,
they selected mythi
suitable to such occasions; a,nd it may readilybe supposed
that they also often adapted the story to their
at

design. Besides, there were

kinds for alteringa mythus

other motives
:

certain

of various

moral

cism,
criti-

ence.
exercised a great modifyinginfluparticular,
Stesichorus had employed this sort of criticism

in

"

in the character

mythi ;

current
"

See

e.

of Helen,
but

as

it is exhibited

he afterwards
of the

Ewce,
g. the fragment
to the liesiodio 'Aasr;'".

sought to
which

now

in the

atone

forma

the

for
troduction
in-

SOURCES

28

his

offence

might

OF

by

that

order

he

availed

reproach,he

all

from

tradition,then still

obscure

probablyvery

in

palinode,where,

free the heroine

himself of

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

to
been
carried away
that she had
never
existing,
altered a number
of mythi, because
Troy. Pindar
and
ele-f
with
his own
they did not harmonize
pure
vated conceptionsof the dignityof gods and heroes ;^
and must
He
therefore, in his judgment, be untrue.
not
actuated, then, by a species of letity,to
was
which
than mere
mythi might seem
nothing more
indifferent materials of poetical
treatment, but on the
cumstance
circontrary by a regard for truth. A remarkable

here

must

in the least that the

the

shows

never

that

the

is the
He

mythus.

fact

from

was

that

which

should

be
with

accordance

that the

certain

art, and
'
'

the

divine and

first

little,

so

solve
dis-

the human

in many

of

the

cases

distorted,either through

misled

bestows
for

on

them

his

minds

mortals

of

to

says

further than

dignitydwells

elsewhere:
drawn

caused

"

In

I think

by

out

the

his destinies extended;

in his fictions and

deludes
genius insensibly

Comp. Pyth. iii.27, ix. 45.

Olymp. i. 28., accordingto

often

gives

for truth."^

pass

are

; for

men

all that

belief,and

distrusted

this, he

the

legends of Odysseus

mellifluous Homer
for

him

characteristic
distinguishing

the very

delight,obtained
what

fact; and

to
slightest
disposition

only thinks, that

fictions,had

grace

disturbs

and especially,
that "stories
design;^
beyond the bounds of truth, with many-

out

coloured

doubts

never

evil

ignoranceor
decked

the

cooperation of

nature, which

Pindar

mythus reallyrelates

of the wonderful

presence

that he

be noticed.

Bockh's

winged

the mind

Olymp.
reading.

i. 47.

with

OF

fables.
Pindar

But

the

which

may
as

of the

29

blind in soul."^

are

the
distinguishes

he considers

embellishments
it must

of mankind

mass

therefore

MYTHUS.

THE

nucleus

of the legend,

true, from the additions

poets. In connexion

and

with

be stated,that, accordingto his view,

be very

old, and yet,at the

poem.

Thus, in the ninth Olympic ode, he

this

story

time, quitenew

same

bodies
em-

legendsconcerningthe mythic ancestors of the

Opuntic Locrians, regardingwhich it did not occur
invented
in late
to him
that they were
to signify
times, or indeed invented at all. But until then they
were

not

for he introduces

sung;

indeed

"Praise
"^

In like

them

with

the

old wine, but the blossoms

know

mark,
re-

of

that the

legend
of the sun-god's
occupationof Rhodes, celebrated by
Pindar
in the seventh
corded
Olympic ode, had been rein no previouswork ; in none
at least known
the poet.* But the
to the ancient commentators
on
traditions on this subjectdo not appear
to him the
less ancient on that account
("We are told by old
traditions of men.") Great value, in mythological
research, ought to be attached to the lyricpoets,

new

song.

manner

we

Pindar, from this very circumstance, that

especially
dual
they occupied themselves with the legendsof indivicities,for which
they composed their poems,
whether
designedfor the celebration of gods or men.
a legend most
concerned,
Upon those whom
closely
have known
it most
and who must
accurately,
they
could not hope to palm oif for truth a fabrication of
their own.
Although they introduced much that was
ornamental, yet, in these very cases, a certain degree
'
'

Nem.

"

vii. 20.

Scholia

to

Olymp.

54.

Ibid.

(100.)

v.

52.

SOUECES

30

of

in
fidelity
from
On

OF

the transmission

point

the Tragic

the

of

laws of this

to

and

one

It

mythi.

position,
com-

the

constant

limited

same

was

that

production of

imythus,to give it

tragicform,

more

public before

all these

whom
small

people of

in

therefore

was

to

carry

often made

to

out

the

bitter to

should

be

extracted, and

added

of

an

Grecian

national

^schylus

and

the produce

selves
them-

the

Greek
it

This

knows

what

cities found

adhered

whatever

of that

people

is

ceived
easily con-

food

for

in their

their

mythi,

that Theseus, of all the

was

come

that

contrary something

to

democrat.

We

particularcases,

Sophocles yieldedmuch

and
temptations,

though
laid, al-

was

with

pride
the

on

who

why

we

the

were

they find

palate;

heroes, should be such

when

in its

please,especially

when

agreeable relish.

reflects

however,

to

plete
com-

public.
quite natural that the legendary
should be
a
figureof -lEschylus,

suit the Attic

by any one
pride the
patriotic

in the

it had

were

them

of contest

sort

tasted

who

wish

they write, even

engaged

should

more

Attica

riches

proportionof

of their soil. Poets

those for whom

"jrepirereia than

more

The

these

required. At

that nature

originalconnexion.
but

the

great temptationto help out the

was

denouement,

to

that

necessary

adapted to a tragedy, that they

the tragiccharacter, and be wound
up

all events, there

and

speciesof

be

possess

dish,

with

given a peculiardirection

have

public,must
should

pected
ex-

otherwise

place,and secondly,the

relation of their works

It

is to be

mythi

stands

matter
The

writers.
in the first

way

of

them.

this

treatment

KNOWLEDGE

OUE

much

more

find,
that

less to these
to
faithfully

OF

MYTHUS.

THE

tradition,than

Euripides,with

circumstances

aided

First, The
him

and

once,

if he did

of

want

to take

this

additional

two

innovation.

propensityto

materials, which

new

in

alter them
wish

not

whom

compelled

subjectsalreadyhandled

up
to

31

to

essential

some

sing an

points,
Secondly,

old song.

The

which had then begun to

enlightenment
iEschylus and Sophoclesstill believed, and
stood

before

them

than

more

break
the

gods
with

real existences, invested

as

in.

times
nevertheless,the former somepersonality;
although,
speaks of the Divine and the gods in the spirit
of an ancient, deeply speculativeand partlyOrphic
to us; and
which is often stillenigmatical
philosophy,
the latter occasionally,
but without the least hostility
towards
refers to the opinionsof philosophers,
religion,
the begetterof all things.
e.g. regardingHelius,^
But in Euripides a kind of philosophizing,
certainly
somewhat
planted
supvague and wavering, almost entirely
of mythology,althoughthe nature
the religion
of tragiccompositionrequiredthat the latter should
But Zeus is
enter into it as a principalingredient.
to him
no
longeran actual and personalexistence.

Under

this

sometimes

sometimes

name

the

the ether

necessityof nature;

intellect of man.^

There

is meant,
nay,

is also observable

even

in him

unite several divine persons

to
arbitrarystriving

and

the
an

into

{QeoKpaaia.YTraditions, therefore,must either

have appeared to him the mere
playthingsof poetry,
mode
of enouncing philosophemes;*
a particular
or
that of Stesiand as he readilyadopted innovations
one

"

inc. 91. Br.

'

Frm.

Troades, 891.
Bouterweck,

\.A. i. p. 311.

Valckenser,Diatr.
Commentat.
*

See

Eurip.

Soc. Gott.

rec.

t.

vi.

iv. p. 859.

Bacchae,285.
particularly

Dorians,

SOURCES

32

chorus, for instance,

that of Pindar

expect from

in the
him

It is not

the

anything,in

not

we

the transmission

bore

who

of Rome

it

they treated

rather when

of

generalway,

indeed, sportedwith

of them,

Many

but

mythus,

must

Pelops,"

of

poets, and those

them.

to
affinity

and

in
fidelity
particular

to say

the Alexandrian

of Helen,

received.

he

easy

mythus

in the

mythus

any

of what

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

OF

by the

than in the
playfulmanner,
to
On the whole, the mythic material
was
epos.
and even
them
an
object of learned investigation,
learned ostentation; which
it must
certainlyhave
in

way

ceased

humorous

be,

to

free exercise

so

and

soon

as

they

and
a

corner

the

fables

as

regard to
; and

known,

lovers of

themselves

took

be

it may

whence

legend was

charm

strange, little-

for

fables,^from
half-forgotten

and

the

the

more

would

if these

But

libertyof making

been

them

by

certain

trains

of

that he ventured

way

most

strikingexample
by

Ovid's

collected whatever

to coin

name

faith.

fables,he
arrived

words.

new

of fable-invention

transformations

de

with

reasoning,nearly in

Metamorphoses.

Meineke

new

tion
compila-

is

Ovid

he could

Euphorione, p.

46.

at

the
The

perhaps

certainly
discover

poets and other authors, and wreathed

'

poets

many

new

guided by indications,and

same

in former

as

of industrious

If,therefore,Euphorion reallycreated
have

and

it attract

they could not, however, always

they also claimed every degree of

must

nook

inferred,that the less

mythology.

the rest, the merit

their sources,

furnished

every

they required,they certainlyassumed,

as

the

Callimachus, Parthenius,

of invention.

Lycophron, Euphorion, searched

known,

themselves

allowed

them

OF

in a
together,
carmen

the first book,

the

; in

and

Epaphus

the

Phaethon:

he

learned
with

to the

author's

and
collection,

aperpetuum

imagines,for
the rivers at

conversation
I do

not

invention.

by

that

which

On

number

can

the

materials

the

dismisses

between

believe

regularfable

is embarrassed

few

but

book,

he

meeting of

second,

there is,in the whole

be ascribed

into

latter purpose

example,in
Peneus

S3

ingenious
manner,

very

for which

MYTHUS.

THE

trary,
con-

of

his

of fables

he thinks he

because

ought not to
omit them.
It is quitea different thing,
indeed, with
gible
Italian mythology, a mass
of obscure and unintellia

verses,

"

traditions,which

needs

must

Grecian

fables,and with which

to work

with

Virgiland Ovid went

greatfreedom, often assuming the task
But notwithstandingevery attempt, a

of creation.

mythology,in
formed

from

into

be converted

the Greek

of the word,

sense

was

never

these materials.

of most

the Logographers
prose-writers,
importance to us.
They correspondto

authors

of the

Among

For

the

the most

further than

chief

connected

be found

in the

sources;

but for the convenience

of the reader,

poets. The

closelythan they are to

their
epic authors were

and

it is said

them

more

hence

of

the

more

Acusilaus,
particularly
logographers,
they only translated the poeticalworks which
ancient

before them
passages

the

CyclicEpics and the Eoese in poetry.

aimed at nothing
part,they evidently
the transmission of legends
just as they

received them

they

are

into prose.

where

pointed out.
mythi merely

the
The
for

Numberless,

also, are

that

lay
the

epics they drew frdm can be

idea that they collected these
the

purpose

of

the
illustrating
D

34.

SOURCES

OF

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

with

the

those

that

they

times.

It is manifest

as

They

relate them, in

of wonders.

olden heroic world

fragments I

after careful examination, nowhere

the marvellous.

to suppress

their

time, however,
and

been

to

epic poets. In this

naturallyhappen that some

would

adopted,while

be

Sort

would

of criticism must
be

very

this criticism.
of the

nature

desirable

subject,as

the

been

legendsof

Phoroneus, the first man

their native

which

and
prevailed
; and, thirdly,

that

they decided, according to

required,whether

from

from

the

occasional

city:

as

laus
Acusi-

countryman

secondly,that they were

of deity and
humanity

by

then

principlesof

calls his

infiuenced

notions

It

in the first place,to partiality

Argive, for example,

the

omitted,

exercised.

the

as

often

preferredand

rejectedand

well

traces, that they gave way,

for the

be

ample
ex-

logical
genea-

it would

however, be deduced

It may,

mythi,

cyclicand

know

to

same

in this the

process,

have

sire
de-

any

the

arrange

the

can,

at the

was

but

alreadyset by

others would

discover
It

into coherence:

bring them
had

design

Acusilaus, Phe-

to

Hellanicus, in whose

recydeS,and

upon

being known.
simple language, as

plain and
had taken placeiu the
This appliesat least

that

events

looked

in itself worthy of

them

something

of

character

poets, is totallyinconsistent

mythus

was

most

what

especially,

the connexion

true

or

false.

To

find among
the ancients a great
of opinionas to the person for savingwhom
diversity

give an
from

example, we

himself

death, Esculapius was

Jupiterwith
killed for
'

thunderbolt.^

raisingthe

dead

ApoUod.,iii.10.

3.

struck

dead

Pherecydes said
to

Schol.

he

by
was

lifeat Delphi : for he

Find., P.

3. 96.

OF

connected

THE

the event

35

MYTHUS.

in

dition
with a Delphic traquefetion
This tendency to selection
of Apollo'sflight.^
likewise increased by the endeavour
to introduce
was
into the mythi a sort of chronology.Hellanicus went
indications
so far as to calculate the fall of Troy, from

in ancient

poets,to the very day,and, at the

time,

same

of Juno ; whilst he
Argivepriestess
carried the catalogueof these priestesses,
probably
derived from
Argive records of reputed antiquity,
throughthe mythic ages as far back as lo.^ It is clear,

to the year

from

what

rendered
labours

of the

has

been

said, that

these

writers

have

of their
important service. By means
(what Would have been otherwise inexplicable)
an

the

in so many
of heroes, which originated
genealogies
different places,
are
disposedin tolerable order, and
maintain
a certaiin synchronical
harmony. Nay, we
have perhaps to regard them, in the inain, as the
of the mythologicalsystem that prevailed
creators
later writers.
However, as this system is by
among
founded on philosophic
views and searching
no
means

criticism,but rests,for the most

mythus,

it cannot

object.

On

the

asunder, and, in

part,on

directlyavailable

be made

must

contrary, we
so

far

it

as

for assistance

them, concealed

obscurity.A

in

some

in

doing

data

to

corner,

and

for
take

to

so,

our

it

of these
we

must

disregardedby
often

wrapt in

trace, howevet, of

criticism is to be found

given by

try

the work

was

compilers^to destroyit ; and,

chieflylook

belief in the

Demetrius.^

in the
"

Thus

generalmythological
fragmentof Hecatseus
says Hecataeus of Mi-

'

Fragm. Sturz., ed. alt. p. 82 sq.

not impossible
Frag'm, ed. Sturz.^pp. 77, 151 sqq. It is even
from
ttt restore, in a general way,
the fragments, the mythic
^ Dem.
of
Hellanicus.
chronology
mgl eo/iTjv. "12.
*

"

SOURCES

36

KNOWLEDGE

OUE

OF

'

of the Greeks

the narrations

opinion,ridiculous.'
he followed

his

of

views, which

own

for

various, and, in my

are

In the choice

"

fore,
mythi,thereened
enlightwere

rejected many

philosophy,and

Ionic

the

by

of the truth

view

letus, I write accordingto my

popular traditions which he considered childish; nay,

he even
interpretedin many, for instance, in that of
the infernal monster
Cerberus, who, accordingto his
explanation,was
Tsenarum.

the

is to

Milesius, rests
source

from

shown,

even

the

himself

and

they

therefore

and

Herodotus

sius
Diony-

flourished

Thucydides

mythic narrations,
"

has

them

as

generalway,

more

to

the

descent

customs.

entirelydestitute

sionally
occa-

^the former

chieflyto particularcases,

their ancient

were

be

can

authority.'^ Bockh

his

treatingthe subjectin a
races

it

but

drew;

to this distinction.^

Historians

results from

a,

Diodorus

later, was

handle

of

promontory

who
styledthe cyclographer,

called attention
The

the

that writer's extract, that

from

deal

good

be

which

of Samos,
a

on

at

pragmatictreatment of
found
as
early as Dionysius
the
suppositionthat he was

opinion,that

The

mythus

serpent

For

of other

the
"

fining
con-

latter

and draw

of the Grecian

these matters
and

sources;

of the mythus,
treatment
philosophical
the ancient genealogies,
and heroic adventures, is
what was
here required. Now, it cannot be supposed
that such a problem could have been then solved with
anything like completeness. It would be unreasonable
a

to demand

'
*

Heyne,

from

these

grieathistorians

general

Commentat.

Gott, T. vii.,p. 97.

ad Find., P. I.,p. 233.
Bockh, JSxplic.
Comp. Panofka

Samiorum,

p. 94

sq.

Bes

OF

the

mastery

over

well

most

THE

MYTHUS.

37

of

bination
mythic materials, a comof things lying far apart yet intimately
reflections on the princonnected, and philosophical
ciples
and rules of investigation.
In Herodotus, as
as

existence

of the

of the

inquiry. It

is

plainthat
the mind,

that all

fact.

From

gods

of

what

mixture

state

of

much

the

sober

the

of the

by

fore
that there-

'^

countries,

result from

this

faithful

the most

times

to

Introduction

historian

of the

sense

form,

It is easy

The

many

mythic

and

other

would

appeared,
dis-

have

also his notion

of Greece.

of confusion

to

but

however
deserve

may

supplythe want
ology,
profoundand comprehensiveknowleidgeof mythfor
which
is certainlyindispensably
requisite
of such a theory.
establishment

commendation,
of

those

is esteemed

view

correct

actual

by prejudice,

gods

heterogeneouscreeds.

Thucydides

and

of the

Egypt, Persia, and

identical with

of

unshackled

his faith sprang

thought alike

men

the

see

this belief must

separate,in the mythus, substance

idea and

were

ancients, belief in the

gods presents a powerfulobstacle

before
could

mass

Pragmatism

I think

it could

afterwards

not

made

its appearance

in

brought mythi
of their subject,that term
within the scope
being
tory.
appliedto their system of convertingthem into hisof history;
Now, mythi are certainlysources
they would
nay, if they contained nothingbut fiction,
stillbe so far the internal historyof the Greek nation;
the

works

but

the

once

'

way.

of those

historians

who

pragmatistswould fain derive from them at

regularexternal historyof princesand states.

II. 3; wbich

passage,

however,

is also

in
explained

difl'erent

SOURCES

38

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

OF

They separatedfrom the mythus the marvellous, the

fantastic,the impossible; what remained, however
it might have
intimately
was
adopted by

they assignedfor
In

times.

in

them

placesthey

many

others, they representedthem

toiled and

acted

honours.

There

for this

went

to work

indeed, with

is reallysome

method.

men

the

gods ;
had

who

divine

of foundation

cation
distinct line of demar-

no

the Heraclidse

it appears,

as

treated them

and
episodes,

as

as

appearance

expedition of

he inserted,however,

mythi

left out

gods and heroes. Ephorus

He onlybegan his history,

between

in this way.
the

suited their

as

earth, and therebyobtained

on

as
proeedurie,

drawn

was

work
ground-

supposedresults,

these
motives

such

them

ginary,
the ima-

with

historical

as

in order to connect

; and

own

blended

been

By strainingafter

great number
accordingto

this fancied

but
of

his

history,he

preventedfrom searchinginto the genuine import

the legiends
his mytho-historical
; and
representations,

was

of

therefore, are
part, in

very

strung together,for the

arbitrarymanner.^

contemporary of Ephorus, also

his
was

history,and
more

it also
work

was

thought that

correct

than

probably in

entitled

most

his treatment

that of his
the

TpiKapavos
"

three cities of

Theopompus, a
introduced raythiinto
of them

predecessors;^yet

pragmatic spirit.But
^the author

of which

the
tacked
at-

Greece, and, as Lucian' expresses

it,annihilated the firststates of Hellas with his tripletime that he examined

edged words, at the same
their
and
mythic pretensions,

the Sai'ticCecrops*
"

^was

in

so

not

doingbrought forward
written by Theopompus,

"Orchomenos,pp. 231, 235,379. Dorians,vol.i,pp.l09,lll,H8"=.

'
*
29.
Pseudologist,
Orch.,p. 107.

*Strabo, i. 43.

OF

THE

MYTHUS.

39

accordingto a critical notice in Josephus/ who

it (evidently
the same
but was
book) TpnroXiTiicos,
rhetorical fabrication.

a
sacus

lived at the

universal

Anaximenes

of

time, or somewhat

same

which
history,

of the world, he

bably
pro-

Lamp-

later. In his

from

commenced

calls

the

ning
begin-

followed, in all likelihood, as

which prevailedin
regardsthe mythus, the principles
his day. Euhemerus
of Messenia, a contemporary of
the Macedonian
in

very

Cassander, did
He

peculiarmanner.

so, and

exhibited

set out from

the

them

ciple
prin-

gods had lived sonaewhere as men

;
and as the legend^of Greece
did not furnish sufficient
proofof this,he wrote imaginarytravels to a place
he called Panchaea, and
which
nowhere
in
existing,
pf all the gods
which, it was
pretended,monuments
to be seen.
His work bore the imposing title
were
it was, in fact,nothing more
of lepa avaypacf)}!
; but
that all the

than

Dionysiusof
He

in which

romance,

bore

also embraced

Samos

strong mental

probablylived

that idea

at the

same

cajried out.

was

the

same

theory.

to Euhemerus,
affinity

period.

What

and

Diodorus

regardingBacchus, the Argonauts,

the historyof the great Amazonian
,state at
and
Mount
Atlas, givesevidence of extreme
arbitrariness,
of mythi.
and of a romantic tendency in the treatment
quotes

from

him

however, gave it as if ithad been extracted

Dionysius,
and poets, vapartOeis
the ancient mythologists
from
Kai
twv
twv
fxvOoKo'YCov
re
"TTOi^fiaTa
Twv
TO,
ap')(ai(ii)v
"

"jrot^Tm,"and
uncritical

thereby

author

perfectfaith,gave
'

so

blind"d

that the

these

the

Agyrian,a

latter,with

dreams,

as

Against Apion,i. 24.

well

the
as

most
most

the pre-

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

40

SOURCES

OF

tended

discoveries

of Euhemerus,

torical
his his-

place in

dictionary.
The

had

Philosophers

occupied

themselves

with

the

very beginning
mythus, and that in
the

First, they employed the

different ways.

two

from

thic
my-

of expressingthoughts
styleas a peculiarmode
and feelings. The
ancient did so rather from
more
It
internal impulse than
spontaneous reflection.
the

most

form, and, perhaps in

many

appeared
than

more

them

to

design evinced,

was

it

adopted

for

the

Prodicus

was

this

; and

earned

mus

is

no

little skill
at

more

and

vdtness

by

Epimetheus

But

the Lacedemonians,

how

youth ought

hero.^

famous

phists,
so-

called fn-xi^^oi
by Plato.^

even

the

the crossway,

great applause from

Nestor, what

asked

to become

with

he related to them

when

was

and

Plato

of Prometheus

that

by Protagoras,which
Hippius, too,

too, something
there

by

reason

story of Hercules

beautiful

dignified

sen,
chomythic expressionwas
picturesque and popular. It

applied it

who

and

the

and

because

cases

Afterwards

form.

mere

suitable

to

stillmore

Neoptoledo in order
must

we,

in

consideringthe interpretation
of mythi by the philosophers,
the deliberate designof the latter,
distinguish
from

that internal

which prompted
necessity

philosophers,who
faith than

infiuenced

obligedto
if they did
In

were

not

blend
wish

this way

less filled with

no

by

their ideas, and

them
to
are

the earlier

both

in

religious
fore
there-

were

reciprocalunion,

be

at

variance

we

to understand

with

the interpretations

Pythagoreans,which were
notions with philosophireligious

of the ancient
to reconcile

meant
'

Protag.,320

selves.
them-

sq.

"

PL

Hipp, maj.,286.

OF

cal

THE

MY-THUS.

41

ideas,and therefore always contain

of truth.

afterwards
Religiousfeeling

and

away;

some

it became

more

exercise

an

of

mony
gods into harwith
some
particularphilosophy. Physical
crates.
interpretation
alreadyprevailedin the time of SoIt was
employed by Prodicus,^and Metrodorus, the pupil of Anaxagoras. The Stoics carried
it farther, and applied it to the allegorical
elucidation
of Homer.*
Other philosophers
adhered
to Euhe-

to

bringmythi

merism

the

died

degree
gradually
ingenuity

and

of the

names

those, for instance, from

whom

Cicero, who

calls them

borrowed
the passage concerning
theologers,
the multiplicity
of persons who were
called Zeus,
We
do not know, however,
Aphrodite,Apollo,"c.^
to what
sect
they belonged. The Neo-Platonists,
loftier in their views than their predecessors,
interpreted
accordingto ideas of an orientalized Platonism.
It is less necessary
of writers
claiss

to

dwell

these than

on

any

other

for their

whether
interpretations,
ingeniousor absurd, were
scarcelyever founded on
historical investigation,
but always sprang from the
to recognisea certain system of philoendeavour
sophy.
Cicero said of Chrysippus,that
Hence, even
transformed

he

the most

They, therefore, tend

to

ancient

pOets into Stoics.*

perplex rather

than

to

guide

legorical
mythologist. A later tribe of alwriters also, entirelydestitute of acumen
.and judgment, brought the whole subjectinto such
that some
have on this account
abandoned
disrepute,
which
is nearlysaying all investiall interpretation,
the

inquiryof

'

Davis

See

"

De

ad

Cic. de Nat.

Heyne,
Nat.

the

de

Deo.,

Deo., i. 42.
Exd
allegoria.Homer
iii. 21.

De

ad II. xxiii.
Nat.

Deo., i. 15.

i2

SOURCES

OF

gatioh of miytHi:

KNOWLEDGE

OUR

thus

the kernel with

flinging
away

the husk,
Of

much

so

the

laborious and

related

"indebted

for

mythi

the

Apollodorus, as
than

com^

chiefly

we

mythology.

mythological

his

to the materials

nothing more

them, nearly in the

arrange

are

ancient

from

extract

did

them

of

treasure

the

dictionaryshows,

for to

the

a.re

us

merely

who

authors

industrious

piled and

to

importance

more

with

manner

same

the

logographers,
except that he also availed himself
of the drama, perhaps,too, of some
later materials,
and aimed
At the same
at a comprehensive whole.
commentaries
written
learned
the
on
period were
those of Didy-poets ; and of these there were
sojne,
for instance, in which
mus
mythological elucidation
predominated ; and any mythus which threw light
on

genuine source,
learned
such

fewer

were

Crates.

as

The

originof mythi

opinion

of

poet.

and

we

of materials

may

most

it.

of

that

Aristarchus
researches

essential to the

Scholia
us

and

which

the want

have

to

as

tion
explanabeen

of those

well be satisfied with

was

served,
pre-

copious
the

mass

they furnish.

Particular
flourished

The

supply to

must
sources,

not

are

best

Among these
allegorical
interpreters,

perhaps generallyentertained,
the

the

from

placed beside

and

there

men

drawn

was

passage,

at

mention
a

time

is here
when

diie to

mythi

were

writer
almost

who
garded
re-

exercises.
We
sopHsto^rhetorical
allude to Pausania^ the Lydian, who
wrote a book
of travels through Greece, in the reignsof Hadrian
and the Antonines.
Although he made use of, and
as

cited

mere

great number

of

poets

and

prose

writers, he

OF

THE

repeats,however,

and

especialremark,

still

heard

the very

on

whether

mouths

him

to

how

he

of the

had

had

lived for many

relates what

He

;^ the

when

concealed

more

so

centuries

first committed

people,were

graduallyattained
been

he had

his relation refers,

which

to

heard it,even

its truth

of

what
frequefltly

more

of the
servants
priests,
might often happen, therefore,

It

others.

writing.

deserves

it from

that traditions which

the

43

it ia for this that he

spot

he received

temple, or

MYTHUS.

he had

in

by

heard, and

he is himself doubtful
as

believed

he

he

had

the

knowledge that much had

riddles by the ancient sages of

in

Greece.^

IV.

CHAPTER

Of the Sources

If

take

we

at
glaiice

of the

mythi

mythus.

treatment
found

to remain.

We

obvious

have

seen,

preexistentnucleus,

Pure

mythi, in

that

we

original

indeed, that

sophical
philo-

and

allowed

it

inventions, like those of the philosophers,

the proper

II. 17. 4.

here

but these modifications,however,

rhetoricians, and

"

writers

and
modified by poetical
frequently

are

always

various

itself.

of them, arrived at the real

not, in any

source

the

review, it will be

brought under
have

Origin of the Myihm

or

VI.

sense,
3. 4.

became
sophists,never
althoughthe Greeks em'

VIII.

8. 2.

44

ployed preciselythe
narrations.

word^

same

What

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

OF

SOURCES

in

arisen

had

to

designatesuch
this way
might

ingeniousfiction,but it
would not be readilyadmitted
into the body,of mythology.
in
For
example, there is not a word
ApoUodorus relatingto the Hercules of Prodicus, to

have

heen

the

propagated as

which

form

Eros, and
the

Antisthenes

they

considered

actual life : for

the marvellous

or

the

in

which

fellowshipwith

each

it was

to
nobility

trace

long deemed

by poetry

lived in
which

worthy

of their
for the

account

for its

in the world

'

and

The

however
with

ordinary
extra-

those

faith to

they were
and

other, of

descent, and

which
predilection

; and

of

receive
records

gods

still

period from
which

was

the most

was

so

fested
long mani-

intellectual

people

which, notwithstandingall their

all their natural

talent

for

longprevented authentic historyfrom

its appearance.
word

wonder

the only object

sculpture,
regard. By this view alone can we

vivacityof genius, and

making

time, which

feelingany

heroes

mythi

and

mythus by

observation, so

of Pindar,
these

olden

them

in

more

gave

at variance

To

truth.

as

epic

mythi

them

taught by

were

those

materials
to

to

or

strive,on

we

numerous

they contained,

they

higher world,

that

hero,

spiritof

the

from

they might be,

of

If

genuine,without
which

at the events

like.

the

to

clearlysee,

reallytraditions

were

that

logographers who

arrangement

shall

gave

transmit

to

their strains,of the

convenient

into

enter

sought

poets who

we

the

Anteros, and

contrary, to

"o.,

an

It

was

"
ii,uk(anciently
a
signified

generallydenoted
analogous.

"

an

ancient

so

strong,that

in

but it afterwards
saying,''
saying,"or somethingsimilar

OF

SOURCES

order to vindicate

MYTHUS

THE

ITSELF.

45

Thucydides,
rightsof history,
the lists againstmythoat the very outset, entered
logy
distinct and striking
at a
traces of it even
; and
later period,may often be perceived.
Such a reliance on the truth of mythi,v^hich were,
could not posat least in part, evidently
fictitious,
sibly
have existed, if the source
from which they first
discoverable in any poet. Were
flowed were
clearly
had been
that one
of his predecessors
a poet aware
the originator
of a mythus, he would certainly
place
the

no

faith in it ; and if the wholesale

invention

of

not, in any

Besides, if that

them.
would

continued

have

were

in their

developmentof

evinced.

case, be

business
accorded

of
to

reallytheir office,it
hands duringthe progressive

Grecian

zeal to preserve, and such

visible in many
as
are
fidelity,
have been

unconditional

the
generally

"mythi were

poets, belief would

and

poetry ;

and

such

anxiety to repeat
instances,would

with
never

might,indeed, be said,that a
school of bards alone enjoyed
primevalante-Homeric
that privilege,^an
idea not intrinsically
absurd ; but
what would then become
of the legendswhich
questionably
unwithin the historical era, and
originated
which, nevertheless, hold an equal rank with the
others, ^that,for example, alreadyadduced regarding
the heroine Cyrene V
It

"

But

the

Poets

the
considering
of this kind
"

on

can

themselves,such

nature

of

well be

Pindar,-^"
for,

as

epicpoetry,no

expected from

information
that

^furnish very clear indications that,besides

their

it is

source,

drawing

they availed themselves

predecessors,
iraXam
traditions {avdptS-n-wv
p^a-tas
;)and

evident,that if the originof

'

P. 5.

of pular
pohence

legend cannot

SOURCES

46

THE

MYTHUS

poets,it

ianst

OF

be ascribed

to the

oral tradition,for there is

from

ITSELF.

derived

been

have

other alternative.

no

separate consideration also of maiiy singlemythi

The

confirms

this result

of

knowledge

they refer,of

which

the

they exhibit
natural objectsin
for

peculiarto each,

regionsto
observances
religious

of the circumstances

and

and fortunes of the tribes and families by which

inhabited.

were

that these
and

those

among

the

who

the

iii

abounded

poets,or that
We

may,

to

that, when

which

then, from

that

is

an

this

what

of

that

mythic

has

was

been
the

to

froin which
receive

ancient

entitled from

said,
source

part, in

at

the

constant

which

later

flowed

length turbid,
body

of mythology

accessions.^

poet glancesat
a

terials.
ma-

also the fountain

epicpoets drew,

given at lengthby

assuredlynot

Greece

for

long after, but

Pausanias, and
continued

So

district of

every

the earliest

Pindar, and

to

even

poetry will hardly admit

is t6 be found, for the most

oral tradition ; and

on

localities ; for

^fflbient conviction, that

mythus

which

fancy
their in-

legendarystories possessed its native

there were
bards donstantlywandering

conclude, with

from

regions,

very

from

and

searching everywhere

abpiit, and

the

familiar

relations

they

doubt, therefore,

no

in those

up

were

various

historyof Grecian
that
supposition,

the

be

can

legends sprang

with

of

Tbere

curate
ac-

the

and

the sanctuaries

most

author,

this circumstance

mythus
we

are

merely,

assert, as has been

to

former

done, that the passage in the?

is always the ground-work, ovfundm iotiu"

fa]bulcB.
*

Thus

Herodorus,for instance,added. the traditional stories of

bis native oitpr,
Heraolea,to the legends regarding Hercules^
Dorians, vol.

i.

p. 5S7.

SOURCES

But

OF

THE

MYTHUS

in order, if possible,
to
it must

ITSELF.

47

prevent all misapprehension,

be remarked, that

populartradition,
to which we
ascribe a higherantiqiiity,
and
also, at
the same
than to the poetitime, a higher authority
cal
mythus, does not, of course, comprehend everything
that was
said by aiiy sort of persons among
the people. What
the Cicerone,the e^tijtirtis
of any
sanctuary, (a class of persons learnedlyhandled by
related to travellers whom
he led about,
Thorlacius,)
might have been an idle invention of his own, or one
of his predecessors,
for the purpose of attracting
a
and profitable
He
resort.
more
numerous
might
even

doubt

have

taken

it from

author.

We

have

that, during antiquity,

popular stories

derived
fre'quently
in
Lake

some

more

from

recent

books,

times

as"

witness

has

been

diffused

by

the

of heroes

which

poets, took

root

were

tised
prac-

the tales of the

Hertha, the battle of Teutoburg, "c.

accounts

no

were

tionary
Tradi-

universally

in many

different

often merely from some

of name.
places,
similarity
Priests and guardiansof temples,also, in order to
dignifythe institution to which they belonged,might
appropria-fce
something they had heard regarding
other temples,or invent somethingof a like nature;
literal
Finally,the prevailingt6nden6ies of Greek
ture, must have had some
slightinfluence On the
people in general,and thus also on the tone and
cies,
charstcter of their narrations; and
poeticalfanmania,
pragmatism aiid the etynlDlogical
gave
quite a different form to many a legendin the very
mouths
of the people. All this,however, does not
invalidate what has been said above ; for the high
antiquityof the legend is, on the whole, nothing

OF

SOURCES

48

aflPected

by

retro-active

these

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

Traditions

causes.

current among
poets and prosegenerally
ment,
refineof Hellenic
writers, during the full bloom
could not have
been, at their origin,mere
We
idle inventions.
know
further,and of this ample

which

were

proof will be furnished in the followingsections,how

fondly the Greeks clung,especiallyin earlier times,
traditions;how

to their old

centuries, in

for many
and

families

the

district

one

their

carried

mythi continued,

same

legends with

they again took

where
regions,

; and

how

them

establish
with
and

many

open

This

been

alreadylaid

of

contradiction with

constant

follows.

by

is the

down

general,appliesto

as

position:

to the nature

it not

popular tradition
the Real

and

on

the

that what
of the

and

There

are

mythus
handled

the

who

many

contrary,that tradition

blended

give

it,by the ancient

of embellishment.

purpose
made

with

use

of the

life and

gods

interest

certainlypractisedat
many

instances, at

very

easilyshown,

that

the

an

frOm

as

to

mere

torical
his-

fancies

poets, for the

have

machines, in order to

their narrations

as

was

perhaps also, in

earlier,period. But
an

to

an

They must, then,

later,and

even

seem

nature, and that all sorts of ideas and

were

shape
nary,
Imagi-

of

was

all
has

the Ideal, already coexisted

lin the original

form.
think,

tinued
con-

regard to

of it also in the

that the Actual

bably,
pro-

to

it was

merely as

poets,but holds good

the

endeavour

I should

point; othervvise
readers, lay myself

mote
re-

spread.

another

that

in

to

and

root

But, before proceeding further, I must

to

races

examination

it may

of the

be

mythi,

guided by the analogy of those

alreadyexisting; and that,generallyspeaking,fact
poets

were

SOURCES

and

OF

idea,matters
combined

were

THE

MYTHUS

of faith and
in the

which

of

matters

mythus,

poeticalmodification.

ITSELF.

That

49

experience,

previouslyto

even

local

its

from

accuracy,

local

deduced

is also observable even

origin,
in its ideal constituents,particularly
where
reference
is made
to the service of the gods. We
know, for
that the fable of Hylas, the
example, with certainty,
favourite boy of Hercules, who
stolen by the
was
nymphs, and whom the hero called for in vain through
and
mountains
from a religious
rite
arose
valleys,
which was
observed in the neighbourhood of Cios in
Bithynia,where a god,who had sunk into the waters,
we

invoked

was

bewailed

and

hills.

For

sacred

observance
the

as
a

all be

at

had

its

supposed

originin

amid

the

that

this

the fable, especially

aboriginalnation

Mariandynians, an

in

the
part of Asia Minor, practisedprecisely

remoter

same

it cannot

at the fountains

and

ceremony,

its religious
meaning is rendered

clear

Now,
by analogies.^

from

the rite,by whom,

have

been

formed

themselves

heard

By

if the
I

ask,

mythus, then, sprang

it most

was

the inhabitants

the lamentations, and

of

likelyto
Cios, who

would

surely

be the first to
and

the tales of the peasantry,

appropriate
incorporatethem with the Hellenic legendsof

Hercules

or

the Lacedaemonian

probablythe

was

I think

there

be

it into

introduce

first to

cannot

poet Cinaethon, who

Further, the Ideal is often

doubt

as

to the

poetry ?*
answer.

closelyinterwoven, so
the Real, that the mythus
so

connected with
inseparably
its first existence to their
have evidentlyowed
must
fusion ; and if the Ideal therein
union and reciprocal
'
'

Oroh., p. 293. Dor., vol. i. pp. 367,

Dor., vol. i. p. 539.

See

459.

ITSELF.

THE

MYTHUS

should be the work

of the

poet,we

ascribe to him

Real

SOURCES

60

OF

the

immediately

must

Thirdly,a mythus

also.

actual

historyof

often

ideal,and contains no
entirely
events, althoughit evidentlysprang

in

up

is

particular
of a single

by the inhabitants
district. Let the mythus of Callisto, which
as
an
already analyzed, serve
example, as

it is

whose

Callisto,

spot, and

formed

was

originalform

representingArtemis
in field and

mals

have

we

ascertained

forest,and

within

came

appeared
idea

the

in

Arcadia

which

if

This

country to which

the

they were

with

the fact

true, and

poetic fiction
form."
a

But

and
an

reality,

mythology,

of the

How

mythus,
this be

can

"

say,

is

nothing else

invention, clothed
invention

was

object of faith?

an

might

it

in the

of this kind

rative
nar-

cannot,

miracle, be simultaneouslymade

require a

design,conception,and

therefore,the
surely,
then, did

and

just established, that

individuals; for it would

of

strangers;

of idea

became

one

laid

produced epic poets.

originalconstitution

Ideal," some

without

goddess

have

not

the characteristic feature of

be

to

such

no

would

other

question will naturallyoccur.

held

than

for any

probably never

forms

reconciled

"

the peculiarmixture

belongs to
the

for

bear.

shape of a bear. The characteristic

the
mythus evidentlyoriginatedamong

Arcadia

Now,

of

the form

sphereof sensible experience,or

the

people of
and

ani^-

of wild

in the

of this

scene

"

one

goddess of blooming

the

strength,appears in Arcadia in
Now, this is purely imaginary ;
ever

nourisher

the

as

have

we

he

convince

of
substantiality

work

of

execution.

one

all others

his invention?

by many
dence
peculiarcoinci-

person."
of the
Shall

It

"

But

was

how,

the
reality,
we

suppose

SOURCES

him

to have

OF

been

an

THE

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

impostor,who

contrived

them

by all sorts of deceit and illusion

by forming a confederacywith others of
that what

he had

would

devised

Or shall

we

highly-gifted
person,

was

to persuade

perhaps

"

stamp with himself, who

51

the

same

to the people,
testify
verified by their observation?

imaginehim

to have

been

more

exalted

being,than his
countrymen ; and that,therefore,they placedreliance
what
he said : receivingfrom
him
sacred
on
as
a
revelation those mythi, under which
he veiled salutary
truths designedfor their instruction ?
But it
cannot
possiblybe proved that such a caste or sect,
either of cunning knaves
sublime personages, exor
isted
in ancient Greece.
Many, indeed, may point
at the priests
that there
; but they ought first to show
reallywas a priesthoodso widely separatedfrom the
and so strongly
contrasted with it,particularly
laity,
in respect of knowledge. Besides, this artificialsystem
of deception whether
it was
clumsy or refined,
selfish or philanthropic is quiteat variance with the
of those ages, unless the impression
noble simplicity
minds
made
on
our
by the earliest productions of
Greek geniusbe entirely
fore,
illusory.We come, thereinventor of (
to the conclusion, that even
a single
of the word, is out of
sense
a mythus, in the proper
does this reasoninglead ?
the question.But whither
gether
Evidentlyto nothing else than that the idea altomore

"

"

of invention-^th"t

treatment, by which
was

clothed

out

of

is,of

free and

something,known

in the semblance

consideration,

as

originof the mythus;

speciesof necessityled

of truth

deliberate

to be
"

untrue,

^must be left

to
quite inapplicable
or,

to

in

other

the

words, that

that combination

of the

SOURCES

52

OF

Real

and

that

its framers

Imaginary which

operated alike
grew

were

all ;

on

to the

union,

the difference.

conceived, it wiU
as

to whether

from

there

is otherwise

idea, of

from

or

mental
instru-

necessity

certain

ancient

of the

that is

that the

see

for it, does

once

dispute,

one

from

or

where

people,even

the

of

unconscious

When

impress.

room

if

mythus

were

themselves

were

to

poet

For

point.

who

those

mythus proceeded from

many,

main

in the

also be easy to

the
the

is observed

in the formation

wish

we

ITSELF.

that

It is this

unconsciousness

mythi,that

MYTHUS

governed by impulses which

that these opposite elements

and

together;

up

and

THE

affect the

not

individual, ^the relater, in

one

"

"

devisinga mythus^ only obeys the promptings which

is

the minds

equallyon

act

merely

the

of

"

however, that
unconsciousness
of

analogous
ought

not

may

this

in

the

idea

our

tendency to
modern

led to it by

Perhaps

the

subjectwill

example.

from

the

We

shall

first book

received

tradition,and

in it
"

In

the rape

pestilenceamong
that

case,

it

can

mystical

even

other
has

reason

nothing
But

thinking.
what

is

strange,

?
dispassionate
investigation

be rendered
one

of the Iliad.

story of Cheyses

It is possible,

mythi
of

give the

that the

the

form

and

necessityand

no

historyto recogniseeven
are

an

and

modes

wheii-v^e

givesform

of this

all

they

express.

dark

appear

which

first

: for
archaeologists

our

than because

"

mouth-piece through

speak, the skilful exponent who

expressionto what all desire to

to many

^the listeners, he

others,

was

of the
the

by

already quoted
Let

us

suppose

genuine mythus,

that the

clear

more

possibleevents

tained
con-

priest's
daughter,and

Greeks

"

were

also

real.

readilybe conceived, that

all

SOURCES

those

OF

who

knew

MYTHUS

THE

ITSELF.

had

the facts,and

63

Apollo's
immediately and
faith in

punish,would
simultaneouslyconnect them together,and would
express their belief,that Apollo sent the pestilence
at the prayer
of his priest,
with as firm a conyiction
if it were
as
a
thing which they had themselves
vity
known
and witnessed.
Here the myth-formingactimakes
but a slight
step ; but I have chosen this
Perhaps,-however,it
example for that very reason.
in reality
that everywas
greater; for the supposition
thing
in this mythus that may
be fact is fact, was
it is far more
perfectlygratuitous. In most cases
in questionmore
considerable,and the activity
cated,
complias

originof
the

than

more

the

mythus

means

of Apollo
of the

one

lyre was

giveanother example,
Maesyas, althoughby no

and

together.

At

of the

flute

indigenous; and it
to Marsyas, a native

was

ascribed

Hellenians
character
must

have

flute,and
have
Greek
nobler

and

instrument.

felt that

opposedto

the

In

detested the hollow

Marsyas himself

conquered him,

might

esteem

instrument.

as

the

in the

same

The

way

ancient

in its inherent

was

Apollo,they fancied,
and

too.

in order

why

shrill notes

Nay,

more,

of the

he must

that the

the invention
But

himself

daBmon.

the other.

Apollo

Phrygia,again,the

was

latter

terial
ma-

pious votaries

his

regardthe god

inventor

of

kinds

festivals of

the

usuallyplayed;
to

the

to

oldest,contains two

led
necessarily

were

circiftnstance influenced

one

mythus. Thus,

blended
the

and

to avenge

power

of
must

lyre-playing
the god as the
the

luckless

Phrygian have been also flayed,of all things? The

is simplythis : In a grotto beside the fortress
cause
the stream
of Celaenae in Phrygia,from which
or

54

SOURCES

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

OF

was
Marsyas gushes forth,^ a wine-skin
suspended,which the Phrygians called the skin of

cataract

Marsyas.^

The

explainedby
resembled
called

the

the

symbolized,and
when

or

the skin, he would

Marsyas.
there

is

god

doubtless, a

was,

of nature

him

caused

Hellenic

to be

was

But

of fountains.

infer what

once

even

culture,saw
the fate of

was

flayed."

In

skin.
wine-

all this

arbitraryexercise
to many
at
thought might occur

the

whoever

that the rest,having

been

is

also

Phrygian of
at

his attributes,

stillhangs his hide in form of

"Here

Apollo

He

is

wine-skin

juicy exuberance

hence

Greek,

Herodotus.

by

was

Silenus; indeed, he

Grecian

in whom

it

Marsyas, in

the fact,that

Silenus

dsemon

why

reason

no

firstexpressedit,knew

nurtured

with

doubt

moment

main

reason

simple

in

most

fashioned, in the
which
the

we

now

taken

record
been

and

did

them, under

possess

internal,whose

the
and

subjectto

equally obvious
it is often

Comp.

and

fix

constant

and

more

from

the

start

in

influence of

events, both

from

all

age

to

any written

have
necessarily

fluctuation.

important;

at

gradually

impressions were

it, must

the

of centuries,into the form

course

arrest

not

not

by tradition,which, livingon
the mouths
of the people,without
to

for

But

slowly and

up

in

age

were

diversified circumstances

most

external

part, they

; and

not

why mythi in general are

their originalstructure, arises

into existence, but

once

ideas, would

same

This

time

same

the force of his conclusion.

fact that, for the

'

the

of invention.

but

This

is

fact

still,however,

for
disregardedby mythic interpreters:

Salinas, ad

Herod., vii. 26.

Solin.,580.

Plat.

Euthydem.,285.

Xenoph. Anab., i. 2.

8.

SOURCES

OF

they

consider

must

be

the

THE

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

65

which
is
allegory,
invented
at once
by a particularperson, with the
of
a thought in the form
express designof concealing
In the case
narrative.
of an allegory,
a
you require
onlyto find the key in order to obtain an explanation
of the whole
story : not so with the mythus. Its
for the most part, consists in nothing
interpretation,
than the indication of its origin;its genesis
more

to

discovered

together

therefore,to

and

as

into

whole.

notion

some

approach
ere

we

the

of

real centre

and

is

find

to

thousand

it was

by

were,

the office of

so

impossible,
salto

interpreter

subjectiveevidence.

mythus by

hope

can

it

must,

which

by

It

mythology,as

enter

We

activities

mortale,and then undertake

with

an

demonstrated.

the various

speak, undo

woven

mythus

We

must

different ways

its fundamental

nucleus, its punctum

cause,

its

saliens.

this

againis a point where we must of

necessity,in order not to speak of a part as if it
the whole, divide mythi into two classes,the
were
However,

difference between
who

has

even

be

which

have

must

attention to the

paid much

struck every

class

presents far greater obstacles

than

the

other, which
On

in

the

materials
names

service

of

local

the

mythus

explanation

to

court

actions

whole;

relations of the

neous
heterogefor, while
the

reference

to

of the

district from

origin, ^to the

people,and so forth.
its

find

evidentlybelong to

deity,others again bear

derived

pretation.
inter-

consideration,we

into

one

to

and
multifarious

combined

circumstances

the

said

be

minute

more

and
a

may

the most

former

certain

It may

subject.

in the circumstance, that the

discovered

one

"

which

ancient
These

social

legends

SOURCES

56

form

web

OF

and

colour

are

its constituents, we
caution
the

at

with

it asunder

take

must

extremely troublesome
ation
opertime, doubly remunerating

same

the manifold

it will yield.
profits

example, (perhaps others

give an

what

desire to ascertain

we

an

attractive,from

and
To

should

; and

but,

varietyin kind

with threads of every

woven

the utmost

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

clearer

be

may

and

others,)the Minyans, an ancient Thessalian

Boeotian tribe,had
a
religious
worship, wherein

to

Athainantidae, a house of high rank,

bearinga curse,
grounded in

as

of the

of the

family,in

victims

god

angry

"

lands.
a

of these

For

the purpose

being

offered up

of

expedition;
under

returned

of

room

towards

Minyans

voyages,

and
to

protectionof Hera,
this

Sea,

"

of lolcus
established

clearlyshows

this

the

expeditionbent

^the same

one

he

and

Orchomenus

colonies.

slightsketch

object,

goddess

its

course

direction in which

geographicalknowledge
Even

in their

the

destination,and the positionof Ata

Phasis.

tant
dis-

himself, the Mtvvai fitted out

having succeeded

the Black

the

from

bringinghome

and

country.^ But

of the

as

also the skin of the animal

and
fugitives,

had sacrificed in

the

avoid

to

the members

country, mythicallycalled A'a, the soul of

far

an

order

of which

them
by
destiny suspended over
often obligedto take refugein
were

"

represented

were

cally
again itself symboli(which was
the legendsregarding the ancestor

;) in consequence

race

the

undertook

Subsequent
at

lengthfixed

at Colchis

of the main

on

ditions
ad-

its
the

purport,

that real and

imaginaryingredientsof
various kinds are
interwoven, that it
so
intricately
would
be quiteimpossibleto carry out the separation
'

Medea

was

but
originally

little different from

Hera.

SOUECES

of

OF

THE

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

67

so-called

tion.
philosophemeand an historical tradiIt would
be impossible
from this circumstance
alone, that all the ideal portion does not consist of
to all ages and
'generalnotions which are common
a

nations, but has been

devised

in

way

defined
altogether

by very peculiarconditions, and is in its nature

to follow here, as I have
positive. If I had room
tions
attempted to do in another work, all the ramificaof this mythus, and to exhibit the entire contents
result would
of the legend,the same
probably
stand

in

out

We

come

bear

distinct and

more

harmonious

more

indeed

definite

to the other class of

now

much

are

closer

manner.

These

mythi.

in their character, and

to allegory.We
affinity

can

here

recognisea complete chain of ideas presented

in mythic language. A
forded
striking example is afby the story which relates how Prometheus,
Forethought," stole fire from heaven, and became
"

the instructor
useful arts
the aim
who

how

the

to

upon

labour

attend

in

the

and

trades and
to frustrate

order

the

Pandora,
all-gifted
and
Epimetheus, "Afterthought,"

earth

evils

whatever

by Hesiod in his
"Theogony," is in many

"

Works

and

this

pointsinconsistent

emanated
with

the

was

at

not
once

regardsthe
by degrees,but

formed
from

some

mythic spirit.It

inventive
may

main
must

to

story,

Days,"

confused, it is evident that, as

it

wont

are

industry. Although

it is told

in the

industrious

gods, in

sent
striving,

access

introduced

as

and

of this

found

man

of

and
and

ject,
subhave

mind, imbued

be called

an

rical
histo-

poet
philosopheme. Hence, the philosophical
made
it the subjectof a drama,
Epicharmus, even
entitled.

Pyrrha

and

Prometheus;

and

historical

SOURCES

58

sophisms

alreadylinked

were

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

OF

to

it

ancient

the

by

always alive to the

sophists.^The poets, too, were
of the names
: thus, Pindar
allegorical
signification
humorously calls Excuse a daughter of Afterthought.
In like manner
the juxtapositionof Prometheus,
Epimetheus, Atlas, and Menoetius, in Hesiod, as
of a
of Japetus, is manifestly an
invention
sous
somewhat
nature, designed to embody,
allegorical
in mythic language,the four leading characteristics
of the human
Titan

Japetus :
and
appellatives,
the two

first

it is evident

for

actions

as
strong-willed,
^vfiS exploresthe

mention

may

the

the

names,

imports,the patient,

name

with

the

calls

and

seas

frantic insolence,and

in

from

the

the
intensive,)

him,^ who
On

the stars.

rerXijoTi
the other

Menoetius, the

in

We

stands

four brothers, that

of the

Hesiod

impetuous, (Hesiod calls

the
Ovfios rises to
pivrriv,)

and
v-jrepKvSavTa

him

which

opposed to each other in respect of

in regard to 6v/uo9 (theappetitive
two

faculty.)Atlas is,as the

the enduring, (TAA2,

hand,

of

are

the other

vovs,

at the head

race,

hurries him
another

highest degree

into Erebus.

mythus,

which

partakes

character.
allegorical
Indeed, accordingto the definition in the first chapter,
it cannot properly be called a mythus, even
in
tion,
regard to form, for it does not relate an isolated acbut
Homeric
are

an

habitual

fable of the

of the

We

occurrence.

AtraJ,

"

Humble

refer to

the

Prayers,"who

called

daughtersof great Zeus, because

those who
implore his aid. They are

he

tects
pro-

sented
repre-

followingwith haltingsteps the fierce and

headlong"Ati/, Blind Passion," who is also called a
as

"

'

See

above, p.

40.

V., p.

509.

SOURCES

OF

THE

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

59

daughter of Zeus, because he givesand takes away

and endeavouringto overtake
her in order
reason,
to repair
the mischief she has occasioned/
Now, it will doubtless be asked by those who bear
in mind
the above
exposition of our view of the
consciousness
originof the mythus, What now becomes of that unessential to
and necessitywhich
are
the idea of genuinemyth-invention?
Is it not perfectly
clear that
Prometheus

and

first related

who

Epimetheus
ideas

embodying two

personages
with

he

another, while

its oppositeend.

I take

character

and

the poet has littlemore

doubt

of his existence

that of Zeus

Does

not

good

of Hesiod, who

the

assuredlydoes

that

than

of

also hold

same

look

not

upon

as
an
Upo/jujOevs
allegorical
image,but as
If so, then the error
must
have
corporealbeing?

his
a

himself?

at

that Prometheus

before ^schylus,
personified
visibly

stands

question

it were,

as
subject,

Is it not manifest

of

in individual

this

first meet
the

story of

quite conscious

was

of human

I would

the

aKaKrjTa

"

arisen

in

Theogony
pure

the

interval

and

the

fiction

relation."

came

But

how

receiver understood

the

between

authors

and what
allegory,
to be regarded as
can

was
an

of the
in truth

historical

this be conceived, when

just as

well

as

the narrator,

the
not

of the name,
but its agreement
only the signification
with
the action, and they both had obviously attained
a
finement.
substantially
correspondingdegree of re-

Hence

it follows, that

we

must

banish

the idea of

of such a
from the firstbeginnings
even
allegory
consideration will perhaps
The following
narration.

strict

'

II. ix. 502, comp.

xix. 91.

OF

SOURCES

60

show

how

this

be

can

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

It is to be remarked

done.

beforehand, that the class of mythi in question are

evidentlyless

ancient

than

those

of their

clear indications
the latter,afifording

originalstructure, having been

of very

influence

contain, if any
of such

at

influence.

exposed

different ages

cussed
dis-

formerly

we

mer
the for-

while

fying
modi-

ihe

to

all,comparativelyslighttraces
bear

Besides, the mythi which

to allegory,unquestionably
apparent aflSnity

some

belong, on

whole,

the

to

later

than

epoch

the

worship of the gods ; (with which, however, as will be

more
distinctly
pointed out in the sequel,the older
mythus

in its

was,

Prometheus,

most
ojigin,

Athens,

have

to
seem
(jcepauets)

in the

the

and

Academy

Prometheus
and

stood

He

and

Works

Days,"

through Deucalion,

nation.

The

in

the

formation

time

when

the

minds

of

more

mythi

pp.

deep import,

fresh and

ages, when
'

of

See T. H.

69, 120.

the
ad

Lucian.

T.

from

of the

heroogonies

into existence

came

already swarmed

men

which

their

i.,p. 196,

he

therefore, perhaps,

produced

powerful impression than

distance

that

of the Hellenic

are

with

logies:
genea-

least in the

at, at

mythi

is

such,

as

Theogony,"

"

general. Accordingly,they

at

one,

Neither

all heroic

the ancestor

Promethean

later than

from

the

at

him,

to

named

never

hinted

or

Hephaestus,between

Hippius.^

is

severed
originally

for it is nowhere

was,

and

the Colonus

hero.

consecrated

altar,if it reallywas

sanctuary of Athena

in

worshipped
guild of potters

ancient

patron of their craft,an

as

"

nowhere

therefore, was

Greece, except that the

intimatelyconnected.)

sq.

source

also

in after
was

in-

"Welcker,Prometh.,

OF

SOURCES

THE

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

61

creased.

Religion had placed before the eyes of

mankind, in personified
deities, the administration
throughoutnature, and the invisible aid of a higher
It became
a
generalhabit to concentrate
power.
existence whose unity was
cognised,
reevery form of spiritual
into an apex which
necessarily
appearedto
the mind as a personalentity. Can
it-be imagined,
Qifiii,MtJTtt,Mova-a, X.dpis,''Il^tj/Eipivvvs
that Ai'/cv,
attained
"Epii, could have
a
generally believed
and even
in some
divine worship,
measure
reality,
otherwise than through a necessity,
grounded on the
epoch of mental development,to contemplatein this
manner
as
a unity,not
only every aspect of nature,
but also of human
life?
How
it possibleto
were
cate
only viewed as a predipray to Charis, if she were
of human
or
higher natures ? It is even wrong
to consider
the worship paid by the Romans
to
in the strict
Virtus, Felicitas, "c., as allegorical
sense
worship at all. Here
; for then it could be no
have to deal with a mode
of contemplatingthe
we
world, which is quite foreignto our notions, and in
which

it is difficultfor
the historical

on

ascertain
must
"

be

one

dreamt

the

of,
"

of mythology to
investigation

if the

on

highestof

internal
the

It is not incumbent

to enter.

foundations

left to the
whose

us

it rests.

all historical

relations

historyof
formation

which

are

the human
of

This

sciences,

scarcely yet
mind.

mythi, at a particular
tuition,
were
grounded on a certain necessityof inperiod,
it might have continued, by the irresistible
ceased to
force of habit, after that necessityhad
Earlier ages thought in this manner
exist.
; those
the ancient
that followed thought alike,and widened
Now,

SOUEOES

62

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

OF

ness
while the conscioussphere of thought by analogies,
was
gradually dawning upon thenij that they
had only to do with a certain form of representation.
I will not

already

stands

even

in
alreadypersonified,

of man,

the

Titanic

world.

depends

the

on

of labour ; and

of

the hero

the

in

kind,
man-

brother.

all human

industry

who

with

weary

the

at

was,

the

curse

quity,
dreamt, like all anti-

moreover,

paradise,a golden

of rest

age

and

have

must

peace,

who,

that

as

possessionof fire,but

lost

him

with

time, often faint and

same

in the

race

quite natural

perceivedthat

who

one

any

the human

easilyobservable

less

associated

be

should

also

was

oppositequality^not

had

suppose,

it, as the higbestattribute

of
representative

It

it

as

thought,
daemon, the facultyof fore-

constituted

and

Now,

step,

from, the previous

imagined to have sprung

activity. A precedingage, let us

be

may

the

this middle

on

metheus
of Pro-

mythus

the

assert, however, that

of

readilyascribed the gift of fire to

and easilyimagined,too,
skilful industry,

indignationit excited

in the

the

gods, who punished

restless and presumptuous strivings
of man
with
loss of pristine
happiness,aiid even laid in bonds

and

fetters his

the

soar

beyond

whoever

daring intellect,which

its boundaries.

intuition which
that
pei:ceive,
a

mythus,
It may

said, that

and
be
a

into the

enter

can

belonged to
what
not

Hesiod
an

to

of

thinkingand
primitivehumanity will

relates of Prometheus

is

allegory.
of this kind

alterations from

poets

the former

class

apt

ever

convinced, that

am

mode

gathered,however,
mythus

is

and

from
was

what
more

we

liable to

other writers than

for this reason,

that

have

its

one

of

meaning

SOURCES

was

that

mythus

w^a^

account

Vfas

the

to

but

suggested by
them

to

in the

the

and

of the

whom

effected.

was

change

Athenian
mind
one

and

of the
of

the

poet,

to

mythus, also, changes

with

the

because

at

the

every

and

for

whom

such

scope

for

without

in

lie

extension

but

other

how

their

more

their

could

limits
all

the

in

the

the

heroic

in accordance
external

way,

concealed.

For

of

took

manner,

to

mighty
were

beings
within

and

greater

cherished,

if hemmed

Hellespont

ledge,
know-

Hei;cules, the

removed

the

ficance
signi-

character^

geographical

heroes, in like

dustriou
in-

cultivated

In

more

voyages

achievements,
between

little

and

by

and

therefore,

of

and

any

plodding

introduced,

but

the

the

possess

are

to

signed
as-

part of those

gigantic conceptions

Space

anew,

profound

ideas

aiid had

range,

distance:

narrow

the

adventures

Argonauts,
wider

law,

same

here

example,

essence,

speculative import.

more

son,
per-

allowed

entirely different

an

be

vailing
pre-

The

inmost

transformed,

was

ideas

the

the

on

could

-^schylus,

it should

necessity, were

the

Thus,

Prometheus
to

internal

fashioned

was

on

spiritual relations,

and

thereby

mythuSj

that

a-ction, were

main

the

precisely

handled.

was

motives

consciousness
it

it

feelingof

for

for

fact, that

very

know^ledgeand

when

other

true

63

have,

this

importance

of

and

in

be

to

it of

time

therefore,
remain,

held

ITSELF.

alterations

foundation

state

the

at

MYTHUS

These

part, their

adapted

idea

THE

obvious.

more

most

the

OF

Crete?

of

find

the

OF

DETERMINATION

64

V.

CHAPTER

the Determination

On

Mention

By

also

sought
literaryaids

to

called

the

is

poet

or

author

its age

determine

which

is

For
in

notion, that

mythi nothing more

what

the

in Authors.

have

the

mythus

it defeats

as

this

on

tendency is

history of

required,than

of the most

one

study,inasmuch

beforehand.
investigation
founded

from

the

in this

dangerous errors

Mythm

tendencyto confound the

knowledge of the mythus with its

properlyso

sources

precedingchapter,I

the

ohviate

to

Age of

of it

expositionin

the

the

of

point out

to

first appears,

accordingly.This

Greek

notion

in

and

to

is seldom

roundly expressed,hut it evidentlylies at the

of many
bottom
mythologicalinvestigations
; and, in
so

is frequently
employed
particular,
Homeric

and

post-Homeric mythology.

first place,this method

connexion,

as,

are

the

on

can

be

to

the

Argonautics,Heracleas,
which
that
the
mass

had

in its

day

long succession

of

without

any
'

Od.,

those

"

poets who

lost

for

Hymns,
lays,each of
?^

followed

other

information
viii. T4.

important

been

highestrenown

epos? And as, on the

of mythi have
only come

scientific

ante-Homeric

Iliads

the

have

separate

But, in the

yield a

never

mythus

found

to

hand, the most

one

of the

literarysources
where

in order

Homer

in

hand, the great

pilers,
through com-

to

us

as

to the

Comp.,

Where

i. 351.

poet who

THE

first treated
we

them.

in

were

AGE

unable

to

in prose

determine

ledgeof mythi
in

all cases,

MYTHUS.

65

place,even if
complete mythic

But, in the second

possessionof

both
literature,
be

OF

the most
and

far any

how

extended.

poetry, we

For

we

should

still

writer's know^

cannot,
certainly

infer

ignorance from silence. I am

touching upon a question which, although it is of
has
great importance and calls loudlyfor an answer,
usuallybeen cunninglyevaded ; and the assumption
has been gratuitously
evinces
formed, that as' Homer
connected
a
tolerably
knowledge of the business of
life at that time, he also contains a complete systenx
of mythology. Now, then, what must the poet notice
he was
that it may
not be inferred
quiteignorantof
it ? How
far does "eloquentsilence" extend?
Where
?
does the utterlyunimportant and insignificant
cease
"No
will require that the poet, besides the
one
tion
mythus which it is his business to treat, should menlogical
mythoevery local tradition,every insignificant
of whom
have accidentally
he may
personage,
heard; he should, however, introduce importantmythi,
about them."
But
heroes, if he knew
distinguished
where
is the boundary of that which
is of so much
that it must
force itself somemoment
where
necessarily
So far as
the poet's attention?
I can
on
all arbitrary
understand, all is here uncertain
; and
I look around
in vain for a criterion by which a philosophical
However,
procedure may be directed.
there are unquestionably
cially
passages in the poets,espeHomer, in which ignorance of certain mythi is
,

"

manifested

in

would
evidently
if these

mythi

more

decided

have been
had

been

manner;

and

different from what

known

to them.

which

theyare,
This only

OF

DETERMINATION

66

brings us, however,

position. A poet's

the third

to

existence.
of

did Homer

How
'

mythus

Greece

in song

in the

mouths

entire

the

period already
most
part,merely

lived,for the

of the

that

that

at

was

; it

to the

come

will believe

Nobody

of

mythology
embodied

of its nonknowledge

whatever

ignoranceof a mythus, is no proof

various

people throughout the

the

districts of Greece.

Now,

bard

place tl" place,inquiringeverywhere,

wandered

from

people regardingtheir

mythi
as

it

would

and,

to

of those

of the olden

of the

Trojan war.

In the north

elsewhere,

of
legends ^telling
"

ancient

cities

merely

of

abundance

destroyed, of

sanctuaries, of Hyperboreans, and

might

"

them

have

existed, without

having ever

reached

the

only try to give ourselves

What,

then, ought

that he should
^be conversant

but

those

supposed
he

seems

of
in
to

with

of Homer.

ishing
flour-

forth

Let

have

to

is

certainlynot

speak of

Phrygian and
have

been

had

us

to the

wider

Thracian

no

quired
re-

circuit

legends;

Epirus,Thessaly,and ^Etolia, must

part

of

question.
geographicalextent of

"It

not to

"

so

of

slightestecho

answer

the

legendary lore?

Homer's

"

be

to

the

ears

an

portion

fore,
Thessaly,there-

rich

and

the combats

heroic time, but

Delphi, and

after

search

perfectlyuseless,

Homer

design to sing aU

his

deeds

at

such

moreover,

been

have

not

was

and

is utterlyforeignto the character

earlypoeticages

the

among

gods ? Such
philosophical

their

and

comprehensive

strivingafter

knowledge

heroes

that

imagine

we

stories current

collectingthe

and

can

be

existence, because

unacquainted

with

them"!

Besides, I have said nothing here yet of the probability

that Homer

may

have

passed

over

in silence

THE

AGE

OF

MYTHUS.

67

things which he knew right well, not from

stance,
systematic design,or prudent calculation, (for inmany

because

he

able
possiblyhave been unfavourto certain religious
views,)but from a feeling
that they were
unsuitable to his styleof poetry ; and
for this reason,
also, that the Iliad and Odyssey, as
isolated human
could not possiblyexhibit
productions,
may

all the tendencies

to

clear,that

me

the

of the human

Demeter,"

thanking,with

devotional

but

we

introduced

the

heroes.

the

gods contending

activelyinterested

so

in

behalf

few

mythi

Homer

view, what
the

in

even

mystical element
in

sang, to

and

tenor

few, what

these

the

such

of

Grecian

degree as

which

that

afforded

will,from

to

is but

element

fill the

the poems
little

universal

conclude, that

I may
no

gether
alto-

there

are

to be

found

appears

people, for

of all ; for otherwise

I think

twice.

very
in

more

mystical

but

minds

scarcelyhave'

when

can

no

only,perhaps,that the
minated
religioncould not have predo-

explained away

be

fact, that

mysticalstrain

of

conclusion

that there existed

Not, assuredly,

that,

in

from

drawn

of

could, therefore, only take

of the

bearing this
be

can

propriety be

with

not

the

why

mythi relatingto Demeter

particular
opportunityoffered ; and he did so

Now,

or

understand

now

circle of

Homer

passingnotice
a

daily opportunity of
the benignantgoddess
feeling,

could

into the

Troy, and

had

even

Earth-mother

mystic
about

can

Thus, it seems

several times calls bread

poet who

of

gift

"

mind.

mention

of

whom
hearts

Homer
and

of Homer,

the
in

regarded,would

pleasure and

faction.
satis-

quirer
trulycritical inmythus being made
a

in

OF

DETERMINATION

68

Homer,

lived and
of it

in

have

might

thus far

keeping

the non-existence

of the

plan of

with the

the whole.

with

the

poet

mention

readilyoccurred

otherwise

in accordance

was

not

only if the

even,

him,

to

the poem,

in order

But

sider
con-

was

it

district where

in the

time
; and

sang

if it

and

that

at

utmost

that
in deciding,
justified

himself
known

the

poets, at

other ancient

or

to

of

mythus, arguments

prove

greater

weight,and drawn from a deeper source, are required.

The mythus itself,
comprehended in the process of its
atone solve the

formation,can
not

ourselves

assured

time, that

same

of the

source

we

can

mythus,

therefore,to the

supposing

even

"This

mythus

nothing
we

proof;
poets

ancient

an

should

fabrication,but
is to take

as

counsel

have

fact.
with

taken
successfully
ventured

to

Egypt being the

of

to

us,

in such
be

could

of

not

The
the

native

hand

it down

itself
For

age.

"

as

to

as

my

felt convinced

course,

the

mythus

ppint,therefore,

mythus

this

pronounce

of the

main

the

undertake

requireto

origin,and consequentlyas to its

part, to give an example, unless I
I had

said

of this kind

part" did
a

obtained.

philosophicalconclusion,

ourselves

most

of

testimony,

time, and

for the earlier transmitters

for the

primary

be

can

have

the evidence

author

at such

statement

than

more

mythus

formed

was

circumstances;"

which

of

thus,
my-

we

the

authentic

external

if it

also, at the

know

longer hear

no

age

is

as

soon

longer reach

no

No

so

latter,we

of the

its real framers.

For

for

fiction :
literary

age

particularnarration

be first granted that any

and

to its

questionas

I should

story

of

its

own

that
never

Sais

in

place of Cecrops, a production

comparativelyrecent

times, and

to

exclude

it

THE

in
entirely,
should

AGE

that

not have

OF

form, from
been

MYTHUS.

the

enabled

rank

to do

so

69

mythi/ I
merely because
of

the

epic poets and logographersare silent on the

subject,and even
partly contain whai is adverse.
Such

roundabout

Creuzer
has well reas
marked,
inquiries,
do not lead to the point. But I thought,
still think, I had shown
that the mythic fraternization

and

of the Saltans
in the presence

root

in

strangerssaw

and

of the Ionian^

Neith, who

their native Athensea.

had

Athenians

its natural

Sais, when

at

the

worshipped there,

was

thought that

was

able

to

follow, step by step,the gradualgrowth of the story ;

and

that I had

kindred

and

At
that

the

series of

pointed out, besides, a

same

logous
ana-

phenomena.

time, however, it cannot

be

denied

cRronplegical
arrangement of the
evidences would
be extremely advantageous,nay necessary,
to the study of mythology ; but its application
be guided by a very cautious judgment.
must
accurate

an

Such
an

arrangement

an

actual

historyof

may,
a

in favourable

and

for
the

that the

by

shape

course,

discrepancies
may

the altered

the
be

spiritof

in which

Suppose

mythus.

authors, of different ages, relate

it is

cases,

that three

mythus differently,

be

furnish

accounted
perfectly

the age

or

the

narrators

given by

the

oldest

relatively
originalform,

and

it,therefore,

the

is, of

for further investigation.

starting-point
It may, indeed, also happen that the later as well as
the earlier author makes
of the genuine legend,
use
and communicates
from
essential
it something more
to a rightunderstanding of it than
the other.
In
that case,
the literarydetermination
of time is, of
must

'

Orcb.,p.

106

sqq.

70

OF

DETERMINATION

course,

at

tion.

But

enable

end,

an

as

original
groundwork

and

other

authors, and

We

age.

in which

clearly made
other

If

cases.

to

that

spiritas
learn

these

well

from

determine

as

the

the

spirit

individual

the

stances,
inbe

dramatic

certain

writers

mythi,

tic
authen-

gave

among

"

in

separation in

know, for instance,from

we

from

are

its character

undertake

to

how

show

poets

supplementary portion can

out, to
even

tragicturn

thus
the

general,and

sources,

to

of

the additions

from

in their

hands, and

of their

hiforma-

new

also, very frequently

investigations,
separate, in the narrations of mythi,

the

their

regardsthis

such
to

us

far

so

other

more
ples,
exam-

to me,
occurs
Euripides^now
we
perhaps ascertain, by analogy, how much
may
has
been
added
by the "jrepnrereia in other cases.
here must
lead still farther.
It
Nay, investigation
in the case
of mythi which have been
enables us, even
transmitted to us by later compilers,
to discover their
former
from
the style of narration, and to
source
find out, therefore,at what
related
periodthey were
in that particular
form.
It is easy to conceive
how
of
important this must be for the critical treatment
the mythus.
Such a study of the literary
in
sources
chronologicalorder, and such an arrangement of
often furnish
mythi according to their literarysources,
of entirely
us with the means
excludinga mythus
from the class of genuine mythi, and assigningit its
place among pure inventions.
Suppose I find that a
story did not exist before the time of Pragmatism,

the Medea

and
been

of

"

that it has otherwise

devised

as

the

appearance

connectinglink
'

Orch., p.

270.

between

of

having

others,as

THE

decide

of criticism

the

the

say

nothing,further

mythus itself,however,

the time when

his mention
been

mythus,

it had

author, who

at

the

the

nected
con-

nature.

shall be able to
formed

was

before

longbefore,

instruct

It may

us.

as

are

we

was

time

the

people at

so
first,
far

where
no-

of the

concerned,

notice of it.

Since, therefore,the

aim,

mythic

quite extinct, and

among

was

something

as

early a period,that, as

so

become

far

so

go

it : how

of it by itself cannot

current

to take

that it

than

formed

of
we

poet handled

the

of

age

but not

mythus,

Of

the

71

often

can

we

certaintythe

with

with

have

MYTHUS.

attaining
pragmaticalcoherence, I cannot
regard it any longer as a mythic tradition. By

this method
to

OF

of

means

well

AGE

evidences

is

must

we

mere

inquiryinto

little calculated

so

try to

other

find

advance

to

and

ways

the age of
our

of

means

determiningthe age of a mythus. The main point is

in order
to comprehend the mythus at its origin
; and
Without
to this,its true explanation is necessary.
nary
enteringinto this,we here seek merely for prelimidata.
a

of

chain

connexion
"

or

shall

the

be found, if we

must

history

authentic

We

Such

between

mythi

can

establish
facts

and

either their contemporaneous

evolution

try whether

it

of the
can

be

one

from

shown, that

the
a

in
istence,
ex-

other.

mythus

took place;
event
alreadyexisted when a particular
have
come
that it could not possibly
and, secondly,
such particularevent.
into existence, but for some
of especial
of the latter sort are
Data
importance;
useless,
those of the former are by no means
and even
lead us far beyond the
inasmuch
as
they sometimes

evidences.
literary

OF

DETERMINATION

72

CHAPTER

VI.

historical events

Such

of colonies.

It

seems

adduced

here

research

the

; as

to the

but

1. Byzantium

importance

science in

if,indeed, these

them

did

there

;^ but, according to

largelyon

think,

the

was

the

best

ancient

honoured

under

Argive

fortress

put

ancient

in

his

"

he

could

Larissa,^she
a

'

This,

have.

inhabitants.)

Further,

the
and

For

of

the
of

place

the

ner,
man-

dicitur,vbi
gens Me-

merely
legends of

Hera)
was

was

eminence

an

mactat

denotes
as

like

as

Byzantium.^

Acra

die

worship
the

in

was,

citadel at

quotannisvictimas primo anni

garica,(which expression here

he

account,

historians.

"Ille locus Junonia

with
(in connexion
localityat Argos,

only

goddess of Argos,
appellativeof 'AKpala at

possessionof

city

The

own

Dionysius,the Byzantine,speaks thus

the

Argives,

tutelar

the
of

also

them.

poets and

source

Olympiad

later writer, Hesychius

Milesius

ancient

speciesof

30th

were

precede

not

of this,however, is

within

be

yet equally

not

in the

evidence

Hera,

portion of

of this

generalis

founded

was

by Megarians. Among

small

of

number

to all.

evident

drew

that

proper

should
by investigation,

obtained

otherwise

ment
establish-

the
especially

are

examples, although forming

those

Historical Events.

of the Age of Mythi from

Determination

had

the
lo

their

pointed

out

In

Orelli.
narg. KoverMTmrniXius, P. 3. p. 60.
'
Pausan., ii. 24, 1.
Hudson, Geogr. min., T.

iii. p. 2.

THE

AGE

she had

where

lo

was

OF

grazedas
said

have

to

cow

Barbyses and

streams

73

;^ so

also, at Byzantium,

grazed

called Ceras, "theHorn,"

land

MYTHUS.

the

on

tongue

of the

at the confluence

Cydarus, and

to have

of

brought

One,"
daughter, Kepoea-cra"the Horned
of Byzas,^the hero of the city. It seems
mother
to
clear that the name
me
Bosporus, Cow-ford," has
with these mythi ; that the Byzanconnexion
some
tines
applied it to the strait in honour of their
legendarycow ; and that the tradition of lo having
lows
swum
originatedin this way.^ Hence it folacross,
that the Argives,who emigrated to Byzantium,
were
alreadyacquaintedwith the mythus of lo, and
her transformation; for Argos and Byzantium had

forth

"

never

afterwards
remarkable

so

But

worship.
of the

much

so
a

intercourse

to

as

migration of mythi

and

it follows, secondly,that

wanderings of lo, in

the

course

occasion

religious
in the history
of which

tained,
Hellespont,*
legendsare conof which, at least, the one justreferred to did
ej,'istuntil the BOth Olym'piad?
not
of the Byzantine sanctuaries
2. But
most
were
the metropolis,
it was
transferred from Megara,
as
In Megara flourished
of eminence.
called by way
ancient
the worship of Apollo ; and, in particular,
an
temple, dedicated to him, stood on the Acropolis^
The god himself was
said
looking towairds the sea.
in buildingthe citadel.
assisted Alcathous
to have
While
thus employed, accordingto the legend,he
laid his harp upon a stone, of which it was
asserted,

she

swims

across

'

ApoUod.,

'

It had

the

ii. 1. 1.

alreadyappeared

Diouys.,p.

5.

6.
Ilesych.,

in the heroic poem

p. 63.

jEgimius,Dor.,

vol. i. p. 34d.
*

iEschylus,Prom.

726.

^.Compare Dor., vol. i. p.

138.

74

OF

DETERMINATION

in later

forth

gave

might

have

been

if it

were

said

to have

Poseidon.
and

deemed

also

not

towers.^

Byzantium. Apollo is
city also, in conjunctionwith

found

built this

the

at

if

Now,

subsist between
that it may

relations

colony and

the

this

have

admitted, but

The
other

the

in the

yet been

of
possibility
opinion is more

tradition

only which

while
itself so

the

their

minds,

localisation and

Syeacuse

was

Byzantines

latter

be

probable:
be

strongly

habitations

new

and

this must

knew

; and

and

stillMegarians,could

they were

deeplyon

to demand

of

establishment

to

veyed
easilycon-

would
necessityof transplantation

felt at the

indeed

metropolis;

thus, although not invented

to the former.

legend also

long continued

the

ancient

seven

Olympiad, it may

the 30th

city till long afterwards,

3.

that

conclude

we

tower,

ringing of

the
of

harmony

amicable

objectedthat

merely

not

concerted

transplantedat

for the

invention,

Here, too, he laid his harp upon

stone, but

be

story of recent

thereby produced,

was

of

like that

sound

pebble,it
This
harpr-string.-^
with

struck

times, that, when

as, in a certain

lieved
be-

impress
degree,

renewal.

established

by

Corinthians

in

Olympiad.^ Among the settlers,however,

there were
peoplefrom the neighbourhood of Olympia,
members
of the family of the
particularlysome
lamidse, which administered the propheticoffice at the
altar of Olympian Zeus.*
these
That
crwoiKia-r^pes
(to use Pindar's expression)from Olympia exercised
the

5th

'

Pausan., i. 42.

Hesych., 12.

74r. 14.

Heyne

1. 2.

Dor., vol.

13. p. 63 sqq.
in Commentat.

'

Dor.,

Pindar, 01. vi. 5, 6.

vol. i. p. 140;

i.

p. 258.

Dionys.Byz.,p.
Gott. rec., T.

i.,p.

6.

Dio

Cass.,

64.

vol. ii.p. 514.

BiJckh,Explic.Find.,

p. 152

sq.

THE

the

AGE

OF

greatest influence

MYTHUS.

75

services and
religious
raythiof "the new
cityis manifest from a varietyof
the following:Artemis
circumstances, particularly
was
worshipped at Olympia as a deityconnected with
Alpheus,(Alpheionia,
Alpheioa,Alpheiusa,Alpheisea,)
in that neighbourhoodregardedchiefly
for she was
as
a
goddess of floods,rivers,and lakes.^ She had, in
conjunctionwith Alpheus, an altar in the Altis,^and
it was
currentlyrelated in that district that Alpheus
enamoured
of her.** According to the legend,as
was
it was
told Pausanias
by the Letrinasans, the riverunsuccessful in his suit,and was
god was
obligedto
retire with disgrace
of the goddess
; but the surname
that

proves

in

assumed
from

the

these

elder

quarters

the

as

actual

an

the

on

relation

between

Now,

mythus.

to

Syracuse ;

them

people

originalsettlement, which

came

deed
early in-

so

nay,

was

confined

was

island of

Ortygia. Here also they erected a

a
{"jrorafila,)
temple to Artemis, the river-goddess,
sanctuary of so great importance that Pindar calls
to the

entire

the

island

after it, "the

goddess."* But there was

still sighedfor her
Artemis
arose

the

the

Alpheus f

of

This

belief

'
2

beloved

was

confirmed

gave

birth

Paus.,

P., ii. 7.

'

Ibycus ad Schol. Theocr., i. 117.

Diodor.,v. 3. Schol. Pind,, N.

"

the

Dor., vol. i. p. 393.

Paus., V. 14. 5. Schol. Pind., N.

vi. 22.

Bockh's

by the

mythus

i. 3., O.

5.

Comp.

water

cumstance
cir-

in the fountain."

to

'

the

near

the sacred

large fish being seen

again

river-

Ortygia; and
Alpheus. Then

Arethusa,

temple, contained

belief which

the

river in

belief that the fountain

precinctsof
of

no

of

seat

JExplic,p.
i. 2.

244.

v.

10.

that

76

OF

DETERMmATION

Alpheus
who

followed

desire to form

which
heed

mythus

to this

is

worship
by

of the

ancient

be

evolved.

and

it

of the

being

not

of

quiteclear

what

he stillconsidered

pursuit,when

he

the

about

the

the
and

the

stillmore

goddess was

mistress
'
'

vol.

no

originalmeaning
obliterated.

of the

for

The

in

idea

of the
Thus

^whether

"

as

the

the

longer taken

It
or

object

venerated

later times, when

preferenceto

of the

^these

"

Olympiad.

"

In

ginity
vir-

coy

Alpheus.

Ortygia^

called

sought for

substituted

was

Greece

goddess herself

of Alpheus."
resting-place

agreeablewas

story should
of her

64th

Pindar's

was

ties; but

orginalworship

flees before

now

bound

in the tradition

as

the notions

the

be

miist

to be

the

prevalentthroughout

Telesilla,^
even

is not

that

(somewhat

with

not

temis
such, that Ar-

first

affectionate

and

close

necessary

iroran'ia. Artemis
sang

therefore

still conceived

were

was

variance

people

the

to

Syracusan legend,as
at

was

when
Letrinseans,)

at

endeared

of the

above,

by

became

The

contrivance.

legend

form

different turn,

with

seen,

genuine mythus

the

deliberate

the

Alpheus

afterwards
receive

the

be

their native stream, too, could

the

other

each

with:

Now,

is clear from

in

goddess was

usage

dispensed

to

like

nothing

here

; for it may

example

in

give due

into existence, would

comes

those

of the way

notion

accurate

an

especialdistinctness, that
there

wish

goddess to Sicily.I

the

the

the

ficant,
signi-

into account,

mythus

was

thereby

fountain-nymph Arethusa

Artemis,

river-god.'I

^
Hephaest.,p. 36. 18.
Comp. the excellent expositionof
i. p. 350.
Dor., vol. i. p. 393.

and

became

think
Nem.
Dissen.

no

one,

the

shy

except

i. 1.

Explic. ad Nem.,

THE

AGE

those

perhaps

who

of
pious simplicity

OF

scent

the

mythus,

about

the

the 5th

time.^

same

Olympiad

in the

Hera
honoured
was
Acropolis,
and
with solemn
ancient
'Ajfpa/a,
was
worship, the fable of Medea

It

sacred

with

find

again,we

;* and

Herseon

nymphs, which

sacrifices

yearly

mythi

these

settlers,and

which,

altars

by

carried

became

much

of their transit,that

in

more

ideal, or, if I

'

Dor., vol. i. p.

Pausan., ii. 4.

Orch.

this

nected
con-

Corcyra,

IV.

'

Orch., p.

here solemnized

grotto where

at

the

time

of

the

Moipai

up.'
by

of

and
the

Timseus,*

It is clear that
the

Corinthian

therefore,from

the

wards,
long afterestranged from the
not

be remarked, that at the

marriage was understood

at this point,use
the
may,

136.

7.

Siebelis and

Comp.
4
"

297.

in

the bride before

especially
as,

time

of

down,

come

over

mother-city.Besides, it is to

1153.

To

lated.*
closelyre-

very

in the time

even

offered

were

have

ib.

and

also,in the temple

were

reared

were

Corcyra

rites.^

the sacred

as

the

colonisation

of

date

at

have

still shown

was

were

and

ceremony,

; and

Jason

Apollo Nomius,

of

Sovmia

as

Now,

said to

was

Rhodian,*

the

ApoUonius

place,likewise

important sanctuary, called the

togetherwith it,the traditions regarding

united

were

rise to

gave

an

nuptialswith

they

event

local tradition,and

observances.

She

Medea.
her

at Corinth

was

the

Corinth, probably

from

the latter

At

the

doubt, after

can

facts, that

of these

colonized

was

77

in
priestcraft

out

can

plain consideration
which look place in
the legend.
4. CoECYEA

MYTHUS.

Orch., p.

269.

Thucyd., i. 24 ; iii.75, 79.

ApolL, iv. 1217, and the Schol.

78

DETERMINATION

expression,in

and

Alcman,

5,

The

founded
of

was

Gela

the

and

Delphic

of

the

Pamphylia,
called

oracle.
the

applied at
The

and

tongue

paKos

According
Rhacius,
the

to

who

and

for

the

XaKo?

figuredin

the

likelythat Mycenee
related

was

who

of

Delphian god

; and

Cretan

the

thing.*

same

Cretan

named

The

'

Dor., vol.

See

Cyclic

; but

it is

meant.^

thereby

was

that the heroes

-Manto,
of

the

captive

honour

that,having been ordered

Athenag. legat.,p. 14, ed. Colon.

Y.

to

the

onwards

992.

i. p. 127; vol. n. p. 517in Steph.

of Phaselis

Aristsenetus

Comp. Athenseus, vii. 297,

and Philostephanus,rsgirwn

from
h

See

"

Pausan., vii. 3. 1. ; ix. 33. 1.

Sohol. Apollon. Rh., iy. 308.

Schneider

in Nicand.

Byzant, s. v. Ts\a.
Heropythus, ''Xlgo;
KoKafmlm,

?ro'XEw".
'Aff/qi,

148,4.

in

and

name,

oracle."

gift

'

'

for

poem,

sent
a

east,

of Phaselis.*

Mycenaean

in that ancient

as

the

to

to

mythologicalperiod,at

in Crete

Tiresias,

to the

former

the

Cretan

was

Clarian

conquered Thebes,

daughter

time

same

signifiedthe
there

of the

Lacius,

other

founder

Rhacius;

Thebais, indeed, called him

It

Olympiad.^:
according to

latter

was

tradition

foundation

the

borders

16th

even

the

Lacius

that
form

another

only

the

directed

god

west,

know

we

about

the

on

A.ntiphemus,the

Lacius, therefore, became

Now,

city,Lindus,

Rhodian

Sicily,and Phaselis,

have

to

to

divine

Lindians, brothers

one

said

travel

race

in

Two

are

in

inhabitants

l4ycia

some,

being.^ She is,

the
who,
Theogony as one
herself to a
of gods, wedded

Medea

the

Hesiod

; for to

symbolicalsense

more

therefore, viewed
sprung from
mortal.^

OF

Alexipharm.,Vi
Paris.

11.

p. 83.

Comp. Orchom.,

p.

THE

AGE

Delphi, she

from

MYTHUS.

OF

79

Rhacius, to whom

met

she

became

marriage,and founded, togetherwith him,

the Clarian oracle of Apollo,in the neighbourhoodof
first prophet of
Colophon/ Mopsus, the renowned
the son
of this pair,or of Apollo
that sanctuary,was
in

united

Manto.*

and

There

the authorities

here

current

Apollo, and
this

Clarus

at

Thebaic

Rhacius

no

of

Lacius, from

bold,

very

little

so

Phaselis, is

co-founder

ancient

the
of

words, that the

other

well

as

that, for this

and

regarded

order

one

which

Mopsus,

to

at

the

same

too, by the orders

'

''

other
the

time

of

in

or,

Phaselis,
was

as

moted
pro-

oracle, and

connected

new

Rhacius,^ and

Manto,

city.

it

In

it is only
identity,
legends;for instance,

establishment

with

with

of Phaselis
another

sets

Mopsus, and

served
pre-

forth

that

sent

forth,

established that

colony.

the same
in the pasaccount
givesalmost precisely
sages
source.
justcited; perhapsfrom the same
Conon, 6 ; Pausan., vii. 3. 1. Comp. Strabo,xiy.^675 ; Mela,

Pausanias

i. 17;
3

oracle

of the

of this

of

of

of

the other, the

the Clarian

by Philostephanus,which
Lacius

founder

newly-acquired territory,

some

son

appear

the

ascribes
the

to
"

Pamphylia,

the founders

necessary to compare

return

heroes

convinced

be

to

as

for

the

reason,

transplantedto

were

the

cities in

tuary
sanc-

assertion,

reputed

Clarian

the

cooperationof

the

the

establishment

several other

by

with

same

of

So much

whom

latter, the

and

one

the

whom

preparationfor it, may

that the

"

ditions
tra-

were

minister

its existence.

Lacius, the supposed Lindian, with

which, with

doubt, from

Cretan

to
prophetess,

for

or

of

manner

referred to, that there

indebted

was

be

can

Dot., vol.
Mela, i. 14.

i. p. 255.

founder

of

city in

into

measure

The

memory

the

spiritof

the

and

worship

of

secure

disembarkation

their

at

through
How^

then,
easily,

while

he

dwelt

established

under

in his

of the
at

Thus

as

Mopsus,

ages.

to

forming process

and

of his

Lacius

was

there

having

honoured

prophet-racehad

suestia

carried

far back

founder, and
the

16th

might

permitted

helped

to

into the
the

mythological

therefore

Olympiad.

be rendered

tive
primi-

brought

This

still more

mythobvious,

into the

legends of the
cities,Soloe, Mallos, Mopsucrene, and Mop-

were

Cilician
;

but the

to

enter

inquiry would

while
present purpose,
given in the Dorians, may
our

'

cules
Her-

laid the first foundation

Others, again,converted

Lacius

down

be

historical

an

if it

was

colony. He received the title of oiKitrrhs;

Philostephanusrelates,he must needs, with

son,

into

regions,and

the

fit out

his

his

also

also,

he

Heraclidse.^

wanderings, and

city.

pi'otector.

Crotbna

them.

before

auspicesof

the

Phaselis, because

and,

native

their

worshipped as oiKia-ras
wanting legends which told

there

been

companied
ac-

people,

strange

there

not

some

always

hero

earth, visited those

there

fought and

were

in

enter

legend arise,that

did the

lived upon

was

try

we

colonizing Greeks.

among

guardianship of

the

if

migrations. The settlers thought

their perilousexpedition,and
on

their

themselves

situation, and

in the

fancy ourselves

Olympiad,

16th

the

the

become

legend could

the oracle in the

guardian of

mythic

the

how

understood,

will, perhaps, be

It

to

OF

DETERMINATION

80

Dor., vol.

i. p. 146.

be too
the

be,
*

lengthened for

exposition I
on

the other

Dor,, vol.

i.

have

hand,

p. 455.

full

not

THE

AGE

enough

for

here

been

show,

OF

all readers.^

communicated,

that

the

MYTHUS.

alreadyin
Phaselis
the

of

legend

the oracle,must

to

have

existence

it is also clear, at the

But

the

suflSlce to

mythus,
history,in a

birth

others, crept into

form.
disguised

time, that

will

has

Phaselis, through

of

circumstances, gave
particular

what

Even

however,

establishment

which, like many

81

Rhacius

at Clams.

of

the

mythic

oracle,

must

have

itself: for Callinus, who

Olympiad,

16th

transference

The

with

to

with

connected

personages

begun

of

founder

as

been, at the

same

settlement

the

the

25th

Olympiad, stated, accordingto Strabo,^ that

"the

prophet Calchas
by Mopsus

died at Clarus
the

across

remained

flourished about

his

mountain

led

people were

of Taurus

range

in

selves
Pamphylia, others dispersedthemtowards
Cilicia and Syria,as far as Phoenice."
Pamphylia here evidentlyincludes Phaselis, the
buildingof which was probably ascribed by Callinus
he followed
to Mopsus ; at all events
the legend,

some

which

did

not

Olympiad,

but

which

belief at the very

and

neighbour

until the

into existence

come

found

Callinus, as

outset.

of the

have

must

16th

willing
Ephesian,
a

an

Colophonians,got

it at

first

hand.
The

6.
of

most

example of
interesting

mythus from an historical occurrence

early mythic history of Cyeene,

the

the evolution

is,perhaps,
which

of

only bringforward here what is essential to

to
referring
understandingof the mythus' origin,
shall

work
"
"

on

Dor.

Orchomenos
vol. i. p. 129

for

sq., 256

further

sq.

details.*
*

XIV.

the
my

Cyrene

668.

P. 340-359.
G

was

OF

DETERMINATION

82

colony from

Thera, established

ahout the 2"'lih

ancient portion of the city

Olympiad} The most
lay surrounding the fountain sacred to Apollo,^the
of which
name
was
Cyre ;^ and there can be
proper
of the city,Cyrene, comes
doubt, that the name
no
is derived
that Messene
from
Cyre, in the same
way
The princesof Cyrene traced their
from
Messe, "c.
from
descent
Euphemus, an ancient Minyan hero,*
ferent
difbirth is assigned by the legends to two
whose
places,both of which, however, belonged to
But
that tribe, Panopeus and
Hyria, in Boeotia."
the Minyan tribe,to which the family of Euphemus
Laconia
previous
belonged,had dwelt in Southern
to

settlement

the

island

the

on

therefore, Euphemus

himself

rian."

Now,

the

behest

of the

when

in the

had

believed

But

occupation was

occurred

in the

and

olden

at

the

powerful

was

Greeks

grounded

occupation
the gods, and
closelyallied

to

another, viz.,

on

events

times,
"

which

^that their

ancestors, by whom
and

Tsena-

their

that

heroic

and,

dued
Cyrene, sub-

reared

this idea

the

Minyans,

agreeableto

was

imagination of

that this

Theraic

Delphian oracle, founded

city,they must have

of the foreign land
decreed by destiny.

Thera

is also called

Libyan barbarians,

the

of

they thought themselves

accompanied, had done nearly the

tected
prosame

2 is to be
grounds^ Orchom., p. 344, 2 ; where number
struck out. Voss has recentlyattempted to assignthe enlargement
of Cyrene by Battus II. to that period ; but this Battus, according
to certain data,reigned in the 52d Olympiad.
Comp. Herod, ii.
'

See the

iv. 160, and Larcher

on
Volney.
Herod., iv. 158 j comp. Pind., P. It. 294.

161, with
*

Callimachus,Apoll.,88. Steph. Byz. xu^^vi)

; comp.
282.
Pind.,
ExpUc.
p.
Miwiuv.
ruv
Herod., iv. 150.
Euf)]/u/ja/
6
"
263.
Orch., p.
Orch., p. 316.

Biickh,

THE

thing

AGE

before.

Thus,

reflected

nature

OF

MYTHUS.

therefore,

itself back

83

of

that

mythic

ages,

event

an

into the

and

time, a justificatherebyreceived, at the same

tion
which was
to the minds of the ancient
gratifying
Greeks.
The
crowd
of legendswhich sprang from
this tendency is remarkable
in the case
of Cyrene ;
and
it may
instantlybe perceivedin all of them,
that they were
not deliberate inventions, but, on the
mythi which found
contrary, were
general belief,
both among
Cyrenseans and strangers,because that
have alreadyspoken,
unconsciousness
of which
we
influenced their formation.
of these legends,
One
which
relates how the nymph Cyrene was
conveyed
by Apollo to Libya,Ihave alreadyquoted. Another
Euphemus
took part in the Argonautic
thus.
runs
expedition,and arrived with the shipat the Tritonis,
ders
at tlie borwhich is described in the legend,
a lake
as
Irasa and Hesperis.^ Here
of Cyrenaica,near
the god Triton himself appeared to the Argonauts ;
other giftto
and
snatched
up in haste, having no
offer the strangers,a clod of earth, which
Euphemus
received

into his hands.^

in the

occurs

of

ceremony

symbol

of

the

the

was

Greek

investiture

ground

god himself to
this symbolicalact.

and

legends,(as

the

It must

have

lake

had

Orch., p.

354.

given his
*

in the Roman

Thus,

as

fore,
there-

been

conveyed

to

actuallypossessed it ;
at that

it unless the

held

quently
fre-

Cyrene conveyed by
posterityof Euphemus, by

hero, for his descendants

have
scarcely

clod

meant

was

land.^

of

soil of

and, accordingto the belief

"

seizure of

Vindication,)and

the

the

The

god

sanction.

Find.,Pyth. iv.

time, they could

of the

It
'

neighbouring
is plain,then,

Dor.,vol.

i. p. 99.

that

the

and

later,

was

clod

Argonauts

Apollo;

of

Triton

should

heroes

his

possession,
up

around

already
ancient

Tritonis,

the

of

with

the

at

events,

referred

was

distant

actually
have

with

remained

become

'

lY.

and

1548.

and

the

the

others,

and

enigmatic
2

IV.

and

from

than

unaccomplished,
dark

also,

surrounding

sprung

which,

the

therefore,

to

regard

the

to

Cyrene,

the

aftertimes,

was

was

stood

plant

also

only

possessor,

probably,

Herodotus

by

Tritonis

are

In

examined.

previously

the

would

too,

Battus

prediction,

it,

period,

later

to

for

tripod
to

into

cities

look

we

of

one

tripod

prediction,

the

This

attached

the

and

soon

very

cities.

mythus

Irasa

where

began

region

if

Argonaut,

an

country

moreover,

realized,
near

of

Hellenic

This

in

Herodotus,*

descendant

lake.

the

the

Tritonis,

to

receive

the

which

of

shore

hundred

partially

descendant

if

again

ApoUonius,^

according

that

event,

Olympiad.

tripod,

the

on

the

37th

poet,
for

and,

prophesied,

the

of

Argonautic

placed

had

the

than

gift exchanged

from

origin

its

therefore,
the

to

was

honour

derived

legend

According

rise

OF

DETERMINATION

84

real

legend

prophecy
to

more

however,
must,
tradition.

179.

fore
there-

it

THE

AGE

OF

CHAPTER

Extension

The
to

mythi

show
and
or

pointed

how

originof

belong to

be

the

former

of

the

events

to the

Mythic Ages.

been
sure

can

The

out.

have

close and

events

are

We

which

adduced

connexion

ascertained, and

those
the

which

youth

have

than

only that, in

the

tence
exis-

purely historical character,

that

can

between
the

they occasioned

be arrived
been

the

age

mythic

and

37th

Olympiads.

the

tion,
transplanta-

expansion,and sometimes
remodelling,
of mythi.
It is asked
creation
whether
determinations

will suffice

particularepoch
sideration
just brought under conat

5th, 16th, 30th, and

have found

85

VII.

of this Process

examples

MYTHUS.

the

even

similar

at for earlier times

; as

rather to prove
given serve
of a mythus.
Doubtless;
ages, the events

with

which

of mythi are connected,

originand transplantation
communicated
have been themselves
only by mythic
to the foregoing
But we must, according
narrations.
analogy,further conclude, that in these ages, also,the
migrationand new settlement of a trib^ could scarcely
take place without
time, to a
leading,at the same
settlement
of legends. Every
migrationand new
specialinquiryfurnishes examples. I select only a
few, beginningwith those that lie on the confines of
the historical period.
1. The first example is furnished by the position,
the tribe of
That at the time of the Dorian migration,
Tyrrhene
Pelasgians, wandering from Boeotia to

the

86

OF

DETERMINATION

Samothrace, brought

mythi

of Cadmus

Cadmilus

or

position seems
in

all

have

his

to

Cadmus

period,as the
is also

in

mythus

she

stands

the

goddess

in

her

of love

mysteries of

in which

ceremony,

lost.*

had

been

and

that, too,

well

knew

Cadmilus

not

merely

Hermes,

this

proper

and

the

To

name,

far

as

old

In

as

one

that

grammarians

Samothracian
of

in

god

Cadmus,
:*

also

"

as

Cadmus

Lycophron

is
is
of

surname

Hermes

is

Theog.,937,

975.

196.

7.
"

V.

is called

Cadmilug, without

and

Pyth.Ap.
Ephorus in Schol. ad Eurip.,Phoen.
Oomp. Eustath. ad II.,iv. 385.

and,

particular

for

Phavorinus

"

monia
Har-

know.

we

was

form

but

was

worshipped there,

was

Cadmilus

Lycophron" Cadmus

Plutarch, Pelopid. 19.

Samothrace,

lengthened form."

the

in

of the

on

dite
Aphro-

Now,

Ares.

for the

another

scholium

his

goddess}

marriage,and

searched

name

but

so

also

god

the

of which

derivative

by

and

also

was

Cadmus
as

that
was

in

stated

she

early

city,and

native

island there

that

very

relations to

daughter by

indeed, only in Samothrace,

the

no

goddess by Hesiod,^ and

hymns.* In the Thebaic

worshipped

was

the
a

varietyof

make

Homeric

said to be

even

from

founded

may

where.
subjectelse-

of the

esteemed

represented as
the

as

proofs,he will

had

was

of

one

the

who

Harmonia

spouse

establish it,proceed with

treatment

own

hero

portant
im-

most

will,for that

he

regarded at Thebes,

was

This

and, in order that the reader

with
difficulty

no

reference

She

and

mythology ;

endeavouring to

possible caution

of the

one

and

worship

Harmonia.

and

author

the

to

in historical
reason,

that island the

to

162,

219.

THE

AGE

OF

87

MYTHUS.

; another poet,Pieander^
signification
of Laranda, employed Cadmus
as
a theogonic
power,
which
Cadmilus
;
unquestionablywas in Samothrace
and Nonnus, a later writer, imagined that the same
called Cadmilus
Cadmus
as
as
a god,and
person was
in /Xo?
the diminutive termination
a hero.*
Finally,
and is also
corresponds to that of v\os in 'EjowtuXoj,

difference of

any

to be

is

found

in other ancient

certain

adored

that

in

Cabiri

as

of Samothrace,"

Rhodes,^

of

identical with

Now,

names.

this Cadmus-Cadmilus

Samothrace

"

Greek

fourth

deity.

really

was
"

To

say the scholia to

the

three

ApoUonius

in Cadmilus, who

is added

it

is

Hermes

accordingto Dionysodorus."
Hence
also entitled to refer the following
we
are
of Acusilaus,*the ancient Logographer,to
statement
the
Samothracian
From
Cabira
and
worship :
Hephaestussprang Camilus, from him the three Cabiri,
and
from
them
the Cabiric nymphs."
Lastly,we
shall as ,we proceed receive also from Herodotus, the
in
adored
was
testimony that this Cadmus-Hermes
Samothrace
as
a cardinal
divinity.
Now, therefore, if the worship of Harmonia, and
the legend,or the service of Cadmus
existed in
Thebes and Samothrace, and probablyin these places
"

alone

been

of all Greece, it is clear that

connexion

some

between

adoption of gods,without
agency by which they were
cannot,

any account, be

on

earlyantiquity. Now,

in
"

Olympiodorus,from

MS.

them

there must
for

arbitrary
of some
the interposition
introduced to the adopter,
supposed; and least of all

such

communicated

an

mediation

was

Dionys.,vol.

Str.,X.

p. 472

iv. p. 116.
"".

Hanau.

sup-

by "Wyttenb.inPlato's

Phaed.,p. 251.
=

have

'1.917.

OF

DETERMINATION

88

plied by

about

Lemnos
to the

and

other

author,^ was

same

Samothrace.
Attica

But

Pelasgians had

; nay,

from

more,

by Ephorus,' a
pragmatic connexion

into the

astonishingnumber

of his

Hesperianorigin.For

ox

latter authorities

is at

from

the

to whom

gic Athenians,

the

only because
ized.^
these

But

state

of

at

information

people.

we

'
*

and

know
VI.

Scylace.
the second

the link

Samothrace

; at

The

and

have

tribe and

of
the

least,there is
2

137.

Ap. Dionys.,ii. 1.

28.

only
no

I. 28. 3.

Pelasgian
the

by

fourth

years
born

was

curate
possessed ac-

nation of these
these

one,

too,

of any

trace
3
"

of

in Attica

Tyrrhene

communication

II. 51.
"

Hellen-

Herodotus, who
must

Pelas-

annihilated

not

to the

been

community

It is clear,therefore, that

Pelasgians form
Thebes

as

another

74th,

merely

appeared strange,

and

; and

of the

cumstance
this cir-

already become

was

their

of these

the

formerly dwelt

too,

Olympiad

first year

with

had

until between

of the 70th

then

knew

Placia

Lemnos,

Athenians

in the

latter had

Pelasgianswho

viz., that

they

Herodotus

to

have

to

originalstem

same

the vague

calls them

them

Pelasgians,and acknowledges
branch

whose

the'evidence

that Herodotus
itself,

of

history an

destroyed by

once

has

who

writer

traditions, and

of ancient

to

come

territoryof

the

testimony must certainlybe preferredto

accounts
of Myrsilus''and
Pausanias,^ as
western

of

neighbouring island

is stated

as

worked

of

one

the

these

Boeotia

from

Thebes,

places;

migration,to
which, according

Dorian

the

tinae of

the

as

Attica,

relates,after being expelledfrom

Herodotus^

went,

alone, who,

Pelasgians

Tyrrhene

the

between
so

far

other to

Ap. str.,ix.

II. 51.-

as

Comp.

401.

i. 56

sq.

THE

be found

in

infer, with
bearers

and

if

even

we

AGE

OF

MYTHUS.

89

subsequenthistory. Hence we might

tolerable
the
certainty,that they were
deliverers
of the worship of Cadmus,
did

otherwise

not

Hermes-Cadmilus

know

that

Cadmus-

the

Tyrrhene
Pelasgians. Cadmus, the Hermes
of the Tyrsenians"
spoke
says a grammarian.^ Callimachus, who
of the Tyrrhene Pelasgians in Attica,^ stated that
Hermes
called Cadmilus
was
by the Tyrrhenians,
the
Roman
authors
which
erroneouslyreferred to
the Tuscans
and the ancient
Italian Camillus " (boy.)
Historical information, likewise, respecting
this Tyrrhene
worship,could be very easilyobtained, as that
people,long after the beginningof the Olympiads,
(at the time of the Homeric
hymn to Dionysus,)
worshipped by

was

"

roamed

the

Grecian

seas,

inhabited

and

independent towns

in the

north

Herodotus,* which

of itself would

number

of

of the

Archipelago,
until and
after the
Persian
even
war.
Nothing,
therefore, is wanting to complete the proof that the
Tyrrhene Pelasgianstransferred the worship and
and
to
Samothrace;
we
mythus of Thebes
might
leave
almost
the followingpassage
untouched
of
"

The

learned

Athenians

decide

from

the

the question.

Pelasgians,

lived in their

who

to represent Hermes
territory,
as
at an earlier period,
same
Pelasgians,

The
ithyphallic.
subdued, and partlyexpelledfrom
(beforethey were
Samos
by the lonians,)inhabited Samothrace; and
from

them

have

Samothracians

the

derived

their

Ka^elpiavopyia.
They also related concerningthat
phallicform a lepos Xo'yoi,which is revealed in the
"

Etymol. Gud.,
3

p. 290

'.

Macrob.,

Sat. iii.8.

Schol.
*

Aristoph.Pind., 832.
II. 51.

OF

90

DETERMINATION

Samothracian

mysteries,"The

called Cadmus,

was

as

know

we

to

latter

Xo'70?of

the

from

the

god'spassion was

Samo-

certainty;

also,

Herodotus

thrace, therefore, according to

the

Hermes

Samothracian

ceived
re-

Pelasgians. The tepos

probably divulgedby

it ",^but it
from whom
Cicero borrows
philosopher,
that the story had
accordingto Propertius,^
appears,
been localized at the lake Bcebeis
by the Pelasgians
a

of the

This

further

it will
from

proof

not

learned

as

has

author

in

name,

Cabiri

of the

service

Cabiric

of

group

the

'

Cic. de Nat.

IL

'

Comp. Lobeck,

I cannot

could

2. 11.

think

Samothrace.
*

Stra.,X.
the

"

same

Str. ih.

have

been

shipped
wor-

He

was

himself, at least
mundane

as

principle;
very

viz., the creator,

"

name,

He

manifestlybelonged

deities.

mentioned

Now,

find

we

and
distinctly,

Imbros.*

and

out

Herodotus

following places. First,

thrace,^ Lemnos,

set

latelysuggestedthis

KaXm.

disposer,"from
the

to

to

Cabirus

of

of

adduce

quarter;

mysteries^

beautiful explanationof his

the

ages

mythic

passage

Cabiri, as

of the

father

hence,

above

the Samothracian

worshipped, if
the

the

Hermes-Cadmilus

clearlyproves
in

towards

superfluousto

different

the

this, that

of
be

not

importance

much

so

notion

correct

Greece, that

from

of

subject is

obtaining a

sufficient ;

of itself might be deemed

evidence

the

but

plain.^

Dotic

In

in

these

the

by

Samolatter

Deo., iii.22, (Comp. Creuzer.)

(63.)
Mygter. Argum.,

De

conceive

how

that

there

The

context

Demet.

was

no

seems

of

iii.p. 3.

Scepsis,(in Str.,x. 470,)

/uuirnxi;Xo^^o;atej^
Ka^E/gw"in
to

me

to

requireiti^Kou^^run.

473 ; Attius ap. Varr., L.L., vi. p. 67 ;

in Cicero,N. "".,i. 42, "o.
Iambi.

Vita

Pyth.,

i. 28.

ancf,perhaps,

THE

places,also,
credit,and
thracian

AGE

the

worship
similar

was

form

OF

MYTHUS.

of

Hermes

91

enjoyed high

its nature

in

already described.

the

to

coins

The

Samoof the

tinctly
deity very disithyphallic
;^ the highestmountain-peak in Lemnos
was
called Hermaeon,* and
further, the last Pelasgian
denominated
prince of Lemnian
Hephsestia was
Hermon,' after the god ; the Inland of Imbros, too,

islands

two

exhibit

is said to have
the

worship

the

taken

its

of the Cabiri, and

form, is found
Attic

;" in
inscription

him.*

from

name

under

that

guinary
san-

;" again in

at Thessalonica

several towns

Besides,

an

in

of Troasand

in Anthedon
and Thebes.^^
Pergamene ;^ and lastly,
Now, it is tolerablycertain,of all these places,that
inhabited
they were
by Tyrrhene Pelasgians. This
is attested by Herodotus
and
with regard to Lemnos
Imbros."
must

Thessalonica,

have

attracted

regions,and

as

soon

inhabitants

the

it

as

of the
the

probably,among

was

built,

ing
surround-

rest, Pelasgio

of Herodotus,) frorn
Tyrrhenians, (the Tvpa-ijvovs
Creston.^"

Athos, and the country below

had

Antander,

short time

i. p.

Choiseul

422,

the

well as Pitane
as
possession,"
it is probable that these were

Gouff., Vol/. Pitt.,i. 2, pi. 16.

See Valckenaer

Steph. B. "I/i/Sgos.
According to Fjrmicus,De
the inscriptions
KABIP02,

on

Herod.,

of

Mionnet, Descr.,

vi. 140, and

Err,

KABEIPIA,
'

Hesych. 'Ej/twvwf

Prof.^ Mel. 12, and

Str.,x.
Gruter, p. 319. 2.
' V.
"
26 ;
5.
5
25.
ix.
22.
Pans.,
;
"
'"
iv.
109.
Herod., i. 57. Thuc,
'* Hellauicus
ap. Zenob., v. 61.
"

in

Schol.

JEstshylns,
Agam., 290,

'

with

"c.

'

Troas, for

of

borders

gians
Pelas-

in their

Pergamene ;^^but
'

on

The

DEO

473..

the coins

CABIEO.

Pans., i. 4,

6.

vi. 137, "c.

Herod., vii. 42,

"c.

92

OF

DETERMINATION

the

Tyrrhene branch,

towns
the

took

same

place at

comparativelylate period,and

pont,
passed through the HellesPropontis,and proceeded to Cyzicus,
had

swarm

entered

the

also

Placia, and

Scylace.

Attica

well

are

Tyrrhene Pelasgians of

The

known

shown, the entire

and

as

from

have, therefore,after this collocation

of

repeat the result

is to be met
that

with, under
there

name,

be found.
:

No
I

that

the

indicate
stands

There

nothing of
the

was

At

(thus

also

did

Anthedon,)
Pausanias

the

of

gives

some

far

more

the

to

the

case

Thebes

to

from

Demeter

that
and

stand

fame

Cora

Cabiri

together
and

That

city

proof of

at

fortunes

there

with

this
a

was

ship,
wor-

Pelasgic

that Pausanias
surprising
this temple ; but it is
be the first to mention
difficult to imagine that such a double sane-

origin. Now,
should

it is indeed

If

referred

full account.

addition

to

Cabiri, in all the

Pelarge,connected

named
priestess
is also

ancient

; and

seem

sanctuary of the

sanctuaries

whose

which

distance
to

out

be because

deities.

be

sacred

Cabiria, and, close by, a

other

point

this may

traces

the

itself,from

cannot

of the

some

grove

deduce

to

observances
religious

places,must

metropolis.

is accidental

indeed, some

we

of these

worship

bearing

this

name

were,

scattered

existence

above-named

there

the

which

their

some

are

thus, the

its

that

of the Cabiri ; but

presence

yet there

as

Cabiri, with

the

religion

Tyrrhene Pelasgiansto

fairlyentitled

am

belongingto it,in

know

the

will maintain

facts,merely

definite form, and

are

Pelasgictribe.

cities

we

also

one

think

of

worship

"

Boeotia.

the Cabiric

Wherever

already

have

migrationbegan

to

both these

occupation of

the

as

THE

tuary

started

AGE

within

into existence

93

MYTHUS.

OF

the historical

when
than that it should, particularly
its

sequestered situation, have

by

earlier

bear in mind

we

remained

unnoticed

When
the same
poets and historians.
Athenian,
states elsewhere,^ that Methapus, an

author

the

ceremonies

of

mystical solemnities,

of various

director

the Thebans

for
regulated(/careo-TvcaTo)

Cabiri, it cannot

the

the
have

religious
been

him therebyas the founder

to designate
inJ;ention
he regarded as
which
decidedlyolder
religion

the

era,

war.*

Persian

Whereas

in

Methapus,

who

his
of

than

placed

and

changed in many
particularsthe worship of the great gods of Andania,' (afterwardsestablished in Carnasion,)which
his

statue

own

had

the

of

the

the time

from

Epaminondas,

emancipation

which

temple,

introduced

been

to that

have

must

been

The

of Messenia.

worship

of Aristomenes

Cabiric

of the

later than

closeness

with

goddesses

was

Thebaic

mythology,is evident
of Euripides, that the Siwvvfioi
from the statement
founded
Thebes, that
6eai,i.e., these Cabiric goddesses,
at the ceremony
the cityon Cora
of
bestowed
Zeus
dwelt in the temple of
unveilment, and that Cadmus
Demeter
Thesmophorus ;* in which mythi all the
divinities of the Samothracian
worship are seen conjoined.
is still another
There
objectionto be met,
viz.,that Hephaestus,who was worshipped in Lemnos
interwoven

the

among

deityof

with

the

Cabiri, figuresin Homer

the Sintians,and

"

IV.

1. 5.

'

The

proof jof this fact

26.

2 ;
*

; 27. 4 ; 33.

Pans., ix. 16. 3.

that these

5.

can

be

IX.

26.

drawn

as
were

an

ancient

of Thracian

7.
from

Pausan., iv.

20.

older

stock, and
I

OF

DETERMINATION

94

admit

now

than

this

hastilyembraced'^
rus.^

But

than

nothing

that

the

here, with

the

Sintian

inferred

be

can

of

worship

too

of Philocho-

oppositeopinion

else

that

confess

myself, and

the

the island.

Tyrrhenians on

the

this,

from

Hephaestus

was

Cabiri, united

and the
Pelasgianworship of Hermes
in Vulcan
Mosychlus into a whole, a

Pandaemonion,

such

as

period,have

adopted

On

Greek

every

the

whole, I think

very

remqte
of

the Dardanians

from

much

possessed;

state

might also, perhaps,at

Samothrace

Asia.^

as

the

that
supposition,

which
the
is built upon
flre-gods,*
with
Hephaestus, and an
genealogical connexion
tion.
foundabetter
etymology from Kalio,requires some
of the Cabiri,
At all events, the significance
of benign influence,*
Cerealian powers
most
comes
as
in Samothrace,
more
so
even
prominently forward
to the
than
the reference
safety or danger of the
idea to which
the voyages
mariner
of the Tyran
rhenians
the Cabiri

were

"

gave
It

is

rise.
time

now

for

generaldeduction.
that
from

the

Boeotia

centuries

at

gods of

the

their

time

race

deities and, with

an

it is

of

at

'

*
'

Doric
with

home

them,

migration,

them,

and

issued

as

the

abroad,

the

Cadmus

Hermes

essentially
mysterious worship, and
their rites wherever

"

the

carried

and

proved,
historically

Tyrrhene Pelasgians,who

beforeHomer,

protect"rsof
Cabiric

I think
of

swarm

retrospectiveglance

they

took

"

established
re-

possession

Orch., p. 301, where No. 4 is to be struck out.

'
Schol. Ven. II.,i. 594.
Orch., p. 460.
Welcker, Prometh., p. 155 sqq.
Lobeck, De Myster. Argum. i.,p. 8.

3.

THE

of

OF

AGE

95

MYTHUS.

in the islands
settlements,particularly

new

north

of the

raised

from

at the

^gean Sea.
2. As a second
example, I subjoin an occurrence
The
with the above.
city of
intimatelyconnected
Thebes^ as we find from Euphorion's profoundlegendary
researches, was
presentedby Zeus to Cora, on the
of her bridegroom,
she first,in favour
day when
of the

act

gave

her

bride

called

was

general occasion

Grecian

people.

and
avaKoKvirr^pia,

present-makingamong

to

consecration

the

Here

was

ingeniouslyinwoven, by

into

the

history of

veil.^

bridal

the

countenance

of the

means

even

the

Thebes

mythus,

nuptials. Now,

divine

the

of

This

the

in an especialmanner
at
adored
goddess was
therefore called, by
Acragas, in Sicily,which was
Pindar, the seat of Persephone ",^and this city,also,
is said^ to have been
given by Zeus to Cora at the
with the
The
connected
unveilment.
mythus was
which
festival of the sacred
marriage, {Qeo'ydnia,y
same

the Sicilians solemnized

to

Cora, and

formed

of

which, the

all
part.^ When
this seems
to me
Sicilyis called an unveilment-gift,
mythus, which was more
an
expansion of the original
local." Thirdly,Persephone was
and strictly
modest
also worshipped in the neighbourhoodof Cyzicus,in
said to have wrested
that
the Propontis,and is even
It is also related
cityfrom the giantsin battle.'
that Zeus
gave Cyzicus to the goddess as a dowry ;
is inaccurately
but probablythis word
employed for

doubtless
avaKoKvirr^pia

'
2

*
"
'

Schol.

Eurip.Phoen.

Comp.

688.

Pindar, P. xii. 2.
Pollux, i. 37.
See Plutarch, Timoleon,

Ancient

Later

Meineke

Fragm.

Schol. Pind.
Schol.

Olymp.

Schol. Pind;, Nem.

Agathoclesin Steph. BiisZmoi.
8.

48. p. 114.

01. ii. 16.

vi. 160.
i. 16.

OF

DETERMINATION

96

the

gift of avaKoKvirr^pia}Here

local

legend

from

each

wonderful
and
the

in

three

different

other

; and

it would

if it

without

originatedin

surelybe extremely

Thebes

from

the Doric

migration; proceeded thence

other

the

the

with

it widely
diffusing

the

Thebais

at the

lead

mythus,

intercourse

back

us

to

manifest,

had

how

we

can

Another

further

"

well
the
as

as

in
nected
con-

and

from

example
is said
to have

been

habited
inthe

JEgidae.* Thus,
the Acragantine

three

the

of

Cyzicus

But

Thebaic

; and

Cora
At

it is at

places had

celebrated

to tradition.

escape

into pure

Python,

'

the

tepoi 'ydfioiof

also well known

Tempe,

mythi

the

subsequently,that, previousto
that the

gift,and

with

Cyzican, as

migration, Thebes

us

the

naturalized.

time

same

time

same

3.

hereditaryworship

for a long time

surroundingcountry were
had
who
left
by Tyrrhene Pelasgians,'

therefore, the

see

they attained
less,
They, doubt-

Acragas, where

at

it became

with

was

Acragas,^

and

renown.

the

them

and

and, through their influence, succeeded

Thebes,

the

and

before

to Thera

Eumenidse,

of

name

long

not

also to Gela

highestconsideration
brought

and

Laconia,

to

places went

where, under

independently,

all

them

removed

among

far distant

places^all

History teaches us
familycalled the ^gidse,

Cadmean

same

cause.

common

contrary.

the

have

we

as

and

no

Doric
bridal

Hades

least,I don't

this conclusion.

carries

higherup,

us

and

leads

mythology.
to

have

there made

Apollo, after ing

slayfled from
Delphi to
expiation. Plutarch^

^
Appian, Mithridat. 75.
Orcli.,p. 329 sqq.
41.
Conon,
"o.
Comp. Steph. B. Ku^/xosand BieZixog,
'
See above, p. 88.
Quaest. Grace. \2De
Defectu OracuL,

14,21,

THE

and

jElian^

AGE

OF

MYTHUS.

97

indeed the earliest authors

are

extant

by

whom'this is mentioned; the former quotingthe legend

of the
The

Delphians,the

latter that of the Thessalians.

learned Callimaohus, however, had

givenbefore a
more
completeexpositionof the mythus, as is evident
from the fragmentin Stephanus.^But much
stronger
evidence of the legend's
antiquityis afforded by the
festal rites which were
connected
with it,namely,a
solemn octennial embassy {dempla)
of the Delphians^
which
from
the vale of Tempe a
brought home
branch of the sacred laurel beside which Apollohad
made
atonement.
It is contraryto all analogy
once
to suppose
that such observances, formingan essential
spring
portionof an ancient worship,were
only the offof later antiquity..The mimic representation
of the battle,which
followed up by despatching
was
the Theoria, was
at the time of
preciselythe same
witnessed
when
Ephorus, as it was
by Plutarch
four centuries afterwards.
This will be quiteobvious
to any

who

one

that in this

these

branches

the tent

scene,

Python lies,is
But

are

from

these writers.^

compares

set

on

broken
the

in
{KuXiagor o-k^v^)

fire while

festal

the

carried

state

which
in.
with-

fightrages

processionsin

and

Both

which

laurel

gether,
about, belong alto-

earliest times, to

the

service

of

find the laurel-bearing

god and his
Apollo. We
of places
sacred Daphnephoria in a great number
in Thebes, where
throughout Greece, particularly
they are an evident imitation of those at Delphi;and
also celebrated in mythology.* These observaare
'

^lian,

'

The

Var.

former

Hist.,iii.1.
in Strabo,ix.

BeDef. Or. li.

*
Dor., vol. i. pp. 263, 348,

422

Steph. Byz. Aiimi"g.

\ (521 Tzsch.); and the latter

440.
H

OF

DETERMINATION

98

tions
and

to

the

open

in the western

the mountains

among

the island, in
other trees.^

valleyfull

narrow

where,
else-

also found

city of Tarrha, which

viz.,in the Cretan

situated

for

festal usage.

and

mythus

is
legendof Apollo'spurification

The

very

tinle,a certain datum

same

of that

long existence

objections,

some

discovery of

for the

way

at the

ancient, and,
the

obviate

merely designedto

are

Hereihere

was

of

part

of

and

cypresses

famous

was

sanctuary of

to
instituted
the
Apollo,^where expiations were
neighbouring*inhabitants of
Pythian god.^ The
the deity, for they sent to
Elyrus also honoured
Delphi the image of a she-goatsucklingtwo children,
which, accordingto local tradition, were
begottenby

the

god

himself

while

famous

bard

Thaletas, who

abode

sacred

of these
a

he

at

Tarrha."

sequence
con-

observances, Elyrus produced

priestof expiation,named

and

greatlycelebrated

was

In

in the

nesus,
Pelopon-

Olympiad.* So much for the

of
worship of Apollo,and the expiatory ceremonies
the purificaand the neighbourhood. Now,
Tarrha
tion
of Apollo, after the destruction of Python, is
before the 40th

also

laid at

vale of
nor,

Tarrha,

the

show

in

of

as

at

the altar in the

Tarrha, called Carma-

KaOapudvwp,) was
(perhapsoriginally

according to

'

well

native

Tempe.

as

See

Cretan

tradition.'^

that this

the
All

purifier
the

legend belonged to

Theophrastus,Hist. Plant., ii.2.

Comp.

cumstances
cirthat

Sieber's Travels

Crete, i. 207, 467.

2

Staph. Byz.

'

(KnomauB

See Hceck's

Dor., vol. ii. pp. 14, 334.

Pans., ii. 7, 7. 30, 3.; x. 7,

'

Tagga.
Prcep. Ev.,
i.
Creta, p. 389.
s.

v.

in Euseb.

2.

16,

p. 133,
'

3.

Steph.
Pans., x. 16,

3.

THE

AGE

but

it is not

ancient

an

heard

even

which

to

an

99

be

can

arbitraryor

easilyperceived

idle invention,

tradition.

Pausanias

legendand oracle, according

blood-stained
hands of the god were
a

Cretans.^

by

it

native

and

Delphi

at

the

cleansed

MYTHUS.

in like manner,

locality
; and,
that

OF

Moreover,

find that

we

the

and the Cretan,

traditions,the Delpho-Thessalian

two

in ancient

even

were^^

into

blended

and

then

Apollo

one.

slaughterof

times, broughttogether and

is

now

purifiedfrom

the

dragon by Chrysothemis in Crete,

Tempe to obtain the laurel.^ This

the

goes to

amalgamation,however, is evidentlythe result of a

scientific striving.The genuineDelphic legendgives
the god flee to
to this,for it makes
countenance
no
Now, it is plain,
Tempe immediately after the deed.
there is not

as

third of the

has

traditions,one

If

themselves

know,

we

on

the
the

devoted

that

they

Tempe

to

had

of the
?

surelysome
is

'

Paus., X. e, 3.
Schol.
X.

475

worship
from

come

Find.

*, and

of

who

of

the

as

and

is

could

naturalizing
that valley?

we

itself was
are

aware,

Apollo,nay

more,

neighbourhood

legendto this
quoted by Strabo,^

pronouncing

of

the transplantation

the

for this statement

for

is

one

how

hesitate to ascribe

worship

foundation

2
^

the

Andron,

and

legendof

Dorians, who,

ground whatever

no

sacred

will then

who

period;

two

to do with

contrary, that Crete

partlypeopled with
were

whathadCrete

to the Cretans

occurred

the idea have

among

But

historical

Tempe during the

of the

birth to the other"

given

the other.

derived from

kind, that

; and

gration
mihad

there

the passage

Pyth. Hypothesis 3, in Bockh.

Steph. Adgm. Comp. Diod., iv. 60., r.

80.

in the

The

if I

ancients

fancied

once

this

yet surveyed the mutual

not

forms
can

the Doric

because
times

the Saxons

by

flourished

of this

migration.

deny

the

Angles,because
and

long afterwards,

the

all

at

conquest of

Hamburgh

Saxons

never

enter

into the

largefleets.

fitted out

the
But, altogether,

relations in which

place stand

with

the local

mythi

those

arrive

to

the

; and

deeply we

more

regardto

enabled

we

nature

Cretan

the

expedition impossible,

also

and

I had

of later date, and

was

navy

inconsiderable,must

Britain

are

this

considers

who

it

in

institutions,which

worship, legends, and

only be explained by means
one

of

relations

of

Any

; and

because

was,

be

to

of that

discovered

that

anachronismus"^

solennis

thought

never

myself

in Crete

Dorians

Odyssey regardingthe

spurious.
"

OF

DETERMINATION

100

of

althoughthe prideand vanityof

occasionallyinfluenced

the

religionof

another, the

we

the

one

more

of this

determinations

at

clearlydo

more

and

perceive,that,

priestsmay

localization

of

have

legends,

yet, in the main, the propagationof mythi, especially

in earlier
and

times,

not

was

principal,
nay,

possessionscarcelyever
The

point of

six

Dorian

Asia Minor

celebrated

almost

their

only spiritual

migrated.
cities at

deduced

Epidaurus,Troezen, and
They

cident,
ac-

selves,
that, unless with families and tribes them-

their

4.

subjectedto capriceor

their

Sparta

the Triopia,

the

south-western

originfrom Argos,

in the

federal

Peloponnesus.
the
festival,
on

promontory of Triopium, in the territoryof Cnidus.

The

Triopian gods

the Doric
'

race

were

Apollo,^the

Poseidon, (who

^ffinet.,p.

154.

was
2

tutelar

deity of

probablyadded

Herod.,i. 144.

THE

OF

AGE

MYTHUS.

lOl

the

by

Halicariiassians,)
togetherwith the nymphs;^
Demeter.
We
and, lastly,
owe
our
knowledge of the
fact that she was
of the number, to the following
train of reasoning: An inhabitant of the small island
of Telos, which
lay close to the Triopian cape, took
part in the establishment

by

the Rhodians

the

ancestor

and

afterwards

of

Gela, which

of

in the 16th
a

line which

founded

was

he

Olympiad:

became

flourished in that

iii Syracuse,and

city,

Gelon

to which

and

Hieron

belonged.^ Now, we know that this Telian

(who was, perhaps like Hieron's father, called Deinomenes) broughtwith him the Triopian rites to Sicily;^
and

know

we

further that

Telines, in consequence

of

descendant

his,named

exiles to Gela,
recalling
and placingthem under
the safeguardof his sanctuaries,
obtained for himself the dignityof a Hierophant
to the subterranean
gods, viz.,Demeter, Hades, and
Cora.*
This office was
stillpreservedby Hieron, who
is celebrated by Pindar as a servant
and worshipper
of Demeter

and

Cora,^ to

ma^ificent temple/
of Telines

sacra

of

were

also he

whom

It is evident

from

nothing else

erected

this that the

than

the ancient

of his family;and that,therefore,the worship

religion
of the earth-godsconstituted a portion of the Triopian

observances
Now

we

at the

Dorian

also find the

festival.

Triopian

rites elsewhere:

Triopas^is,in several mythi, placed in

connexion
with the worship of Demeter.
Callimachus,
in his hymn to Demeter, introduces a tradition that
for the

'
'
*
'
'

name

Schol.

Tbeocr., 17. 68.

Schol. Pind., P. ii. 27,
Herod., ib.

with

Bdckh's

Herod., vir.

learned

153.

note

^
Diodor.,xi.
Olymp., vi. 94. Comp. Schol. Vratisl.
B.
Or Triops,Hellan.
Tgiairm.
ap. Stephan.

26.

OF

DETERMINATION

102

had dedicated to her a sacred grove in

Pelasgians
the Thessalian plain of Dotion, and that there dwelt
with
Triopas,whose son Erysichthon was tormented
insatiable hunger,as a punishment for the desecration
pret,
of her sanctuary.
This legend is very easy to interthe

when

we

know

that

A'lQwv,"burn,'"^and

by

sun-burn

Erysichthon

is "mildew,"
lpviTll3tj

that

dew,) a bitter

upon

also called

was

duced
(pro-

foe to Demeter,

warded
^Epvtri^la,
dition
it off. We
the Argive trahave further to compare
called Pelasgis
in Pausanias,^that Demeter
was
of Triopas,'
at Argos, because Pelasgus,the son
consecrated
of
her temple. Thus, therefore, the name
Triopas presents itself in three different places, for
is also said to have been
Triopium in Asia Minor
founded by a Triopas, and always,too, in connexion
with the worship of Demeter
Atticus
: hence, Herodes
and Cora and the subtercalled a temple to Demeter
ranean
gods Triopium, and Triopas himself Ajjwos.*
the

elsewhere, under

who

of

name

"

"

Of

historical connexion

some

course

the

between

Pelasgicinhabitants

derive the

Doric

is

dignityof

and

Argos

of both

Cnidus

to

the

go

national

Dorians, when
'

Hellan.

ap.

'

Hellan.

Schol.

Visconti

away

they came

to the

Athen., x. 416, "c.

II.,iii.75.
Iscrizioni
Triopee.

the

place,

that

raised

solemnity,had
by

by
if we

and

upon,

part emigrated from Argolis. But

completely swept

It is

former

the six cities,who

isted
ex-

Dotion

regions;

from

plausibleground

population of

to the
most

Triopia of

the

have

we

places just named.

easilysupplied between

very
the

three

have

must

the

them

for the

this

fact, that

ground
these

Peloponnesus,mani^

n.

22,

2.

THE

fested
the

AGE

different

on

ceremonies

Rhodian

the

followed

other

antiquity,points
in

Triopium
from

the

the

from

the

time.^

Phlegyans
the

hence,
of

son

of

son

the

neighbouring

historical

that

and

the

It

warlike

is

tribes,

had

into

consequently, also,
mythi

Pelasgi

the

to

called

even

that

regardiiig Demeter

Erysichthon

place

It

within

the

all this, that

the

those

of

Thessaly,

foundation

in

the germs

must

by

Myrmidons.)'

with

collision

tion,
tradi-

Lapitho-

at

a/boriginalPelasgi,and

the

came

peopled

the

made

taken

its

and

of Caria,

the

"

is

clear, from

connexion

in

known

was

of

race

of

connected

were

period, when

remote

have

event,

era.

CarianTriopia

Syme

himself

race

the

Dotion

according

heroic

Triopas

tion.
immigra-

district

emigration

an

this

on

the

Lapithas, (as others

not, in any

could

of

invasion

that

Triopas emigrated

of

occasioned,

was

the

that

island

The

and

between

territory to

adjoining

same

by

It says

Trio-

the

tradition, well

connexion

Caria.

Dotion

some

at

hostility to

which

to

close

very

hand,

Thessalian

that

and

spirit of

Demeter,^

of

103

evidently belonged,

colony
On

MYTHUS.

occasions

mystic worship

pian

at

OF

have

the

latter

of the

been

very
other
try;
coun-

Triopian

already

in

existence.
'

Herod.,

ii. 174.

Callim.

Dem.,

11.

X.

into
5

1.

Diodor.,

Mnaseas

25.
v.

61.

pragmatical connexion.
Comp. Orch., p. 195.

In

ap.

tbis

Athen.,

author

vii.

296"-

everything

is

Paus.,

brought

104

THE

ON

VIII.

CHAPTER

In

Age of the

the

On

it

this way,

mythi

be traced

to be

originshown

elaborated

to me,

mythi

and

It appears

development.
truth

in

thereafter

continued

itself,that

of

they

heroic

history,and

which

would

had

have

had

not

In order

The
which
of

been

the

further,we

made

to the

neutral

mythic narrations

in fact

mythi solely

with

materials

and

and
lyric,

dramatic

it,

"

in

set out

such

subject of

history

general belief.
from

the fact,
distinction

period.

the Heraclidse

"

alone the theme

were

were

their works

poets, as well

early

process

the historical

these alone

have

into

occurrences

migration of
"

cumstance
this cir-

which

stronglymarked

between
;

from

mythi

impossible,if

strictly
mythic and

ages down
stood

are

them

progressive

however, that the

previous existence

to advance

that the Greeks

between

blend

of

mass

mythic period

of

deducible

real

now

generalthey treat,

me,

those

carry back

not

majorityof mythi

state

arisen out of historical events

because

in

to

propositionis

of this

the

originin

of which

at the time

shall

we

the great

in other words, that the

up

to

rate, they would

at any

their

have had

must

sprang

fee needless

It would

poetry.

establish, viz., That

to

itself;
or,

cially
period of artifi-

to the

antecedent

of

their

ages, and

general propositionwhich

the

attempt

mythic

'

"

existence

the

can

into the

multiplyexamples ; and,
prove

Body of Mythi.

Great

seems

back

THE

OF

AGE

as

chosen

by
by

as

the

the

the

epic,

plastic

GREAT

art ; and

with

BODY

than

more

They

mentioned

time

105

by

was
(Rhianus and others,)

of

This

period

scarcely

at the

periodwas

same

history,faintly

contemporaneous

illustrated
that

an

which, previousto

years,

in song.

destitute

itself in

succeeded

were

five hundred

the Alexandrians,
ever

MYTHI.

these did tradition occupy

especialmanner.
of

OF

memorials,
by merelya few literary
even
glected
during only the latter half, and evidentlyne"

"

by tradition,which
brief and

meagre

did not preserve

of

records

more

than

-isolated transactions,

some

legendary,but yet not purely mythic,

of others ; for the mythic and poetictransformation
accounts
of materials was
immediaitelyconnected with
removal
of the subjectup to the heroic times.
Now,
how can this difference,this complete contrast, be explained
? Perhaps because remote
ages alone afforded
sufiicient scope and freedom
for mythic representation,
and

that intermediate

and
the

alone?

mythus

enough
to the

But

antiquityof

distant
sufficiently

Olympiads was

inventions, if that

at

period which
in

an

interest in
itself is not

for,to the 30th Olympiad, all the time prior

with
a

took

space

knew

connected

all that

were

people it
required:

was

other mode

no

to

of transmission,

form, than

legend and poetry.

Perhaps,however, it may be thought that the mythus
could only representa state of thingswhicli no longer
for that reason
the
subsisted,and that precisely
were
Greece adapted to it,inasmuch
relations of Achaian
these were
as
completelysubverted by the migration
a

of the Heraclidae, and

continued
any
any

during

essential
means,

made

those

change.

for

way

five hundred

But

exhibit otherwise

the

condition which
years

mythus

such

without

does not,

by
for
predilection

ON

106

the

times

present;

which

stand

the

with

of connexion

out

contrary,it took usuallythe greatest

the

on

THE

OF

AGE

THE

disseminated
during which it was
demonstrated
alive,as is particularly
by the legends
of colonies and families. Consequently,that distinct
separationof the mythic and non-mythic periodscan
interest in those

for in any other

accounted
scarcelybe satisfactorily
than by the suppositionthat the mythic mode
way
of conception and representation
was
quitepeculiar
to that

earlyage,

tracedj and

then

This

bards.
time

(which

claimed

invention

of

above

with the time to which

a

as

time

which

was

people) in

which

the

same

narrations

mythic

these
followed

was

and

the

tual
intellec-

the main
one

the

epoch

necessary

constituted

mythi

by

That
proposition,

to the

activityof the Greeks,

"

filled up

afterwards

were

brings us
we

mythic cycleswere

civilisation of the Grecian

in the
the

that all the

and

refer,

by another, that still,

with mythi,represented
indeed, occupieditself chiefly
them

poetically,completed them,
to their

ones

new

the

number, but

also leads to the

accounts

of the

heroes, in which
recorded.^

are

have

come

down

same

result.

point

Now
to

posterityotherwise

an

idea

which

up.

at which

-either have
has

and

been
'

been

the
an

verting
con-

tion
considera-

mythi give
ancient

mythic period

these for the most

in later times

formed, it must

The

of the

occurrences

beginning at the event

communication
constantlykept
a

Another

expeditionsand wanderings of
real

added

even

incapableof

was

present into mythus.

and

part
than

cannot

by

dition,
tra-

propagated by
For

if we

assume

legend was

first

empty fiction,
"

already repudiated,and

See p. 9.

GREAT

BODY

is discountenanced

which

know

MYTHI.

OF

the

by

107

which

connexion

legends, or it
have been a conclusion of apparentlyuniversal
must
of
from reallyexistingcircumstances
admissibility
But
the relations of that earlyperiod
every kind.
were
greatlyaltered by the revolution which brought
we

it to

subsist

to

close

little scope

; and

for

birth

the

to

that these
in the
we

the

mythus
of

were

outset.

-^acus

The

from

Myrmidons

took

have

migrated to

beyond

here

doubt

Phthiotis,
to

^gina

same
was

then, have

must,

And

element

clearer

by

an

that

prince of

as

Peleus

sons

and

Tela-

in the blood of their

Actor
to

race

at Phthia.^

which

The

alone the

yet applied in the

Iliad.

in

dwelt

^gina ; they must

Thessaly,if the mythus contains
it assuredlydoes : for, as it is

that

district

near

Phthia,

formerly called Hellas,

certaintythat the anti-Doric
was

bore

from

tradition.

rendered

refugewith
the

are

as

was,

obligedto quitthe island,and

were

They
fact.

periodby

their hands

of "EXKtives

name

the Ideal

; for

essential

an

but that his

Phocus,

that Peleus

be

not

reigned in ^gina

having imbrued

brother

give
imagined

^ginetan mythology mentions

Myrmidons

mon,

alone

therefore, was
mythus, itself,

that

of Zeus,

son

could

it must

this also will be

The

but

gave

nothing superadded,but

was

very

down

succeeded

historical nature

an

already shovra,

example.

of

but

"

Records, therefore, of early

have

Perhaps

know

which

longer existed

no

mythus

handed

the

those

mythi.

relations which

such

between

the

peculiarand

of "EWtivei.

uEginet.,p.

12-23.

we

in
also

inhabitants

distinctive

Complete evidence
'

so

or

tion
appella-

of this is fur-

nished

by

especially

ancient

Zevg

yeveOXiog

until

the

not

was

significationof
its

Hellenic

name

meaning
he

diffused, that

delivered

lience.^

of

derived

^acus

truth.

But

of

Now,

be

at

others
the

evident, that

saly,

the

; N.
'"^

V.

date,
the

in

was,

its

w^ith

most

the

that

the

the

speaks

stroyed
de-

migration,
the

Island

different

tants,
inhabi-

between

them.

affinity could

not

"always

suppose
prein

contemporaneous,

may

And

migration
have

essential

to

it

p.

18.

Comp.

afterwards

element,

nected
con-

event.

Disseu.

Explic.

ad

is

Thes-

5.

^ffinet.,

of

race,

same

Myrmidons.

it

changes

directly

and

connexion
that

Pan-

completely

was

Thessalian

story of Peleus'

whatever

undergone,

of

sway

Zeus

original form,

least,, they would

older

of

the

its

Hellas

representing

Phthia)

and

sally
univer-

general pestiT

of

peopled by entirely

anew;

short, with

as

in

from

all

it

that

contrary

established,

(which,

up

and

instrumentality

were

Thessalian

broke

up

is

relationship

the

legends

spring

it

Dorian

the

to

and

from

himself

caused

^gina

Hellas

districts

this

by

the

legend

the

that

which

both

the

through
all

the

was

forgotten, and

was

regarded

therefore,

Thus,

inhabitants
and

onee,

have

extremely-restricted

on

was

he

that

iEacidse,

the
and

comprehensive

iEacus,

of

primitive

the

hellenius, who

Pindar/

from

shown,

'EWaviog.

Zevs

of

worship

the

MYTHI.

OF

AGE

THE

]03

Pind., 1. 1.

WHEN

MYTH-CREATION

CEASED.

CHAPTER

Approximate

Determination

From

these

Time

the Creation

when

those

furnished

which

have

after the

even

by
been

the

mythic
It might be
duced,
already adof the

commencement

of producing mythi
Olympiads, the faculty
extinct in the

means

but,

the

on

time, it

same

the

mind, in

alive and

abodes, and

nations

built

risk themselves

on

the

shore, and in battlewith

to obtain

to the

new

some

the barbarous

home, could

not

be

without

great daring,and reliance

Ancient

promises and Pythian

their

courage,
to

hoar

families

who

soothsayersof high repute must

At
the

success

every

the choice

that

their

gods.

To

inhospitable

on

at that time

higher powers.

o'racliesmust
back

direct the
sanction

animate
their

scent
de-

expedition,
every

sure.
mea-

of the site,at the foundation

first habitations,

of

natives,in order
done

traced

antiquitymust

changed

an

lonies
co-

invention

to their

great deep,on

the

At

measure,

still often

sanctuaries

new

no

stimulated

coasts

an

time, when

active.

in mind, that

unknown

especial
manner,
They conjuredback, in

mythi.
olden

and

by

was

cities of Greece

also be borne

must

distant

to

provincesand

contrary,was

of

prevail.

historical instances.

to

from

that

ceased to

examples

ages, I return

gathered

IX.

of the

Mythi

109

of

everythingwas full of significance,

and all listened for boding sounds.
Every
was
owing to the favour of a god or a hero ;
misfortune
of neglectingthe
a
consequence

110

will of

Destiny ;

behind

must,

nevertheless

still

the

in

alreadyin
have

state

some

of

acquired of

from

long as
by

will

So

soon

notions
first in

not

were

men

itself.

and

of the

the very nature

the

the

and

died

Philosophy and
about

mythus.

internal

mythus

has its roots

therein lives and, thrives

into

come

by

their

use,

the

but

must

have

they
their

"

relieved the
here

to

long
piring
ex-

consider

in oral tradition,and
whenever

it is straitened

written
and

cords
re-

oppressed

must
precision. Still more
religiousmode of thinking have de-

certaintyand

changesin

inquiry

mythi

presupposes
"

Secondly,we

of

Olympiad

activities

at

tomary
cus-

history,when

60th

however,

literaryappearance,
preparation of

the

of

pressing
ex-

connected

it became

as

have

the

in

then

of

such,

deity as

soon

so

represent each

to

teal transactions,the invention

to flourish

ing
blend-

Imaginary could,

into

that

The

represent separatelythe result

out.

which

the idea

further.

and
singlepropositions,

to

began

question is

practice obtained,

so

have

to

conception,last only

the world

dialectic discourse,

upon

mythus, and single

accustomed

as

on

by

the

perhaps lead us
togetherof the Real and

examples

we,

can

This

solved

measure

thus far

be asked,

?
activity

were

their authors

productionof mythi

the

whole, suppose

continued

we

long,it will here

how:

the Ideal

which

combined, and in
intimately
themselves placed entire faith.

the

in

mythi

"

and

most

But

creation, have

than

the Real

otherwise

was

produced mythi

which

in

sense,

proper

which

time

to transmission

favourable

more

at

even

stances
circum-

and

relations

Such

constantly

stood

invisible world

an

visible.

the

THE

WHEN

TIME

CREATION

MYTHI

OF

stroyed the mythus

in its

CEASED.

; and

essence

Ill

indeed

the

followingepochs may here be distinguished,

although
and
not separatedfrom each other by clearly
marked
continuous
lines.
First in order stands the period
which created mythi from
ideas
manifold
religious
and
and
their application
and
to nature
feelings,
humanity ; then follows another which handed them
down

with

marvellous

full belief,as
age

faith
religious
and

real accounts

of

primitive
whose
third, (thePindaric,)
a
; then
modified by philosophic
was
tion,
speculaa

entered, therefore, into conflict with

ancient

many

; and

the period of philolastly,

sophic
which conillumination, (that of Euripides,)
sidered
mythi as forms, not forms, however, of primitive
ideas which
were
thought,but of its own
instead.
The
first alone is, properly
introduced
speaking,the creative period; but the second carried
the same
of analogiesand
on
activityby means
an

mythus

"

deductions
internal
with

the

third

necessity;

in

modified

the

an

to

poetry.

Now

tendencies
the cultivated

mountains

and
true

only afiected, to

in districts where

people,the

the Grecian

thfere was

of Arcadia

an

sported capriciously
length merely employed it

it is indeed

portionof

to

fourth

mythology,and at
indispensablesubstratum

as

obedience

embellishment

that
any

tual
spiri-

great extent,

people;and

that

little intercourse, the

for instance, and

ancient

those

mode

of

among

the

thinkingmust
have longercontinued to exist. But the mythus must,
for that very reason,
have
degenerated.
essentially
It ceased to be the current expression of civilisation
obscure popular legend,
fireside
a
an
; it became
tale.
This seems
to me
to be mainly characteristic
common

of

stands

nearly the

It holds
the

which

mythus
It

the belief in

enlightenment.
prevailing

the

with

antagonism

at

classes,

the lower

latter,that it lives among

the

and

THE

WHEN

TIME

112

relation

same

ghosts bears

to
ages, and transfers them
of civilisation to which they are utterlyalien.

in remote

those

who

Christian

the

This
of

them

in

discover

can

Heraclea

intercourse

to

about

colony was
mother

Hercules

the most
class

to

tion
investigarelate

which

to

foreign nations,

with

and

at

on

the

subject.

probably drew

the time

Megarians, under
and

Hercules

when

Cyrus

legends;

the

Gnesiochus,
hero

to

Now, this Heraclea

dedicated.
of

piad.
Olym-

the

vvas

and

Argonauts

a
were

diversified indications.^

belongs,for example,

host

and

naturalized, partly new-modelled,

from

the

by

Scymnus,^ who

and

founders

trulya

tales

period anterior

therefore, about the 55th

Boeotians

the

of

founded

was

subjugatedMedia
the

Thus,

Pontus, accordingto the only precise

the

on

Ephorus,

was

of

state

popular

distinct information

account, that

whom

traces

German

reasoningis fullyconfirmed
particularcases.
Mythi

furnish the most

were

our

nexion
con-

era.

colonies, and

on

in

versed

are

gion.
reli-

to

their

separates dark imaginingsfrom

to

of

here

mythi
partly

constructed
To

the

mer
for-

the

draggingup of
transferred
to tbis region."
was
Cerberus, which
This mythus had
previouslyits localityin Boeotia,
Hercules
where
Charops, ascending from the nether
To the latter
world, was
worshipped at Coronea.*
belongsthe legend,that Hercules had before, in con'

Hudson, T. ii.p. 56.

Dorians, vol. i. pp. 443,

525.

"*

Orcli.,
p. 292.
ix.
Pans.,
34,

4.

CREATION

junction with
bryciansand
Heracleans

MYTHI

OF

113

the

Mariandynians,defeated

the

Mygdonians
had

CEASED.

; in

the

same

Be-

that the

way

fightagainstthese
nations, with the assistance of their Mariandynian
bond-slaves.
These were
evidentlyHeraclean popular
introduced by Herodorus
and
traditions,and were
other authors belongingto that cityinto mythology,
where
they took equal rank with older traditions.-^
But Heraclea
is probablyalso the latest colonywhich \
^
of mythi ; nay, particular
gave rise to such a mass
circumstances
must have here lent their cooperation,
In this
unless Heraclea
is in reality
ancient.
more
respect it stands at that period almost alone ; as the
few
mythi which the foundingof Massalia, in the
afterwards

to

country of the Celts, occasioned, for instance, the

adventure
was

of Hercules

connected

the

the Massalians, at
afibrd

among

the

Ligyans,(withwhich

founding of Heraclea, a city of

the mouth
of the Rhone,) cannot

parallel. But the other colonies to which a

train of legends was
attached, as Taras,
numerous
derably
Croton, Phaselis, Tarsus, Cyrene, "c., are all consia

older.
of the

the

contrary,the later settlements

Athenians, and other Grecian

aU handed
is

On

down

as

nothingfurther

plainhistorical

connected

with

facts

them

class, the

age

of

which

may

be

and

than

or simplecontinuation
genealogy,
Besides the colonial legends,
there is

been

have

races,

of

there

an

sional
occa-

mythus.

still another

determined

with

tolerable

by historical data, those, namely,

certainty
in which
the acquaintanceof the Greeks
with other \
\
nations, whether of a friendlyor hostile nature, was
learn from
veiled.
This also was
as
we
practised,
'

Comp. Apollod.,ii. 5, 9.
I

THE

WHEN

TIME

114

inquiryinto singlecases,

down

50th

adduce

I will

Olympiad.

in reference
the

futes, with

Egypt,

and

This

Egyptians.^

Busiris, the savage

be

strangers to

of the

existence

they

had

at

all

But

tus.

of that

people,such
ticus in the

in its proper
very

27th

must

root, farther back

well with
one

of the

and

as

son

p. 132.

of the

god

which

the

hence,
of

the internal

tion
condi-

still denied

that

Hesiodic

Dor.^ yoi.

and

of Psamme-

means

than

-^gyp-

pacificcountry

them.

the

mythus
period. It

was

poems,

than the 30th

2

Frffm. 30,

this, that Busiris

farther down

Sturz,

name

place the originof

partlycome
'

and

opened up by
Olympiad, was

was

into

II. 45.

the

formed

highly cultivated
as

still felt,a

Egypt,

mysterious country:

heard

doubtless

introduced

'

in

acquaintance with

Accordingly,we

agrees

have

Greeks, although

figuresin ApoUodorus,

even

the

gave

article,Pe-Osiris, from

the

is
Bovartpis

Busiris

the

when

strange and

They must, however,

word

to,

legend manifestly came

landed

often

of that

Osiris, with

the

time

indeed

dread

secret

all

caused

alluded

was

of

legend

Pherecydes,^ even

But

king.

into

It

all

slew

Herodotus, by the poet Panyasis,^

contemporary,

name

already

oft-told

death.

to

altar, and

Poseidon, who

of

was

sacrifice

as

asunder, and

is the

son

put

generationbefore
whose

the

at

re-^

destined

there

was

burst his bonds

he
besprinkled,

the

of

one

Hercules

day, that

of his

Greeks

that, when

; but

Zeus

to

the

among
to

Egypt, beginningwith

to

Herodotus
mythus of Busiris.
great indignation,a legend Tvhich

"

went

pecially
examples, es-

few

or

the

oldest,

current

the 40th

about

to

already
which

Olympiad.

;. p, 533.

It

CREATION

CEASED.

115

indeed, that he did not yet stand in any

appears,
to

Hercules, inasmuch

generationsbefore
evident

that this

formed

from

and

MYTHI

OF

from

time

the

he

placed eleven

was

of the

;^ but it is

hero

only a subsequent conclusion,

was

mention

the

as

lation
re-

of his

parents in Hesiod,

the established

ever,
by wMch, howgenealogies,
in all probability,
that poet was
not influenced;
calculated
Thus, also, it was
by Isocrates,^that
and Libya, live4 two hundred,
Busiris, son of Poseidon
generationsbefore Hercules,
years and four
which
comes
nearly to the same
thing.
A
intercourse
succeeded, when
period of frieildly

the Ionic mercenaries, who

country by Psammeticus,

introduced

were

into the

the throne

surrounded

of the

the case under Apries,

king at Sais, as was particularly
in the 50th Olympiad ;^ and this gave
rise, among
between
the
others, to the legend of a relationship
Saltans and Athenians, which, afterwards
developed
in its last and

by historians,came

I shall

historical books.

our

our

survey,

specifyonce

form

worst

here, in order
more,

with

into

to facilitate

all

possible

development. 1. The
priestsof Sais became, through intercourse with the
and
lonians, friends of the Athenians, {(pikaQ^vaioi,)
the notion arose, that their common
goddesSjNeith-,
Athena,* formed the bond of an ancient affinity.2.
the epochs
precision,

Greek

authors

made

of this

out

from

this that

3. A
colonized from Athens.^
originally
assailed
which
TpiKcipavoi
1] TpiiroXiTiKos,

Sais

work
with

was

called

ing
sting'

and
'
'
'

calumnious

Theon.

Progymn.,
Herod., ii. 163.

Callisthenes

and

abuse

c.

6. p. 87.

Phanodemus.

three

cities,with

Greek
^

Busiris,5.

Plato,

their

THE

WHEN

TIME

116

this

legendsand histories,gave

turn, and
This

work

if it

as

passage

testimony of the sober

the

were

to

and

Africanus

torian, (forit is quite clear from

Proclus

also

charged

therefore

read

must

we

being Egyptians.

Theoporapus by later
Proclus,^ who quoted the

ascribed

was

writers, as

with

the Athenians

taxed

quitean opposite

him

his-"

that in

the context,

and
not eTroiKovi,)
airo'iKovs,

calumny,

with

did

as

also

Better

Atticus, the Platonist,in Proclus, and Lucian.

and Pausanias*
forgery;^
informs
us
(for it is plain that he speaks of the
Tricaranos) that this libel on Athens, Sparta,and
written by Anaximenes
of Lampsacus,
Thebes, was
circulated it under
who
the name
of Theopompus,
in order to make
him
I am
of
hated.
universally
rhetorical performance, and
a
opinionthat it was
that it was
he had
fathered on Theopompus, because
been
for all stigmatizedas a slanderer.
In
once

critics considered

the work

these circumstances, I

not afraid

am

charge of presumption when

that Cecrops'derivation from
but

historical

an

There

is

narrations

from

arose

as

some

examples.

Phoenicia.

formed
with

Media

Persia

Greeks

the
58th

Ad

VI.

Tim., p.
18.

Of
The

3.

is not

30.

mythus,

case

this

did

The
Basil.

not

shall

we

Egypt, as
give below

is different with
with

of

of

gee

and

nexions
con-

Indians.

importance

Lydia,

of Medea,

the

foreign countries,

become

dovrafall
son

purely mythic

with

Persians, Arabians,

until the

Olympiad.

'

Sais

intercourse

in aftertimes

Medes,
and

repeat the assertion,*

doubt, however, that

no

incurringthe

sophism.

well

"

of

to

after the

whom

above, p. 38
Oomp. Orch., p.

Hesiod

sq.
107

sqq,

CREATION
calls Medeus
been

Medus,^

or

Mede,

and

Persian,^who

was

from

Perseus.

connexions

yvas

brother

still
In

CEASED.

MYTHI

OF

then
was

more

short, the

occasioned

have

explainedto

assignedhim in the
derived
appropriately
legends which these

limited

were

117

to

few

alogies,
gene-

in

and
generalvery simple and insignificant,
to the geographicalexpansion of legends already
remote
known,
being substituted for neighbouring
for the Boeotian
regions, an Indian or Arabian
Nysa. But both are in some
degree philosophical
with proprietybe applied
activities, if the name
can
to such rude attempts,
partlyof Hellenic compilers
of my thi,partlyof foreign
into
collectors,who worked
their hands, as the ^oyiot twv
^oivIkoov,
rwv
Tlepa-ewv
of Herodotus, and also the later priestsof Egypt
and Syria. In this way,
also, did the learned men
who accompanied the expeditionof Alexander, interpret
from
of the
Grecian
mythology the names
nations with whom
they became acquainted,and soon
found
for them
in that rich
connexion
a place and
and copious whole : ^ and thus have Grecian
writers
exercised
an
ingenuity frequently ridiculous, in
gether.
mixing up Greek and foreignhistoryconfusedlytoIt is often very
amusing to lighton the
of their conclusions, as
in the following extraces
ample
The
:
mythic Abantes in Euboea had a peculiar
fashion of wearing the hair, the same
that was
also
generallycalled the Thesean, and which was
"

"

"

"

found

in Arabia.
it from

had

adopted

not

scruple to

'
2

Some

make

the
the

fancied

that

the

;*and

Arabians

Abantes

others

Arabians, merely

Orch., p. 281, 7.
OrcL., p.
Conip. among
otliers,

281.

on

did

thi^

b_ uj^^^
stgpj,_
See

Pint.,Thes.

"'!.

118

account, travel all the

Euboea.^

to

than

nothing more

imagine, unless

each

other, or

the

in the

case

soil where

order

preserve

where

could

Dionysus
round

to

of the

of

god

strivingwhich

on

the

when

indebted
these

pervades
became

never

or

it must

be

sanctuaries, in
But

expeditions of

these lands knew

the heroes, and

were

for their information

history,and

or

or

Argonautic navigation

the

Europe,

of Greece

propagate

tell bf

India, and

the north

nothing

tine

any

contact,

traditionaryexistence.

on

aworship from foreigners,

For every legend requires

families, nations,

with

of the

bordered

into close

live and

can

ference
trans-

sphere

the

themselves

races

of Adonis.
it

and

"

borrowed

connected
to

otherwise

came

unless the Greeks

as

adoption

Cadmus

are
very
incorporation,
learned activity, always,

mutual

their

with

come

into

legends

Asiatic

Grecian, and

and

way,

Thus, then, the

of

often

THE

WHEN

TIME

to

the

even

men

of

habitants
in-

learning

subjects.
the

whole

of Grecian

extinct,
entii-ely

is that

genealogizing.It continued to exist during the

period of pragmatic history,through the belief that
received its name
from some
every spot, every valley,
ancient sheik or cacique. Thus even
Pausanias
had
stillto deal with those who
explained everythingby
of genealogies,
to.
iravra
means
(7e"'eaXo7erj'
eOiKova-i,)
who, for example, out of the Pythian temple, at
Delphi, manufactured
Pythis,son of Delphus, and a
But this strivinghas evidently
prince of the olden time.
its foundation
in the genuine ancient manner
of expressionpeculiarto the mythus.
People,cities,
mountains, rivers,gods, to the myth-inventingages,
of

'

Stra.,X.

p. 447.

CREATION

all became

to

invention

now

in many

cases,

and

to

the connexion, these

of

because

there

contrivance
and

be

easy it may

However

tions
rela-

from

one

another,

another.

one

119

human

placed in

were

each other, descended

towards
wedded

who

persons

CEASED.

MYTHI

OF

through the
ing
decypher the meanto

see

were
genealogies
no
arbitrary or

was

in them, received

theless,
neverscious
con-

actual truth,

as

employed by logographersand historians,

were

generalaccuracy, in
of chronology. If we
a sort
give due,
establishing
which were
regard to this faith even the genealogies
formed
at the time
of the later epic poets,and perhaps
of the logographersthemselves, will not
be
viewed as, striotly
Even
speaking,pure inventions.
these must
have
arisen by gradual extension, and
conclusions
which, at that period,carried general
in

full confidence

with

their

famous
which

shall first

We

conviction.

this in the

try to show

genealogyof the chieftribes of the Hellenians,

is derived

from

^^oiai.

the Hesiodic
Pandora

Prometheus,^

Deucalion

by Pyrrha
I-Iellen

Dorus, Xuthue,

^olus

AchsBus, Ion.'
the

Now,
the

'

brothers, without

three

Xuthus

I take

in Hesiod, indeed,

passage

but

it is

it from

Appollon.,iii.1085.
other Hesiodic

Tzetz.

quite
on

(The

poems.)

mentioning the

clear

Lye,
Schol.

284

Horn.,

of

sons

in this series,

that

; and

only

names

the

Od.

x.

Paris. Schol. to

2, made

use

of

TIME

120

Xuthus

THE

WHEN

also represents tribes

assume,

in Hesiod,

as

stood

the

for

have

there

as

well

in

as

and

others, he

and

ApoUodorus

lonians

Xuthi, that

been

never

of

Instead

Achseans.

and

fore
there-

must

we

Deucalion, the progenitorof mankind, another legend,

perhaps equallyold, placesZeus

men/

and

the

Hellenians

into

small tribe in
is coeval

use

with

the

Days"

have

been

of Hesiod.
formed

But

than

more

extended

more

Its first

is in the

That

the

from

is evident
proceedarbitrarily,

not

name

Works

"

genealogymust, therefore,

time.

at that

was
a

"

poems.*

appearance

could

name

people

its

Hesiodic

This

that

yet arpplyto

not

Thessaly.

ascertainable
distinctly
and

entire

chief tribes

unity,and

national

designate the

to

which, in the Iliad, did

one

originatedbefore

not, therefore, have

employed

bringingthe

at

the

perceive that

must

one

every

genealogy aimed

above
of

Now,

gods

of

father

the

author

did

the fact of his

making Xuthus the father of Ach sens and Ion, whereby

he considerably
disturbed the-agreementof the whole.
It is clear that he
which
Xuthus

be

to

been

already called

and, therefore,did

assigned to
no

had

fathers

and

Even

Hellen.

Now,

allow

legends,as
ancient
the

the part from

derivinggenealogically

.this; and
-

ibid.

mythus

Comp. Find.,
Eurip. Melan., Fr. 2.

uEffinet.,
p.

155.

father

one

of

general

legendcertainlyspoke

of

Schol.,Od.

of

the tradition

obtained

'

sons

then, have

the ^tolian

of

as

another

must,

have

the tradition

the

recognisedin

could not

the most

these two

not

of the others

several dark

regard to

There

them.

Dorus, Apollo'sson,
credit.

had

have

must

P.

follows the

analogy

the whole, the

iv. 167, who

alludes

to

CREATION

subordinate

from

the Mountains
the Sun
of

Moon

derivation

brought forth by
by

had

CEASED.

121

general,
(thus in ihe Theogony,

the

were

and

MYTHI

OF

the

become

the Earth, and

Light,)and

as

mind

to the

this mode

species of

the poet (or whoever

necessity,
might be his source)
boldlysang how the tribe-leaders,^olus, Dorus, and

Xuthus,

were

sprung

heaven-born,

or

of the

author

from

the

loins of Hellen, the

of the Titans.
offspring
complete genealogy was

others,who, e.g.,called Dorus

preceded by

of Hellen

son

Lycurgus, in

the

Perhaps

; for the

obedience

to the

Spartans,at

the time of

behest

Pythian oracle,alreadyworshipped Zeus

of the

Hellanius

and

Athena

;^ and

Hellania

Spartan army,^ as well as

called
Olympic games, were

the
the

I reflect

when

of

that

on

Sparta and

Delphic families
hand, that

Boeotian

the

with

intimate

the

their

traced

remember,

poem,

nexion
con-

Delphi, on

who
"Oo-tot,

;^and

And

Hellanodicse.

on

Olympia

of the

Deucalion

from

oracle,

the

judges in
Agonothetse at
the

the

on

produced

other

far

not

scent
de-

from

Pythian sanctuary,speaks first of the Hellenians

the conjecture forces itself
this enlarged sense,

the
in

me,

upon

that this national sanctuary of the Hellenic

took

name

little part in the

no

trulybeautiful legend ; by
tribes, severed

Grecian
bitter

feuds

united

into

After
another

'

of

means

for

destructive

so

wars,

the

correct
unquestionably

all the

were

at

255.

'

by

length

brotherhood.
examine

now

does not

emendation

6.

Dor., ii.p.

that

centuries

familyby the bond of

this preparation,we
may
well-known
genealogy,which
to

of

which

many

one

According

Lye.
2

and

formation

Dor., i. p.

241.

unite

iu

Plut.,

WHEN

TIME

122

the

Hellenic

lenians

with

tribes

it is properly

of which

the times

which

and

Libyans;

and

the Hel-

other, but

each

the Asians

with

THE

more

nearlybelongs to

down

chapter. I set it
lows
it is given by ApoUodorus,^who
partlyfolas
in its essential
known
Pherecydes.^ It was
our

business

in this

to treat

therefore, have

must,
than

been

; and

Herodotus

and

portions to ^schylus, Pindar,

Olympiads

many

older

all.

them

lo-Isis,

Zeus

Epaphus-Apis
by Memphis
Libya
bv Poseidon

1
Agenor, Belus,
by Achinoe, daughter

by Telephaasa

of Nilus

j
Europa, Cadmus, Phoenix, Cilix.

Danaue.

^gyptus,

-^gyptiadsB,Danaides.
here

Now,

have

we

in

old Grecian

form

that

she

at the

there

phus ;

are

even

old Grecian

whence

or

the

into

72 sq.

whose

Sturz, 15.

; and

at

the

of her
no

Hesiodic

cow

appearance

traditions

; in

city.* On

Pe-Apis,

II. 1 ; iii. 1.
Schol. Apollon.,
iii. 1185
See page

her

is manifestly

elements, and

Argos.

it is clear that he is

Egyptian Apis

made

buildingof

no

at

her transformation

speaks of

poem

its fundamental

its local habitation

had

which

the fable of lo, which

other
name

p. 108.

in

tium
Byzan-

contrary,
son

than
has

Epathe
been

CREATION

somewhat

altered

he could

MYTHI

OF

be called the

not

identified with Isis,

was

taken

even

Greek

placesoon

mercenaries

of lo before the latter

son

which

event

an

"

123

Now,
pronunciation.^

Greek

by the

GEASED.

might have

after the naturalisation

of the

in

Egypt in the 27th Olympiad.

For nothingmore
was
wanting to lead to it,than the
of Isis with
sightof one of the usual representations
the

horns

have

of

cow

recognisedin

above, that
as

already

she

her

on

head.

The

it his lo, of whom

in the

was,

the

as

30th

Cow-homed

"

at

Virgin," (Uap^evos

adored

the country ;" and

she

had

certainlyfrom
Amasis

to

second

year

calf

Apis ;

which

then

of

son

he would
for

also

"

This," the

surelyour

lo that

the

of

readilyimagine how
Argive legends had

the first described

her

persecuted
Now, the Ionian, when
transplantedby
the great city of Memphis, (after the
as

of the 62d

there, at

see

is

"

the Greeks

as

Isis,the great mother

as

thither:

come

wanderer.^

exclaim,

once

much

so

seen

Olympiad, represented
perhaps even
having horns, (Kepoecra-a,)

would

is here

mmt

have

we

as
^ovKcpcDi,)
iEschylus calls her, and
painted her in the time of Herodotus.^

Greek

Greek

and

Olympiad,)would also perhaps

publicfestivals,the much-revered

how

flashed

could
upon

he

resist the conviction,

him, that the calf-god

was

the cow-goddess ; although,in the Egyptian

creed, this

was

anythingbut

true

So

far

all

was

spontaneous creation, occasioned

and
'
names

application of

the
Here

it is to be considered

and

words

at

the

merely by intuition
commonly received ideas,

beginning

nations ; thus the early Romans

tus, and KCxXu^ into Codes, "c.
2

II. 41.

usual

how

'

are

of the

turned

such

alterations

acquaintanceof

of

two

Taw/i)id^iinto Catami-

Comp. Welcker, Prometh., p.

134.

relation

the

to

THE

of

ApoUodorus,

remark, that he introduced

; and

of invention

the consciousness

entirelywithout
as

WHEN

TIME

124

I have

only

additional

some

to

matter

historyof lo, from his knowledge of the

that he
genuine legend of Osiris,^in the same
way
even
incorporateswith the Argolic legend the god
Serapis,who had but latelyattained high honours by
Further,
being confounded with a Cappadocian divinity.^
into the

Libya the entire tract of country was called

the daughter of Epaphus and Memphis, the god and
in his
his sacred
city; for the Greek, accustomed
from
the
gods,
mythi to derive cities and races
analogy in reference to foreign
employed the same
But
in order
to develop the
nations.
genealogy
"

"

completely,we

more

It is difficultto

^GYPTUS.

determined

Egypt.

but

for

this

is here
;

and

not

to

to which

nise
fraterland

the

consider

have

of

the tenor

justbeen examined, that

look for primeval traditions,

historical relations gave

portionof

the whole

reason

accompanied
and

we

and

have

again,because

blended

and

tribe in Homer,

ancient,for this

most

are

are

mythi

However,

bringtogetherand

to

legendswhich
we

begin with Danaus

imagine what could

it is obvious, if

Yet

also

here

Greeks

the

Achaean

an

of the

must

is

rise.

evidentlythe

of itself,
that the logy
geneawith circumstantial narration

materials

combined.

of different kinds

I think that

originally

was
davaov''Ap'yos
sense
as
employed in the same
the dry,waterless plain,(from Savbs dry.)*
TO
Sly^Lov,
and a Aavd^,
Thence
The
arose
a Aavao?
speedily
shower,
poets sang how Zeus, in golden fructifying
descended
how
to Danae, the parched earth ; and
TO

'

'

"

II. 1. 3. 7. 8.

Heyne Ohs.,p. 103.

Aavahs, accordingto the Etymologicum

M.

sub

il. 1. 1. 6.
vo.

Savdntj.

CREATION

MYTHI

OF

CEASED.

Danaus, the plain,in

himself

the country

the

springsof

obvious

me

that

the

similar

US

state, begot froni;

:

for it

to

seems

Danaides, the water-drawers,

originally
nothingelse than the fountain-nymphs
of that region. Four
of them
were
so,
certainly
viz.,Amymone, Peirene, Physadea, and Asteria ; and

were

with

respect to others, their

names

it.

prove

The

Lynceus is probablythe fountain of

in the Lynceum or Lyrceum.^ The Hamadryads
of them all,
mothers
perhaps originally

that married

one

the Inachus
were

ApoUodorus.^ Now, the

Danai, the inhabitants of the ^avaov "Apyos,were
crowned
with heroic fame in epicsong, and thence it
that Danaus
followed
became
also a collective of
in this capacity,
Achcean
heroes.
I imagine,
It was
in contact with iEgyptus; for the Greeks
that he came
and plunderedEgypt, transportedtheir
who invaded
combats in that country also, as they did in other regions,
back to the mythic ages. Perhaps these were
at
first Rhodian
mariners, who had received the mythus
of Danaus, together with the worship of Athene,
from
Argos, their mother-city. The mythus was
in the Danaid, in which
thus conceived
epic the
Danaides
are
representedas warlike heroines fighting
merely

not

former

as

it appears
'

The

the Nile.'' However,

as

fiction of

Frgm.
loclius,
well
perfectly

with

battle between

Liebel.,from

Danaus
Malalas

Comp. Volcker iUd., p. 192 sqq.,

^gyptus in a correspondingmanner.
%al

roT

^gyptus

brothers, and

and

at

iv.

least,

form

Lynceus in

Chronic,

the

of

Archi-

in.,agrees

this.

'

and

it is not

from Egypt ; to me,

havingcome
more
probablethat the current
131

of

Danaus

already regarded

here

were

in

clear whether

means

any

ten

of

the banks

on

by

of the

3o"s
"g intKi^ono

Ns/Xoio araxrof,
voTOii/.txi

ap. Clem.

who

Aavaoro

also

explainsthe

sons

^uyargsjngorfsi)
ii/ggf/os

Alex., Strom,

iv. 522

"=.

the

lenised

but

than the 27th

called the

the

Baal

of the

of

Asia

for

Belus

denoted

immediately
deity,is in
parison
by the com-

Phcenician

still clearer
which

this

mistook

Greeks

real person,

That

Lydian genealogy,to

The

revert.

as

becomes

; and

itself clear

iEgyptus

Babylonians, more

Greeks

the

to

of Belus.

sons

I shall

soon

of anterior

god

placed him

and

older

and

Danaus

Olympiad. Now,

are

known

story of the

the

Hel-

Egypt became
battle might be

until

unknown

legend was

THE

WHEN

TIME

126

head

at the

Egyptian genealogy, which they could do

still quiteunacquainted with
only when they were
of

the

the actual

before

At

their eyes.

the head

have

become

was

representedby
that, in

appears

and

an

that

when

undefined

still floated in very

Asia

and

religionof Egypt,

all events, Belus

of the

Phoenician

Cadmus
earlier

and

country

boundaries
should
race,

Phoenix;

which
but

Agenor
tradition,^

already established here as the father

and the genealogist
was
obligedto rest

also

it
was

Cadmus,

of

satisfied with

was
placingBelus by his side. Cadmus
manifestly,
at that earlyperiod even,
regarded as a Phoenician
founder
of colonies, otherwise
the genealogy which
makes
and Agenor brothers
Belus
could not have

he

became

arisen.

How

Hermes

of the Thebans

here

out

be

of

so, from

and

place to inquire.

with

Homer
'

See

the
the

Europa,

who

was
was

daughter of Phoenix.^
ancient

oracle

the

ancient

Samothracians, it would

that this transformation

connexion

being

in Schol.

I think

it is probable

occasioned

by

his

already called by
was
Nothing more

Eurip.

Phosu.

641, and

Aristoph.Frogs, 1256.
^

Comp.

1825.

the Review

of Welcker'a

Cadmus, Gottingen Bevietr,

left but

now

which
one

was

must

lo, who

had

link, which
Libya, who
the

we

went

on

see

for this

the

afforded

was

necessarilybe

derived

from

was
was

ancient

more

not

by

be

to

the

the
barian,
bar-

Argive

Egypt ; and the intermediate

still awanting, was
supplied by
united in marriage to Poseidon, as
to

holds

in

dominion

and

the

over

sea.

how, in this genealogyalso, everything

to

obvious

seemed

later,with

in order

come

127

genealogy of Epaphus,

the

motive

by
gradually,

which,

CEASED.

that Danaus,

who

god

Thus

kind

the whole

of Belus.

circumstance

unite

to

on

MYTHI

OF

CREATION

means

those

who

enough

of deductions
formed

gies
analo-

and

them,

doubtless

if indications

; and

of this

everywhere be ascertained with equal

clearness
and
certainty,we
ought to reflect that
numberless
tive
connectinglinks,that many a determinacircumstance, is to us utterlylost.^
A parallel
is furnished by the geneato the above
logy
Herodotus^
which
gives,as an historical truth,
of the second
dynasty of the Lydian kings,the socalled Heraclidse, the series of whom
began with
cules,
Agron and closed with Gyges. It runs thus : HerHere
Belus is
Alcseus, Belus, Ninus, Agron.
position
unquestionablythe god of Babylonia, as the juxtacannot

with
that

Ninus

Baal, who

and

was

Nineve

above

proves

called

the

but the fact

ancestor

of

here becomes
his
generation,
originated
grandson, shows that the two genealogies
in quit" different places. These
princes of Lydia
evidentlytraced their lineagefrom the east, from

Hercules

in the

ninth

"

I coincide more
with his
Comp.Welcker, Prometh., p. 399.
in his Essay : On
views than with those laid down
by Buttmann
and Asia, Papers of the Berfin
of Greece
the Mythic Connexion
'

Acad.

1818.

I. 7.

the

does

not

the Hellenic
Asiatic

here

not

hero,

Asia

of anterior

great monarchies
or

THE

WHEN

TIME

128

us

concern

This

progenitors.

served

husband

Hercules, then,

princesof

him.

The

did

only

do

native

Alcasus,

so.

frequent occurrence,

the

stands

case

Lydians, and

had

Mermnadse

become

after the

beginning

surely be
familyfrom
it

far-famed

itself

was

which
the

testimonies

The

most

is

sion
confu-

into his

known

was

and

took

Olympiads
derive

to

them,

among

overthrown

were

which

the

to

place
for

by
soon

it would

dispossessed

deified ancestor, of whom

There

is

nothing

against this supposition,although

of the

ancient

after

consideration, I

poets

is the

in Pisander's

which,

by

converted

entirelyignorant.

militates

X'Twces

of the

strange fancy

know,

we

naturalized

event

an

"

Greeks

thus, the probabilityarises

before those so-called Heraelidse

the

from

genealogy,

if the

who,

was

Hercules

of

mythus

Lydia, and

this

as

vice
ser-

them.

to

descended

one,

for Hercules,

name

If the

eon.

that

it with

another
of

be

must

Lydians willinglyadopted

likewise

not

country

the

in the

lived also in

to

Lydia

which

worship,in

their Hercules

have

must

the

interwove

and

wife

the

these

in

observed

faineant Eurystheus^ occurred

of the

the

effeminate

an

but Hercules,

probably owing

was

the circumstance, that the Greeks

of
representations

rectly
cor-

placed over

afterwards

was

whether

aU

are

notice

of the

of

later

AvJol

Heraclea, (about the 33d

taking

that

circumstance

date.
xp^cro-

piad,)^
Olyminto

longer hesitate to refer to

legend of Hercules's residence in Lydia.
Were
it the design of the author (which it is
'

Comp. Dor., vol.

no

i. p. 457.

Dor., vol.

the

not

i. p. 538.

CREATION

ill this

work)

OF

to enter

he

would

attempt

of

Greece

to

to

into exhaustive

develop

129

CEASED.

MYTHI

the

determinations,
entire

foreign countries during

relations

the first

fifty

Olympiads,by a series of mythi : those, for example,

is laid in mythic
of Cepheus, the scene
of which
and Phineus
;
to Memnon
Ethiopia ; those relating
and

others

adduced

of the

same

kind.

will suffice to show

how

Here

what

has

been

active the invention

in national genealogies,
genuinemythi, particularly
continued
parison
throughout the period specified
; in comwith which, what was
afterwardsdone scarce
deserves consideration.
In fact, everythingthat has
been brought forward
in this chapter contributes to
and perthe result,that down
to the 50th
Olym'piad,
haps
somewhat further,
i.e., until prose writingbecame
generallyadopted, ideas and opinions,blended with
facts,frequentlyassumed, among the Grecian people,
the form of mythic narrations, which were
actually
believed ; but scarcely
later than that,if we
distinguish
the philosophical
the mythus from
torical
the hisallegory,
I
hypothesis,and the epigrammatic conceit.
have only to remark, that here we
stillspeak of mythi
laid down
in the sense
in the firstchapter,
and that the
word
is by no means
intended to denote the mixture
of faith and the marvellous
with real history,
which
later period.-'
existed to a much
But, perhaps,in the
opinionof many learned men, I ought not to have confined
the proof to colonial legendsand genealogical
it to mystic religious
trees, but should have extended
mythi, from which both the former are said to have
sprung only about the 70th Olympiad, and subsequent-

of

'

Even

the

Olympiad.

Delphian god acknowledged heroes

Pans., vi. 9.

down

to the 72d

hitherto

I have

ly.
no

cause
mythi, beto lead

seems

Appendix something will

regardingthe Orphici.But

said

these

treatingthem

of

In the

results.

sure

nothing of

said

ordinarymode

the
to

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

130

these learned

even

be

men

certainlydo not believe that such hvo-tikoIXojoi were

in which
legends or mythi, in the restricted sense
is here

employed;

vain lies and

were

and

imposture
"

leavingthem

for

reason

contrary, they

the

that, on

but

aside.

that

is

the

as

partlythe

treated

which,

ancients

the

by

with

this
the

be useful and

to

proper

poets

Partly

on

the various notions

into

subjectcome

opinionslaid

sider
con-

many

nevertheless,

mythi.

as

account, and partlybecause

prevailon

from

taken

of the Alexandrian

inventions

philosophers,and

and

further

objectionto

Another

foregoingpositionmight perhaps be
so-called astronomical
mythi, which

the

down

append

it

were

this

which

tion
frequentcontradicin this

here

work, it will

tion
brief examina-

of the matter.

APPENDIX

TO

On

The
the
must
with

the

most

CHAPTER

Astronomical

ancient

IX.

Mythi.

poet extant

mentions

followingconstellations,(which
not

yet be understood

to denote

merely

term, however,
actual

figures

definite outlines,)
viz.,the Pleiades, the Hyades,

mighty Orion,

the Bear

Bootes, and lastly,

the Dog

or
of

Wain,
Orion.

together with
He

does not

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

appear

to have

had

who

known

just enumerated,
patronymic form
is : for it is
Greek

also,

these.-^ Of the constellations

the

first have

two

of the

names

form

merely, it ably
unquestiontive
perfectlyclear that, in the primi-

; and

often

language generally,it
than

nothing more
doubtless

Hesiod

; and

of naming stars,
frequentopportunities

so

alludes to any but

never

others

any

131

derivation.

denoted

Pleiadks

The

are

Ship-stars,
(from vXeiv.) In ancient
for navigationbegan with their
season
^
their
closed with
Hesiod,
setting.

the

Greece, the

rising,and

daughtersof Atlas,^ in
in which
taken
Atlas was
the sense
by the ancient
*
has latelydevelopedwith
poets,and which Volcker
great ingenuity: viz.,the daughters of the nevermust
mariner, who
naturally
resting,adventurous
have
alreadytaken the Seven Stars for his guide
the ocean.
Names, also, from Peloponnesian
upon
legendswere
given to each of the Pleiads ; and Helof
lanicus,in the Atlantis,brought a great number
with
the family of Atlas.
mythi into connexion
Heroines
chosen, whose
names
were
signified
splendour,
Electra and Sterope : or bore reference to
as
navigation,as Celseno and Alcyone; but in others
therefore, called them

concealed.

the allusion lies more

not

appear

time

to have

after Homer

the

taken
;

This, however, does

place until

for the

hymn

to

considerable

Hermes,

which

does not call Maia a daughTerpander,"

ter
of Atlas, but merely a revered nymph." It is not
certain whether
the cyclic poets employed these

is later than

'
8
*
*

Comp. Shaubach, Hist, of Astronomy, p.

and Days, 619.
Hesiod, Works
Mythology of the Japetidae,
p. 51.

Compare
Review, ] 825.

the

review

of

Volcker's

work

11-23.
'
^

in

Ibid.,383.
y_
the

gi_

Gottingen

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

132

names

placed
well
ism.^

the

among

Simonides,

as

either

formed

received

now

even

each

that

was,

also,

as

this catasternot

were

modified

; and

Seven

Stars

of the
As

name.

Pleiades

the

Hyades,

the

Ship-stars,so

the

were

or

distinctive

^schylus

stars,

anew

wards
after-

were

mythi regardingthem

the

only alteration

the

earth, and

on

acquaintedwith

was

However,

thereby

lived

had

virginswho

to he

Pleiades

the
imagined^

but, at all events, they

Ovid

even

as

the Rain-stars.
supposed to
They were
says,^were
bring rain ; and were, therefore, regarded as fostering
It is
nymphs who had reared Bacchus at Dodona.*
not, however,

The

seems
probability

opinion that rain-bringingnymphs

to the

from
Jove

the

Phseo, Polyxo, Dione,

from

ancient

transformation

into stars

which

the

the

They

this cluster in

poem

the aa-rpiKri^l^Xoi pronounced

was

seus,"perhaps
'

According

product

to the extract

of

but

as

are

given

this poem

spuriousby Athen-

the

in Schol. Ven.

Alexandrian
et

xviii.
min., II.,

Athen.,

Fasti,V.

Pherecydes ap. Sturz.,p.

"

Theon

"

XI.

xi. 490,

167.
ad Arat.

Schol.

Ph.,

172.

min.,

old

indeed,

names,

Hesiodic

were

fable of their

is,however,

same

these

Phsesyle,

Coronis, Cleeia, Phseo, Eudora,)

(Phsesyle,
to

Rain-

last proves,

the

mythology.

Nearly

Pherecydes.

as

the

Eudora,

there than

probably more

only afterwards

also, as

are

Dodonian

the

shipped
wor-

Pherecydes givesto

Coronis,

stars, viz.. Ambrosia,

derived

were

identified with

which

names

that

and

and

connected

The

stars.

nurses.

periodat Dodona, togetherwith

remote

cloud-gatherer
;

these

were

stars

to incline

least,rather

at

to me,

these

be

to

the

that

certain

means

any

first,considered

the

from

were,

by

age,
486.

II.,1. 1.
491.

108.

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

133

(againstwhich

opinion,at least,the epigram of CalAratus proves

nothing.) Thus, therefore,

limachus

on

with

exception of

the

genealogyof the Pleiades,

is also extended
which
to the Hyades, we
have found
astronomical
no
gard
fable,properlyso called. With rethe

to

Bear, it is evident that the

of the
with

all

of

manner
a

The

must

sacred
the

have

in the eyes

said to have

originatedwith
symbol

image

an

in the

The

case

to

into

two

Orion,

or

The

Boeotians

ever

been
account

I will

with
of

by

since
its

of
not

his

Tzetz.

and
of

ad

we

nothing
lay claim

constellation.

be

club, is

the

ancient

chase, worshipped

were

Boeotia.-^
somehow

brilliant constellation

its
to
not

Whether

which
it

was

extraordinarysplendour,

decide.
believe

heaven, any
comp.

lating
re-

divided

an

Hyria (Uria) in

undertake

Lye, 328.,

is

place,the gigantic

called Orion.

in

descried

can

to me,

neighbourhood

the

was

Obion, the mythi

brazen

war

name

bear

even

there

of the

first

shape, or

personalpresence
See

But

seems

the

certainlydid

Greeks

'

In

god

it

that the
the

they

sake

as

of that

has

to

name

goddess Artemis,

that

heavens.

early inhabitants

the

gave this

to whom

different with

classes.

of him

and

Arcadians,

must,

and
significant

by Hesiod)

sung

for the

be

reminded

on

been

invented

hero, or rather

by

peoplewho

of Callisto to which

Oarion

have

not

It is,therefore,probable (a,ndit is

the

which

of it

the denomination.

otherwise

been

of it in the

may

ance
appear-

comparison

of their much-honoured

mythus

being

for

ground

of the

mere

shapes,could

who, therefore, fancied

and

as

animal

sufficient

constellation.

even

the

constellation,and

furnished
Bear

the

938,

1410.

But

the

cient
an-

in his actual
more

than

our

Orch. p. 100.

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

134

they call
Kings," identifythe

three

countrymen, when
Sacred

Accordingly, Orion
figurein

the

rise, even

gave
olden

time.

in the

same

off Orion.^

out

as

The

Dog

in the

already stationed
Orion

the bear

viewed

was

chase, which
swept

far

as

rank

can

in the

which

The

worship of the

ripens the
from

the

with

and
piercingbrilliancy,

man.*

Hence

bath

it

of

See

11,

mighty

still more,
which

Greeks.

was

Works

and

Days,

the Cyclic Poets, ap.

Dithyr. Frgra. 11, Bockh.

'

Odyss.,V.

"

II.,V. 5;

It makes

in the oirwpa, the

(on

and

the

25.

27th

Eudoxus;)

parching heat
called

the

dog

by

to

Hesiod

must

have

Pind;

N.

619.

Scliol.

II.,xviii. 486,

121.

xxii.

portant
im-

Oceanus, it beams

sends

or
"glow-star."" Now,
"Zelpios

Hesiod,

nexion
con-

that, when

brightstar

fruit of trees,

emerging

dog,

discover, that occupied an

and

'

so

developed

day of the Crab, accordingto Euctemon

afilicted

into

animal,

hunted

the

accordingto Homer,

its appearance,
season

hunting :

Canicula,
dog, and the Romans
the only
exception of the sun and moon,

the

so

bination
lucky com-

brought

sky, was

aftferwards

was

and

called the

the Greeks

one,

as

is

times, by which

of

the

the fiction of still

Orion

of

god

It

stars.

loved
"day-light,"

the entire heavens.

over

is,with

the

the

mythus by

was

way

of the ante-Homeric

with

the

in

mythi

of

direction

earlier times invented, that Eos,

carried

it

account

first decked

perhaps

that

on

ginally
oriwas
pursuing the Pleiades
than a simple figurative
sion
expres-

Orion

poets ;^ and

and

constellation,to

former.

the

cal
only purely mythologi-

heavens;

nothing more
for the positionand
was

latter with

is the

as

the Three

"

stars,

'

Thoog. 587, Shield,397.

ii.

ASTRONOMICAL

been

from

the

MYTHI.

earliest ages

135

of summer's

the

symbol

heat, probably because

canine

madness

that

which

season

animal

the

the influence of the

it

by

paid
Greeks

is manifest

of Arcadia

was

said

was

held, during the

which

in

there

Argos

number

sacrifices

two

district

was

festival called Amis

great

the

by

entire

an

tention
at-

there, the "AXva-a-os "n-tj'yh,

it ;^ and

cure

Therefore

great

cause
"dog-heat,"merely be-

dog-days,a

Cynophontis, at
killed.^

this,that

fountain

to

with

particularphenomenon

from

intensely

The

of intuition.

called Kwaida,

was

there
which

this

to

feels most

fierystar being confounded

child-like kind

at

occurs

of

dogs

ofiered

were

or

were

up

at

the

risingof the dog-star,on the top of Pelion, to

from ^nMTepos
JupiterActseus, (a god of nourishment
from
whose
be shown,
that
"iKrh,)
worship it can
the

mythus

of

Actasus, torn

formed.^

was

by

continued

blowing

the heat of the

this goes
the

Sirius

appease
the

conjured up

the

north, which

Etesise,

tempered

under

the

glowing

Paus., viii. 19.

of

heat
and

2.

of

name

Msera,

in the form
the

that

to prove

dog,as

Comp.

summer,

mythi

in the

ripen,appears

cannot

in like manner,

festal ceremonies
*

to

out
dog-days.^ Finally,Sirius,withfifty

Dionysian mythi

and

from

influence wine

star,"^and,

how

and
sacrifices,*

trade- winds

whose

Ceos

at

piecesby

his

fifty
dogs,
father,Aristseus,Jupiter also

Actseus'

originally,
taught

in

from

Soliwenk's

of

"

bright

dog/

symbol

All

of Sirius
in

was

employed

very

earlyperiod,

Etym. Myth. Andeut.,

p. 42.
2

Conon,

19.

Athen.

iii.99".

'

DicBBarchus

ApoUon. Eh.,

Dor,, i. p. 306. Comp.

Comp. Lycophr.,333.

in

Hudson,

G.

M.

ii. p. 27.

Orch., pp. 248,

349.

ii. 500.

Eudox.

ap.
'

Gemin.

Creuzer

'/goni tuv ^ud/utin.

Symb., iii.p. 339, 32.

MYTHL

ASTRONOMICAL

136

and

that

this star

of

something

of the

stars

generallyviewed

of

were

and

nature

supposed to hare
daemon, although the

least

at

was

not

by

any

genealogy of

the

Pleiades

meteors,

class

the

belongingto

as

regarded as great

means

deities.
The

of

pursuit
the

legends of
nurses,

to

say,

the

dog-staras

only mythi

bodies

which

"

mythology

in

So

no

longersimple and

of

gods

may

and

Arcadian

the

be

beheld

were

of

this

allowed

tracingof

activities.

any

by

his countrymen
"

ceeding
suc-

drians,
Alexan-

their

to

enough

heavens,

in too

mythus
with

tions
constella-

The

These
to

reason

ages

images

see

the

as

were

ancient

his Orion

serious

light

mythic personages,
or

that

place

find,therefore, that throughout

period, the
to

go

on

observers

of the

graduallyadding

list of constellations,and

being shown

the

degree

this
capriciously,
We

elder

if the

Callisto,the Boeotian

wantonly

stars.

of

the

the

assign them,

direction,without

to

in

his

sport freelyand

whole

time

the

and

fanciful

stillviewed

the

is asked

easilyperceived.

heroes

tions,
rela-

the

opinion,that during that

my

invention

this

heavens

glowing

by the

us

considerable

any

of

the

the

perfectlydistinct

were

they

It

to

in
little,

period mythic

among

of

Eos,

influences of the heavenly

Greeks.

of the

added

and

to

explained by

presented to

are

centuries, down

to

hero

symbol

be

to

fancied

propertiesand

but

that

"

the

number

of

perhaps, too, those regarding the Hyades

the only astronomical
myihi that is
are

heat, and
as

relation

them, the

Atlas, Orioit's

from

drawing new
particularinterest in

to

lines of
the

ter
mat-

the

poets.

to

observe, like the Phoenicians,

Thales

recommended

ASTRONOMICAL

the

Lesser

Bear, which, from

being smaller, is
than

the Great

Phoenician
its form,
60th

MYTHI.

safer

Bear.

It

the

85th

zodiacal

Olympiad,

Euctemon

was

the

the

Scorpion,and

Lyre,

the

Arrow,

nothing mythologicalin
names

from

their

relations

to

although

not

have

placed the

mythic

^
'

Argo,

after ages,

There

the

partlyfrom

as

Buttmann
of the

it.

out

arose

must

of Cleostratus,
that
it

gical
mytholo-

ception.
of this miscon-

constellations

its
again make
Olympiad with Eudoxus,
not

mention

Cepheus, Cassiopeia,

and

Sea-monster,

the

Centaur, "c.

shown

Ai'^,

poet,

Its

call the

to

does

is shown

has

their

The

ancient

any

still far from

was

is

appellations
;

these

"

being held

in

well
his

repute

not

long

Eem.

in Ideler's

Stars,p. 309.

as

although even

by Aratus, who,

Phasn.,36 sq. with Voss's

According to Geminus, ib.
As

of

storm-star."*

"

Arat.

the Names

Horse.^

signify goat," whereas

110th

first to

celestial chart

'

Eagle, the Dolphin,

It is obvious

personages

Perseus, Andromeda,

by

the

beside

tendency

until the

is the

the

acquainted with

time

to

the

tain-hunter,)
moun-

beforethe

afterwards

The

who

Kid

name

denoted
originally

appearance

rude

and

the

also

by

name

the

In

the

and
figure,

that

supposed the

after

of

the Ram
a

the

lations
part, given to the constel-

mentioned

reference

"

account

on

atmospherical phenomena.

received

who

the

any

for the most

are,

called

constellations.

Water-bearer,

as

also,

navigator

^
Cleostratus, about
Dog's-tail."

both

he

therefore

constellation," and
"

the

guide to

w^as

tion
its revolu-

of

path

Olympiad, gave a fixed place to

Archer, (who received the form of

the

the

the

137

Invest,

on

the

Origin of

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

138

after,described

who

and

sphere of Eudoxus,

the

was

of constellations, but
acquainted with abundance
It is
with comparativelyfew mythologicalnames.^
evident
particularly
most

the

cases,

example,

he

this

is

which

form

Succeeding writers
this

ways

In

purpose.

knees,
the

in what

which,

with

and

spread
out-

that

time,

eonplain?
distinctly
and

various
how

ous
ingenidifferent

many

contribution

also, there

manner,

gical
mytholoEngonasis

same

can

laid under

were

like

in

instances

one

show

their

describes

attempted,and

was

cyclesof mythi

no

Greeks, in

to the

before

existed

figurecrouching on the
hands, remarking, at

as

forms
For

names.

him, that

from

for that

were

many

subsequent to the time of

the
Eudoxus,
mythological name
superseded the
starsimple descriptionof form, as
e.
g., the
stream

the

poets of the

the

starry heavens

subject

of

ourselves

into

converted

was

regard to

even

be

to

Eratosthenes, Hyginus, and

refer

merely

expressly stated,

hardy) begins
The

The

to

seem
2

by

awkward

in which

V.

thus

questionis

devised

were

others.

allow

not

Rotations
of

by the

cross

indicate
63

here

Grecian

collocation

they

sqq.

and

Eratosthenes
the

Hyginus, accordingto

'

mi^
Such

citations

the

to

so-called

The

period,

mythus employed for the purpose

the constellation,if the contrary
illustrating

of

is. not

We

misled

with

scarcely,if at all,a

narrations.

here

Now,

ante- Alexandrian

to them

were

mythic

Eridanus.

each

the

sometimes

(only an

Excerpt from
probable opinion of Bernninth
chapter of Catas-

left unexamined,

astronomers,
of

of

or

"

sources.

were

them,

many
other
the Goat

variety of

then.

even

and

whether

these

elsewhere
and

the

forms

derived.

strange way

Auriga for instance,

ASTRONOMICAL

terisms.

The

"

calls her the

nus.^

we

Now,

have

both

that

these

quotes

to

the

works.

of

Hygi-

Hesiod

the

cites the

by

the

bold

into
same

tion
addi-

Hyginus,*(unlessperhaps

source

the contrary,

Panyasis, on

than

golden

Eridanus

is asserted

Hesiod

the

the

to

changingof

the

and

poet

reference

fable in

be
|8//3Xo?
aa-rpiK^

Hesiod

who

manner,

to the Hesiodic

from

Ram

is nothing else
testify,

to

Germanicus

on

his

with

constellation,which

writer

the

crept into

manifestlymisunderstood

He

logographer merely

and

in

have

Scholiast

catasterism

fleece.^ In like

confusion

The

Pherecydes.

the

;" and

certaintythat

and

error

predecessor,Hyginus,

Themis

is to be found

statement

know

and

the

is evident

and

Zeus

genealogyof Dice,^ without saying a

about her becoming a constellation,(had this
mentioned
by the ancient bard, she would never
of corn
been representedbearing ears
;) and it

only gave
been

of

daughter
same

139

Hesiod, in his Theogony,

Virgin.

the
precisely

word

MYTHI.

both.)

of

Pisander

expresslyquoted

are

merelyior the historyof Hercules' combat with the Lion

view
and the Hydra ;* with the same
Sophocles is
referred to for Cassiopeia,
Euripidesfor Andromeda
;
and

with

be

permitted

regard

figureof

the

to

doubt

to

that

the

Horse,

the

we

must

catasterism

of

Hippo, the daughter of Chiron, is taken from the

Melanippe of the latter poet ; but he may have given
occasion to it by representingher as a predicter of
events

necessary
"

the stars.^

from
to

Hygin., P.

expose

A.

I would

the

inaccurate

ii. 25.

P. A.

"

Eratosth.,ii. 12.

ii. 20.
P. A.

have

not

ii. 6. 24.

statements

V.

Fab.,

"

deemed

901.
154.

Frgm.,

27- B.

it
of

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

140

if
fable-compilers,

these

I did not

that

observe

sceptical
inquirersoften allow themselves
In Engonasis, ^schylus
by them.

posture, converted

that

it is
his

addition

manifest

is

excerpter,as

his

place, amid
that

no

could

such

the
illustrating

there

this

in

way,

and

of fables

authorityof Hyginus
withdraw

now

citations,furnished

mythi,

and

fragments
To

confine
of the

by
our

maintain, from

'

Voss

IV.

Thus,

on

others,
laboured

the

compilers of

view

to

But

all these

from

the

favourite
let

us

equivocal

astronomical

extant

works

and

period specified.

the Anacreontica,

of

legends.*

in Attic

attention

our

purpose

Among

is, therefore, the

who

cold

figureof

Hegesianax, who

named

Aratus

learned

the

constellations.

author

an

was

the

of

Engonasis. In Alexandria, also,abundance

were
gathered from the tragedians,for the
of

or

theus
Prome-

the

from

yet explained the

had

one

constellation.

iEschylus really gave

if

how

in

was,

comparison

lofty imaginings, to

pedantic conceit,
assert

when

down,

mythographer,

by Strabo,^

And,

Unbound.

the

by

proved by

entire

given

passage,

is said to

by Hyginus ;^ but here,

is,also, actuallystated

This

into

Zeus

by

ceived
de-

be

to

country of the Ligyans,^and

in the

wounded

knelt

who

recognised Hercules,

have

even

the

third

that

the

and

ancient

Arat., 63.

seventeenth

poet

odes
of

the

Hygin., ii. 6.

p. 183.
it might be

from the fragment in Dionys. Hal.,

inferred,
that Hegesianax's Explanation of Ophiuchus, by
Caniabon
the
king of the Getce,P. A. ii. 14, so far as concerns
taken from the Triptolemusof Sophocles ; it is
was
mythus itself,
most
now
from
it in Herodian, -k. (i,m.
clearlyproved by a verse

A.

R.

Xe^.p.

i. 12,

9, 30, Dind., where

'iiVirSn
va^Sinoi,

ag%S(

rawt.

I should

be inclined to read, -/.a,)Xag-

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

141

both Wains
Bears,
or
Olympiad mentioned
(Euripidescertainlydoes so,)and described Bootes
to
constellation with tolerable accuracy,-^
seems
a
as
60th

me

bold

very

spurious equals, nay

and

genuine :
the

with

meaning which
certainlydoes not

alone cannot

with

is

what
moreover,

wings

be

the

accordingto

runs

heavens, (which has

reason

amount

the Wains,

scholar,)probablyhad

it.^ Pindar

in the

in

the

poems,

"

the astronomical
on

these

be

to

Xvpij" (thus it
of

in

An
creontic
Anadepended on.
pentameter, quoted by Hyginus,^and said
to
Engonasis, ay'^ov S' AlyeiSew "tja-eos

refer

etrrl

exceeds

regard to

is not

reading

to

; for

assertion

not, in the original,

been

has

even,

Pegasus,which

was

old

engrafted

allude to the Horse

wings

no

tion
emenda-

and

for that

represented

Corinthian

Koppa-coins,)
ever,
unless, perhaps,with Thiersch, whose grounds,howther
read apyewal (parvai.Neinot sufficient,
are
we
on

very

Pindar

does

refer to

Aquarius ;

he

only applied,

of Ganymede*
the name
previous interpreters,
of the overflowing Nile
the daemon
probably
account
of
that the people of Chemmis,
on
same

like
to

"

the
his

Pindar

Lucian'^ to

right,the

Voss

P.

Sehol.

A.,

XeovToSdfiai.
"

"

kvwv

zodiacal

Pindar, who
See

I find in

mythus" that is to say,

correctlyassigned a poeticalfragment in
a Pindaric
poem,*and Voss^ has accurately

explained

Perseus.

astronomical

only one

if Bockh"

"

identified^ with

magic shoe,

lion must

have

it with

Orion

connected
ad

Arat.

'

Herod., ii. 91.

'

Pro

19.

Schaubacb,

01. xiii. 88.

Phaan., 282.

Imagg.,

37.

Arat., v.

ii. 6.

For
been
in

After

Dithyr.

11.

are

known

p. 111.

Heyne

Solan

us
^

and
Ad

to

great chase.

Bockh, Frgm., inc.

*

See

if both

and

Bockh.

110.

Schneider.

Arat., 326.

The

different from

of the
call

this
in

contained

mythus,

new

the
being placed among
in Pherecydes^ about

crown

of

must

have

course

been

constellation.

the

To

mythic appellationof

the

the

the

milky

which

were

be

therefore

known

among

alluded

to

indeed, quotes from

but

Hare*

Pythagoreans.

no

The

constellations

St Elmo's

fire.
the

betrays a
far

So

is the

as

"

Schol. Od.

'

P- 112.

Iphig. Aul.
In

poet places the

from

of

Piritlioos.

the

seven

known.

or

doubtless

Rhesus, who

Democritus

and

has

Euctemon,"

discover, therefore,the Lesser

constellation

excepting

773;

troduced
in-

anxiety to displayhis learning.

an

to be found

and

Electra.

Bear
in

of
interpretation

xi. 320.

V.

for

alteration

shiningether,^are

author

only post-Homeric

Euripides,^
nor,

'

The

Eagle

can

correctly:

yet traced

were

in the

remarkable
I

tions,
constella-

new

Sirius,because, in the intermediate

near

Dioscuri

two

could

and

Schaubach,^

poets.

The

clearly

increased

quite unwarranted

by Musgrave.

of Pleias

had

Euripides several

merely on

of the text

space,

the

by

very

people,

scarcely a single one

rests

stars

the

belong

Phaethon's

"

way,
the

of

form

time, also, may

of constellations

littlethe number

its appearance

time, and

same

But, nevertheless,the tragicwriters show

how

is

idea

makes

stars

Aristotle^ derives from

path,"which

inclined

whole

suggested by

that

in pursuit

fiction of Ariadne's

singleepithet. The

to be

the

as

lion-

scarcelybe

Still I would

Bear.

became

him

conceived

been

have

must

now)

it is

what

Homer

queller,whereas

the

(whose direction

of Orion

Dog

then

to

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

142

998.

Meteor,

i. 8.

Iphig.Aul.

"

V.

553.,

the

..

7.

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

Hyades

from

fables

any

thi

regarding the

stars.

deserving the

that

during the

astronomical

were

speaking,mythology and astronomy go hand

much
the more
the latter tendency was
so
of the Alexandrian

the schools
in what
form

of

mythus
not

at

was

for invention

they

mythographers

examples

the

on

learned

ransacked

were

did

traced

they

on

find

in

legitimatecharacter.
repeatedlyquotes Euhemerus.
of

the

significance.
poets and

animal

as

many

Nor
of

did

they

less pure

for instance,

Popular
and

such

Auriga, Ophi-

sources

Raven,^

which

How

for
"c.

ciently
suffi-

us

legends in

Hyginus,

and

that

or

them

other

compilation;

heavens.

uchus, Taurus, Delphin, Draco,

entirelyneglectvarious

others,

shows

for

the

the

Certainly

Older

being

of any

But

fables,beingpurely

work.

to

went

active in

ness
whole, the busi-

particularcases

made

was

already

was

off-hand ?

be destitute of value and

of

hand,

from

its relation to

not,

was

that

as

these astronomical

consideration
how

so

century, but rather

moreover,

mention

not

produced

once

would
fictitious,
A

Surely

in

Grammarians.

constellation,and

of that

and,

manner

my-

did, generally

produced, nor

name

furnish

the above

from

period,neither

of this

he

mythology, does

Attic

if it follows

Now,
whole

the

143

comic

also

tales,

allegories,
that, for example, regardingthe Muse's son, Kporos,^
in like manner
employed to explain the conwere
stellations
even
Syrian and Egyptian fables
; and
were
brought within their sphere by these compilers
such

'
2

as

and

Erechtheus, in

Eratosth.,41.

'

Phaethon

Theonon

Arat., 172.
Eratosth.,28.

interpreters.All

and

this occasion, the

On

when

as

vowed

too,

than
frequent repetition,

and

Ocean-goddess,

legend of

the

Greater

this, I think, is

Bear, and

the

name

design; thus, the

of

transferred

is

times,
Some-

result of carelessness

the

been

have

likelyto

more

that the Bear

the

is altered ; but

name

"

troduced,
is in-

rival Callisto.

her

placed

was

conceit

poet says,
Hera,

receive

to

never

there

and

because

down,

goes

never

animal

or

person

later

viz.

following addition,

Here

stars."

the

among

original,

of

they contain

that

the

to

merely

amounts
"

MYTHI.

ASTRONOMICAL

144

Lesser

the

to

is

metamorphosed nymph

of the

Callisto to Phcenice.^
straightway changed from
indifferent circumstance
Or a turn is even
given to some
in the originalmythus, so as to make
room
for
and

an

allusion

astronomical

perhaps he

killed Orion,
reference

by

tosee,

that

references

Scorpion, with
Here

indebted

of

requireeven

modification

developed by merely

be

of
and

mythi,
On

the Horse.

carefullyexamined
"
^

Eratosth.,2.
According to

as

of
a

in

the

the

Hyginus,

of

necessarily

the

could

and

so-called

rangement
ar-

Centaur

althoughI

II. xvlii. 486.

be

distinct

fable, but

case

the

to

risingand

skilful selection
the

of the
are

other

do not

the other hand,

the Scliol. Ven.

the astronomical

there

to

the

sible
impos-

addition

fables, various

settingof stars, which, however,

it is

to

like manner,

collateral allusions

obvious
when

down

goes

poet for the

In

class

and

are

the

destroyinganimal.
in this

we

Artemis

that

so,

in the heavens.

learning of
found

fact,that Orion

to the

Scorpion appears
not

of

means

Euphorion^fabled,

first to do

the

was

; thus,

have

Eratos-

ASTRONOMICAL

thenes, and
have

not

the

MYTHI.

scholia

discovered

145

Germanicus, I, at least,

to

press
fableinvented for the exsingle
the form and positionof
of illustrating

purpose
constellation.
notice

Even

where

wanting, it seemed
from the tenor
conld, invariably,
of

to

was

without

the

be

pointed

in

out

circumstantial

rect
di-

that I

me

narrative

the

detect its derivative character.

itself,
cannot

and

ancient

more

deed,
this,in-

But

particularcases,
of

treatment

of

mass

local traditions.

CHAPTER

How

to

separate the Myihus from

and

these

After

the

Sources

Manner

try

to

enabled
The

X.

of

Modifications
of Poets

-Writers.

considerations

of the

its

Prose

the

Greek

the

on

Mythus,
its

Origin and

well

as

Age,

Idea

and

as

shall

we

the
now

in which
be
we
point out the way
may
to decipherit with some
degree of certainty.

author

others, that

will neither
even

conceal

after the

preliminarypoints,the path
step attended

with

from

himself

establishment

nor

of many

is still dubious, every

difBculties ; and

if

completeand

generalsatisfaction be attainable,it is at best but

is to us the source
that which
a distant goal. In
of poets and
other
of the mythus, the additions
tion
the genuine tradibe separated from
authors must
changeable
essentially
; but the mythus is of an
L

OF

SEPARATION

146

character.
fluctuating

and

elements
and

the

which

be

must
"

and

employment

we

and

without

thank

mythi

think, that the

Hellenic

of

man

great

sanguinehope

wishes

obtain

to

and

industry,

of

mythology

form

people;

must,

idea

period?

history of

the

of

The

how

and

the

were

perhaps,substitute

of

arbitrarysuppositionsand
has, in addition to this,
"

Welcker, Appendix
PhjEd.,p. 229.

to

poetry

occupation
it possible,
their

origin,

well

as

by

the external
the roots, if

avail to the science, or,

no

for this

of

of intellectual life at

state

Greeks, is cut away

as

We

treatment.

mythi,and

internal, as

rejectthe mythus

of

knowledge

ground-work

the

of these

knowledge
an

vivid

for centuries, the favourite

Grecian
a

desire such

must
antiquity,

art, were,

without

zeal

it : for

undertake

too, that mythi, as

of the

'

diflS:-

more

treatment;
rate, be subjectedto philosophical

whoever

know,

terpretatio
the in-

than

good fortune,)and
ought we to
gain it promises,the more

any

those who

at any

?"

trouble;

(which required,according to Plato,^

day,

the less clear

better

no

pated
antici-

will the

find

can

in his

we

bear.

for all this labour and

even

that

ment,
the treat-

in
regularity,

compensate
profit

cult the task,

to

richness

materials," against

the

might object,

one

some

one

author^

learned

tains
con-

outset,

the

the luxuriant

"

and

brought to

of

and

that

"

But,"

and

birth, it

heterogeneous;

us

: so

of

greatest order

the

at its

of

reason

charming variety

which

Even
to

are

variouslyin mythi

speaks with good

and

MYTHUS

object,also, is often, from

same

treated

THE

only genuine source,

chimeras.

what

Schwenk,

If

is,indeed, of
p. 338.

any
rare

mere
one

oc-

THE

FROM

in

currence

ADDITIONS

days,

our

OF

for
susceptibility

"

AUTHORS.

he
expression of religious
feelings,
in

of

most

particular
manner,
all,by the mythus.

Now,
from

To

history?

act and
our

would

think, and

to

elevation

in

own

Turn, then, your

observe
But

what

above

is

with

antiquitytends

us

no
a

reason

more

does not

to

exalt and

us

than

this,

away

humanity,

problem ?
I daresay that
the manifold

our

apply myself to
attention.
of

to

all the

learn

Our

breadth,

existence.
of ancient

And

ledge,
know-

sphere of

of ideas

and

forms

still

have

of this
it

aim

is,to obtain

what

internal

thoughtsor actions, are

earnestly

experienced

other

or

external
means

now
a

feel inclined

of

demands

ledge
rightknow-

words,

in

by

whose

still highereulogium, I

subjectwhich

mythus;

the

historical

study,will

the

the

an

mythology, and

to

on

are

others, who

attractions

to pronounce

placesbefore

the

many

themselves

devoted

must

in

the mind,

furthest from

construction

and

narrow

acquaintance

it

that

"

present into laboratories

plan

salons.

is at variance

humanize

completeness of its
mythology,of all branches

carry

entire

what

and

energy,

such

opinion,an

my

of

aspect

and

place humanity, in general,

should
also learn
epoch. We
In

notions.

novel

above

in its real nature

our

for

in cabinets
us

life,and

to actual

to

us

with

tracted,
at-

we

rather

raise

to

insulated

understand

will be

chiefly
require
act and think just as we
men
regard with self-complacency
the scale of improvement ?

goingon

now

teach

an

ask, do

attention

historyought

views, and

to

see

the manifold

and,
by antiquity,

what,

147

we

wish

activity,what
it

conveyed

to

148

lis.

We

by

slow

it ;

the
degrees,

but,

the

on

in which

form

^the authors

mythi,
"

step in the
what

who

can

with

the

it

whether

they added,

what

such

them.

by

accuracy,

authors, and
third

chapter merely

shall here

add

few

furnished

with

the

by poets

and

poetical

the

as

of

difi'erent
which

the

first outlines.

the

on

first

regarded
degree
any

proceeding,of

remarks

mythi, observed
in

of

their mode

of

philosophical

or

be

is to

separate

be

might

acquaintance

an

The

be, to

determined, with

be

only

can

its

transmitters

embellishment, pragmatic connexion,

interpretation. Now,

done

this be

therefore

must

process

how

relate

arrive at

to

to ascertain

desire

but

begin nowhere,

can

received

have

we

hand, in order

other

complete understanding,we
form.
first and original
But
We

usuallyattained, only

it

that

alreadyknow

MYTHUS

THE

OF

SEPARATION

method

of handling

historical writers,

general.
Homer^

From

of

events

Tradition

Achilles

and
of

left

were

Poets.

downwards,

the

entirelyunder

of the

thereby brought
as
lyric,

to his

took

own

from

well

it

as

the

control

to what

of the

Agamemnon

enough that it spoke

princes,and the destruction
was

the

upon

Greeks.

Hence, the

different in different authors

assignedwere
the

silent

was

thought :

wrath

i\Ye psychological
springs

as

the

discretion.

Hesiod

tragicpoet, was
iEschylus,in

merely

the

left

tives
mo-

; and

entirely

his Prometheus,

external

facts, the
"

the chainingto the rock, the deliverance

fire-theft,

Hercules, "c.

For

the

motives

of the

by

actors, and,

therefore, the internal import of the action, he drew

entirelyon

his

own
1

invention.

Comp. above, p.

Accordingly,when
24.

FROM

the

THE

Deeper

we

motives

this did not

Hercules

in

better

respect to the

by

Hercules

the hero's

regard this

to

149

as

is

friendship
tradition.

legend; but
least prevent Euripides,who
hibits
excomic
a
light,from substituting

might

in the

which

not

are

AUTHORS.

life

to

by Euripidesmerely to

Admetus/

one

OF

of Alcestis

restoration

ascribed
for

ADDITIONS

be

known

suited

to the

his

in which

manner

the

with

But

purpose.

poets

are

wont

evident
to me
that they
assignmotives, it seems
have
a
tendency to represent personal wishes and
individual inclinations as the springs of action, even
where they could not be so, according to the original
meaning of the mythus. One example, among others,
is furnished
by the Homeric
hymn to the Pythian
Apollo,which, in my opinion,was
composed before
the 47th Olympiad, previous to the Pythian Curule
Games
and the destruction
of Cirrha.
Apollo is in
to

search
that

of
he

sanctuary

is

pleased with

build it at the

fountain

him, because

eclipseher

she

monster

god

may

dragon

become

builds his

she

Tilphossius.

to go

He

beside
now

god might

glen of

that

the

hopes that
Apollo kills

it

an

considers

Cretans

Comp. Dor., vol.

the

the

but he buries under

treacheryhe

and

had

altar for himself

whence

sacrificial priests. He

filled with

dissuades

there, and
Now

to

Haliartus

to the

to know

seems

temple ;

rears

bring prophets and

'

of the

Tilphossa,whose

through,and

sea,

fountain

fame

his victim.

crag the fountain

ship at

; for

has his den

Python
and

The

and advises him

own,

than

reason

Tilphossa,near

fears the

Crissa in Parnassus

as

of

other

no

situation,he resolves

the

Alalcomense, in Bceotia.

and

seen

and, for

he

may

descries

for Pylus,
sailing

i. p. 42E),

whither

they

form

wind

of

far

as

Crissa

as

form

in human

the shore

dolphin-god,on
choral

the

if

he

and

the

his

as

worshipped

at

with
it

worship

of

introduced

was

Cretan

that these

doubt

no

the

speak of

them

but

the

from

attainingthe importance of

A third circumstance
bore

for it in

mythical.
Apollo
been

known

It

and

by

the

that

'

have

same

at

Crissa.

hymn,

form

the

given out

also

any

had

There

connected

that

less certain

no

far

was

the

Pythian temple.
of AeXcplvios,
name

The

is of

been

here,

places,and

it is

is the ancient
at

might

in that

priests;

traditions

sanctuary of the latter settlement

Apollo

amply

inhabitants.^

in both

that

which

is

Ocalese, did

strangers are

Apollo

by

and

we

Crissa

vestiges. Secondly,Apollo was

the Tilphossa in Bceotia; and

native tradition
be

first

of Apollo at

also, in the territoryof Haliartus

can

which

legend,the

Pythian sanctuary. This fact

supported by the agreement of ancient
historical

priests.

circumstances

in the

with

to

his Parnassian

to

in the service

of

son

himself, as

to

them

of this

the formation

is, Cretans

discover

into

the

his servants

leads
up

there

them

to

raised

consecrates

search

we

influenced

; and

south-west

Apollo

as

be

step of the Psean,

sanctuary, where
Now,

altar to

an

with

ship in

the

board

presents himself

reveals himself

; commands

Zeus

He

of traffic.

for purposes

by laying himself on
dolphin; drives her

terrifies them
the

bound

are

MYTHUS

THE

OF

SEPARATION

150

foundation

thoroughly

course

related at

brought

signed
as-

Delphi,that

thither the Cretan

have
might, with equal justice,
other

place where

appellation. But

Apollod., ii. 4,

11.

Plut.

if he

the
was

Lys.,28.

god
also

was

wor-

FROM

THE

shipped
that

as

the

quarter?

ADDITIONS

OF

AUTHORS.

Delphiniusat Cnossus/ who

name
was
brought to Delphi
The

fourth circumstance

character, viz.,The

phossaunder

sudden

rock?

was

of

151

doubt

can

from
a

that

physical
the Til-

disappearanceof

Now, from these circumstances,

the tradition

naturallyarose, that Apollo himself, in

the form of a dolphin,led his Cretans to Crissa, ^for
which accompanied
they were
taught,by the blessing
without the god, and
them, that they had not come
that he had intended
to make
Tilphossium one of his
sanctuaries, perhaps his favourite one, but remained
satisfied with erectingan altar there ; for what time
"

"

and

skill effected,became,

of the

deity.

change

in his anger

The

as

mythus

usual, the will and

saw

the

ground

act

of this

againstthe fountain, which was

manifested
plainlyenough to the eye of faith in the
sudden
Thus
far, I
disappearance of its waters.
think, did the legend go.
Now, the poet does not,
properlyspeaking,make any alteration in the matter.
He
only placesApollo'squarrelwith the fountain in
and finds,in his personalresentment,
the fore-ground,
the reason
why he preferredPytho. Hence, the
in realitythe cause
of the whole,
Cretans, who were
there
to be regarded as having come
naturallycame
lead
This single example may
the
by accident.
curious inquirerto observe how poeticalrepresentation,
tradition, and sacred history,stand
religious
related to each other, and how they might all be disentangled
from

The

influence

still more

was

'

Chishull,Jn".

'^

I have

one

another.

of the

poets,and

deeply felt

of the poets

in another

Aslalt.,p. 134.
remarked, Orch., p. 47, that this

point.

is stillthe

alone,
When

case.

152

SEPARATION

we

to

for

us,

mythology,

the Grecian

survey

MYTHUS

THE

OF

instance, in ApoUodorus,

obserye

we

occasional

gods

isolated

throughout in

act

even

chief individual
the
alone
not

heroes, such

same

part.

produce

this

observed

In

invariablyexhibit
the

same

; and

name

of

goddess

differences

might

The

indeed

from

ascendancy

less

the

promoted

time

the

that

ideas
that

is served

figuresas

being

In

she became
indeed

the

by

who

she had

In

prevailedin

old

goddess

been

Greeks.
in
the

gends
le-

sion,
general diffuand

gibility
intelli-

Attic

mythi,

Agraulian virgins,

presided
the

cially
espe-

remarkable, but
the

the

the three

general

latter had

the

great clearness

former.

more

mutual

communicated

districts,is very
the

of

sanctuaries

been

those

over

Athena, who

as

the

reconcilingof

The

partlyeffected by

the

which

partlyby
of

Homer

of

easilyexplained,partlyby

and

bore

All-mother

possession among

of individual
not

be

have

common

poetry obtained

he

Arcadian

the

national

but it must

means,

Apollo,the

Artemis.

by

by poetry,
become

any

totally different beings, although

were

intercourse, and
repute

originallocal

in the

the sister of

all called

were

could not

character, when

same

fountains, and

Ephesians,
they

the

The

certainlywas

it

but

deity did not, by

the

Hercules, always perform

as

extent

same

character.

same

uniformity;

these

traces

compilersof mythi

The

the

to

traditions.

the

disregard

we

half-obliterated

and

parts.

narrow

same

if

everywhere appears,

tain
cer-

all its

and correspondence in
jiniformity
Except in the theogonic portion,the

circle of deities

presented

it is

as

over

of

agriculture.
dom,
practicalwis-

already represented

in

FROM

THE

Hereclea^

ADDITIONS

of

scarcelyhave

being furnished

the

that character

could

ground

some

Succeedingpoets
track, and

same

of the

153

date, which

mythus.

in the

AUTHORS.

without

case

the

by

still further

went

ancient

more

been

OF

goddess which

posed
presupmost

was

in the treatment
vividlypresent to their minds, even
of mythi, where
it had been quite differently
conceived ; for example, these old Attic mythi themselves.
The
Grecian
people in general,at least
where
could
not
well
diflfused,
poeticalculture was
imagine her god-head in a different form from that
in which
been
described by Homer
it had
; and the
that standard, only
older ideas which deviated from
of
left behind
traces
them
obscure and enigmatical
their existence
and

dark

in

ancient

some

This

local traditions.

of poetry

led

Herodotus

other

must, however, from

influence
astonishing

the

to

ceremonies,

names,

assertion, (which
of

statements

that Homer
author, be greatlymodified,)
had

made

for

the

gods

their

and

assignedto
of

the

their

each

his office and

were

not

for, as

we

have

on

their

Now,

art.

the

to

wit.

Hesiod

as

forms,
a

Even

ter
mat-

of poetry to

local traditions

alreadyremarked,^

exempt from the influence

culture, poetry

same

theogony,given to

predominant tendency

produce uniformityre-acted
themselves

and

determined
appellations,

this

course,

Greeks

the

of the

with

these

prevailing

those

among

the Homeric,
indigenous,
legendswere
the poetic idea in general,crept imperceptibly
or
of those which had been locallytransmitted,
into the room
to them
and the mythus assumed
a
perfectly
such

whom

'

Dor., vol.

i. p. 543.

p. 47.

form, although they did

new

to the

and

Alpheus

above,-^in the ancient

the

proceeding on

were

remain

Alpheus
be

shown,

; in

the

than

more

it may

with
be

and

the

that their

passion of

legend,as
the

local tradition

was

her

perhaps nothing

was

latter,also,

for

much

internal

from

which

aims

at

which

such
in

case

P.

any

have

directlyopposed

to

produced.

were

altered

traces

and

poets.
ing
result-

scientific process
alterations in any object,

of

carefullygive heed

75.

even

Every

prevailingin poetry,

view, most

were

chaste

rule of method

the

hand, if it is in the

should

them,

undoing

alterations

local traditions
notions

discover

course

pursue

the

the

prevalent among

so

observation.

this

longer

strivingafter uniformity

the

to

easy

amour

her.

transformed

or

agreement

It is very

that

; nay,

discoveringher guilt,must
death,

to

Artemis

can

mythus,

perceived that Callisto, after her

Jupiter,and the birth of Areas, could no
with

coy

among

currency

but in the

be

So

the

stated

was

one-sided, the

poeticalfable

goddess, on

must

obtained

it
Callisto,^

of

case

connected

put

also

she

that

prevailingnotion,

the

mis
Arte-

been

accordingly. Here

altered

by

idea

unrequited;

was

modified

the

become

must

has

pair, as

followed
it necessarily

Thence

love

mutual

example

legendof Elis. But the poets,

representationsof a particular

worship, established
virgin; and this idea
the Eleans.

tionally
inten-

contrihute

not

give an

To

change.

MYTHUS

THE

OF

SEPARATION

154

main

by
I

that

by

Applied
certain
of

means

to

that

general

shall, in treatingof

other

ideas

to the

come

latter,and

p. 15.

into
ac-

FROM

THE

cord them
older and
up, after

ADDITIONS

OF

AUTHORS.

155

higherrank than the former, as being

could not spring
: for theycertainly
original
the others had become
generaland predominant.
a

Secondly,With

regard to mythi

handled

by

the

cient
an-

Historians, I must

spread
a widebeginby contradicting
prejudice.Ordinaryhistorians,often otherwise
not uncritical inquirers,
are
quiterejoicedwhen they
find in Herodotus, or even
Thucydides, an express
notice regardingthe destinies of a tribe in the olden
in their works
time, and enter it, accordingly,
as
in Pausanias
pure fact. If,on the contrary,they meet
the same
a mythic intimation
on
subject,they shrug
their shoulders
childish fable, and imagine
at the
that

no

But

quite the

then

the result ; the

grave

to be

the
as

author
reverse

handed

those
to but

such

as

meddle

with

historical

legend,although it

down

remarked

the

Herodotus

source.
was

should

it at

statement

above,

no

earlyages.

his

happen
commonly
possessed,

successors

peculiarmemorials
They

had

garding
re-

apply

to

none

from

mythic, partlyderived

were

is

did not

till afterwards, is
and

all.

dition,
tra-

Even
partlyfrom poeticalelaboration.
to the
as
a judgment can
now
very often be formed
I select an
in which
they made use of these.
way
example from the Dorians,^ just because it has of
Herodotus
late been senselessly
assailed.
that
says,^
from an earlyperiod,the Dorians and lonians were
and

"

the chief
other

races

of the nation, and

of
the former
Pelasgic,
the former
an
aboriginal,

the latter of

origin; the latter

migratorypeople :
1

distinct from

Vol.

i.p. 21.

for under

Deucalion's
2

each

Hellenic
a

sway,

1. 56.

very

they

in

dwelt

Phthiotis, and

Herodotus

the

of

son

Deucalion, and

unfolded,^ as if it

has

he

tries,at the

that

the

Dorians

the father

are

also

the

proper,

Myrmidons
in

former

of the

name

that

Phthiotis.

not

in

proceed
he

that

led the

people

had, in another

the

lonians

sovereignty,and
in the

have

But

He, therefore, merely makes

to the

Pelasgi,and

taken
His

from

been

with

is

to

search

in the

elsewhere

modern

same.*

preside

successor

over

iP.

94.

95

^olus

viii. 44.

of

their

general.^

rejectas

ApoUod.,

VII.

9,5.

race.

his brothers

themselves.

course,

have

contrary,

Hellenic

whereas

come

name,

to

the

on

real

to

new

seems

Dorus,

for dominions

119.

VII.

and

the

cause
be-

Pelasgi.

of Hellen

son

son,

to

could

Xuthus,

adopt

kingdom,

mythologist must,
3

them

from

across

Hellenes, but
this

Ion, his

regard

preciselythe

continues
He

of

that

notion

makes

mythi with

to the conviction

come

way,

the

as

historian

with

manner

not

were

the

have

must

connected

similar

calion,
Deu-

primitive Hellenes

further, Dorus

was

must

to

of the

the

Hestiseotis,he

place

As

thence, although this is

mythi

Hellen

succeeded

tion
posi-

must, in his opinion,

Dorians

from

the

the

Hellen, dwelt, accordingto the

of

come

in

only stated

Hellenes.

pure

mythi, in Phthiotis,^ the

have

Iliad ; and

the

establish

to

and

adduced

truth, although

than

time,

Hellen,

of

Dorus, Xuthus,

of

historical

same

perfectlyclear

already

recent

of

son

Olympus,

genealogy

been

more

the

and

is

It

father

an

were

it is,at all events,

that

Dorus,

the

employs

tEoIus, which

and

under

Hestiaeotis."

is called

that

MYTHUS

country skirtingOssa

Hellen, in the
which

THE

OF

SEPARATION

156

i. 7. 2.

The
erro-

FROM

all these

neous

OF

AUTHORS.

157

of Herodotus.

deductions

He

can

nothing farther than the elements

inquiry,that is when strippedof what does

avail himself

the

ADDITIONS

THE

"

belong

to

it

what

Olympus

Ossa.

and

dwelt

If

This process of

penetrate,in this

we

spiritof

their treatment,

we

enabled

to derive

instruction from

the

selecting
no

means

other ways,

and

into the

is

at Hestiaeo-

is by
investigation,

is available to the

arbitrary.

not

followingposition,viz.,Dorus

^the

"

said, in ancient tradition,to have

tis,near

of

of

shall

even

be

torian
pragmatic his-

and

tain
philosophicalinterpreter;and thus obcompensation for the want of other and better
of

sources

they

otherwise

were

representationand
and

than

more

been

had

tises

both

their

drawn

handed

down.

it

be

is his than

traditions,and

the

from

their
selves
them-

nothing
the legendswhich
Ephorus pragma-

however,

concatenation

the mode

mythi

additions

Where
seen,

the

on

wished, if
found

to

men,

elucidation

considered

can

doubtless

honest

conclusions

most,

further

For

mythi.

as

that
of the

nothing
mythic

of

understandingthem ; as
in the story of Apollo'sgoing from Athens
to Delphi,
and killingTityus and the tyrant Python, surnamed
the Dragon.""^ All these actions, and even
the path
ancient legends,^
of the god,were
only Ephorus adopts
and regardswhatthem implicitly,
ever
as
regularhistory,
is at variance with them
as
poetic form.
Nothing,however, but the most specialinvestigation
can
completely unfold the laws that regulate
the representation
is separated
t}i\8process by which
tory
from its materials, and a no less circumstantial hisof poetry in general,as well as of such other
"

Strabo,ix.

42.

j)or.,vol.

i. pp.

269,

33,'5.

158

works

as

were

would

TO

in any

way

be

of

task

whether

of that which

in numberless

to the materials

be

may

careful

more

be

The

to be

critical

turns

ancient

the

to

much

while

tion,
ques-

even

out,

mythus

on

"

tendency,therefore,

by another, whose
understand
the legend in its

everywhere directlymet

aim

it is to conceive

true

import.

and

CHAPTER

How

cases

to the

poeticalornament,

examination,

genuine tradition.
must

can

particular thing belong

some

or
representation

to be

sources
criticising

merely give a conjecturalanswer

can

jects,
sub-

mythic

on

it stillremains

And

be complete ; that
by itself

never

employed

required.

observed, that the

it

RESOLVE

HOW

resolve the

to

XI.

Mythic

Materiak

into their

Original

Elements.

We

go back
the

reduce

to the

mythus

it
always subject

which

it received

to

generallaw,
to

its

in order

originalform,

treatment

from

that

the

the ancients.

must

we

of

converse

Now,

to

that

it is

that duringantiquity,
the
thing quiteunquestionable,
tendency prevailedto unite traditions, for the purpose
of

forming them

into

connected

wholes.

have, therefore,firstof all,to dissolve and

We

destroythis

connejeion.

What

number

and

varietyof legends,far

from

THE

MATERIALS.

MYTHIC

159

embodied
were
by
origin,
the epic poets in Heracleas, Argonautics,and NoV!
How
writers, strove
Toii
prose, as well as poetical
order and continuityinto the deeds and
to introduce
of heroes, and the logographers
to bring
adventures
akin to each

other at their

the traditions of

dependence !
that

to

be

ascertained
that

the

strenuouslyat
materials,
much

the

How

important here

so

the

same

are

in these

that

for the union

branches

!^

of the

tribes

lying behind
as

influence

people

Greeks
on

would

rent
diffebe

the

indeed, having been

from

name

that these

gods,

generallyturned

mount,

which

all the poesy

this fact

to the

them,

been

instruct

These

Pierians,

therefore often held to

same

nation

must

with

all the

necessarilybe
were

cultivation

aliens,such

garded
re-

an

of the Grecian

impossible. Afterwards,

expelled by

Orchom.,

might

of the

muse-inspiredPierians

and

the

entire

have

'

; and

for, if they

the

superiordeities

Olympian gods.
and

one

their

all the

I think

indebted

of

of

more

district
immediately-adjacent

althoughcalled Thracians,
be

still

singlepoint,that

to dwell

from

same

are

process

perform will

to

receive

the sacred

emanated
we

have

we

combination

and

is this

their first steps into the

us,

latter aimed

which

on

poets said

descendingfrom

Greeks

the

Hesiod

and

Olympus

of Pieria, the

little else than

distinctly
appreciated.

more

of Homer

muses

existence

by

^the task

"

whose

another

union

previous

preservedby literary

has been

flourished

reasoning,and

in mind, that

bear

we

poetry which

now

of

if

mutual

agreement and

district into

But

records, there
can

pp. 381, 385.

the

Macedonian

160

EESOLVE

TO

HOW

Pangseum,'^
refugetowards mount
barian
the barthey became, by degrees,utterlylost among
it was
But
tribes.
through their poetic
kings,and

fled for

strains, during the

that

the

ment,
intellectual refine-

of their

era

Olympian

the seat and

became

mount

sembled
they asgod, around whom
into one
of the other
great family as many
within the sphere of their knowledge ;
gods as came
vention,
inof arbitraryfiction and
not, perhaps,by means

of

court

the

supreme

which

everywhereforeignto

were

but

them

derived

the

for
truth

as

But

which, from

but

the

mythus,
reality.

and

and

notions

by actingon their own

unitingand blendingwith

belief,and
elsewhere

materials

of antiquity
susceptibility

also been

have

must

those ages,

received

further,not merely poetry, includingthat

cient
an-

dynasty of bards, but popular tradition itself,

always followed the same
tendency to jointogether
whatever

traditions

people adopted
with

nay,
and

"

with

the

with

settlers

the

circumstance

absence

above.^

received

were

All

legendarycircle.

'

Herod., vii.

'

their

Comp.

Canne's

Greeks, Intro.,p.

Thuc,
valuable

41-46.

in the

into

teach

gether
to-

not
us

design

tribe

own

on

rumours

long-established
be otherwise

that
^

ii. 99.
remarks

of

country ;

the

this could

examples

112.

taken

Neighbouring
mythi ; new

traditions of their

alreadyexisted

numberless

ness,
readi-

willing faith

which,

and

remarked

engraftedthe

a-far

Grecian

utmost

and

eager

mutually exchanged

those which

ancient

of creatingmythi, bringsus
facility

been

has

localities

and

most

The

to that unconsciousness

which

from

the

confidence,

back

of union.

admitted

in liis

it

was

so.*

P. 52.

Mythology of

the

THE

Stories had

MYTHIC

doubtless

and

regionsof

Greece

and

the tumult

and

had

filled the minds

were

united into
was

MATERIALS.

been

devised, which

eastwards

or

with

which

the

the

tion
story of his expedivance
to ad-

graduallymade
lengthit extended to
was

until at

god

before these traditions

men,

whole,

of Bacchus,

the advent

intoxication

cities

in many

current

about

of

161

Separation,therefore,is one

of the

business

main

India.

discover
of which we
mythologist
; by means
continually
how
the most
easilymaterials, of originally
different kinds, when
reconciled
once
they became
and modified by the mythic form, could be brought
into conjunction,
and
This is
regarded as a whole.
the case
more
in genealogies,
which
we
especially
seldom follow for any lengthwithout being led
can
into widely different spheres of the Real and the
Imaginary. And here, too, we must guard against
the error, by no means
in its occurrence,
of as-;
rare
suming the highestlinks in such a genealogyto be
the oldest portionsof the mythus, as if it
invariably
These
were
always formed from above downwards.
those which were
highestlinks are often precisely
added
last,after every place had been filled up with
the families to which the mythus pronames,
perly
among
belonged.^ Let us examine, for example, the.
Elean genealogy,as it is givenby Pausanias, Apol-

lodorus, and

Conon.^

Aethlius

the

son

of Zeus

Protogenia,the daughter of Deucalion,

have been the first who
reignedat Elis.
who

was

of

beloved

was
fiftydaughters,
'

Comp.

Paus.,V. 1,

Welcker's
2.

Selene, and

called
Note

on

to

and

is said to
His

son,

whom

she bore

He

had three

Endymion.

Schwenk, p. 328.
5.
Con., 14.

i. 7.
Apoll.,

162

HOW

Epens, Pseon,

sons,

obtained
the

at

this,retired

the

the

pursued by

daughter

the

Eurycyde,
Augeas,

whd

cattle.

Of

had

Aethlius

the

of

until

is

restored

genia,the

and

Locrians

their

descent."

the

On

the

Latmos," the

on

to

which

'
^

an

early,and

I claim

Carian

therefore

for the

ApoL, iv. 57.

Bookh, Explie. Find.,

ancient

of

Deu-"
is said

this

Protor

Lelegic races,

contrary, the
had

mount,
very

mencement.^
com-

Proto-

after

From

Epeans, botb

Selen^,.who

of

sonification
per-

pian
Olym-

of their
son

Endymion, (accprdingto Hesiod

^avdrov,)the. lover

that

weight

Aethlius

wbich

games.)*

the

of much

of mankind

calion's flood, (subsequent to

have

of

games

indication

some

race

been

even

by Iphitus, although

is called

new-born

the first is

else than

nat

were

revived

Aethlius

genia," the

had

nothing

Iliad contains

the

traced

he

Atof aeOXa, the

the

importance

to

named,

:^ for it is evident

Hesiod

by

Zeus,^ which, however,

even

here

persons

of Zeus

son

of

son

fatiber of

and

Endymioiv

allegorical,
although

most

already mentioned

or

by Eleus,

treasury and the great herds of

the

all the

of

was

Epeus

when

Now,

succeeded

was

Apis, and

slew

he

because

obliged to

also

was

of the latter-

childless,he

died

the

^Etolus

sons

chagrin

river Axius, in the direction of

to the

wanderer,

victorious

been

Paeon, filled with

later Macedonia.

become

he had

because

kingdom,
Olympic games

first of whom

^Etolus, the

and

the

at

RESOLVE

TO

mortal
im-

*v avrSTc^i^tas
a

secret

tuary
sanc-

longs
manifestlybe-

obscure

Leleges ;

worship,

for Pedasa,

Schol.

XI.

"

Bockh,

699.

O. ix. p. 1 91.

O. iii.p. 138.
*

Etymol.

"

Paus., v. 1,

M.

adX^eau
4.

THE

and

iximber

MATERIALS.

MYTHIC

of other

163

places encompassingLatmos,

habitations of that people.^

period,
The
ancient Epei, also, as has just been remarked,
tion
were
Leleges;and among them, indeed,,by the addiand preponderance of the pi'evailing
worshipsof
the Greeks^ Endyraidh must
of his
have lost Moek
ahd descended
ancient dignity^
from his godwhead to
at

were,

the rank
had

remote

of

At

hero.

children
Jfifty

by

Elis, he

Selene

was

said to

doubtless,

liitiarmonths
remarks,^the fifty

of which

have

Bockh

as

the

pic
Olym-

The
of Endymion,
two
sons
cycle consisted.
of
Epeus and. JBtolus,; exptes^ the atwsient affinity

the

two

mythi: bnt,
from

Eleans

the

as

frequently mentioned
viewed^AexV

land

of both, the iEtolian. must

home

coiftmon

is

which

races,

then"e, in order that

wards! returned

the

with

he

might, when

Dorian

in
the

as

have

fled

he affcerr

expedition^resume

Thfe
inheritance^,
patrimonial
his flight
of
from the avenger
reason
assigned,was
in epifi
which
blood,-^an event
constantlyrecurs
mythology. But the person slain is no oth^ than
the Peloponnesus personifled,
Apis,whose father was
said by the Argives to have been
Phoronens, the
the Arcadiana^their ancient daemon,
flist mari,^biitj-by
be terdious to inqjuire
lasion.*
It would
(and ber
h^w
the Pseonians
sides, ii is not here necessary)

the

possessionof

his

could
If

we

be esteemed
cast

justgiven,we

thingsare
'
^
*

kindiJed

race

to the above

Retrospectiveglance on

the

shall

tmited

two.

analysis

perceivethat three very different

in tbiffgenealogy,
viz. :
aii almost

Straboyxiii.611.
See above, p. 4.
Comp.
Paus.,i. 2, 6.

"

Dion.

lb.,p.

Hal., i. 61.

138.

HOW

164

allegorical
personage,
and

RESOLVE

TO

To

personifiedtribes.
of

mythus
with

the

He

Augeas.
for this

rest

these

ancient

historical
the

poets, in accordance

the

adapters substituted

'HXetos; but'HXtj,

'HXetos,was

even

the

the

legend to the son

genealogical
in this way
vvas
Augeas linked

and

"

But," it will be said,

all this

resolved

by

this

an

organized body

means

of

numberless

to

for it

to

and

life of the

something like

to

that

the

alogy.^
gene-

mythus

primary elements,

well be called

destroysthe

Eurycyde

into

atoms

do, you

an

as

incipient

atomical

process,

To

mythus."

as

back

come

insulated

is

but,

exhibitingcoherence,

inquiry ought

may

of

be the result of

can

decomposed

unconnected

This

points.

is

into its

given

name

livingconcrete

discoveringand

scientific

every

what

"

The

procedure?

instead

place of

in

tradition,called the father of the hero,

or
country itself,

by

connexion

merely,that

reason

the

also added

are

brought into

was

"HXios, the sun-god,whom

with

generalcreed,

the

deities from

jection,
this ob-

followingrepliesmight

be

given.
First. Even

that

degrees,ought

of the

treatment

to

be

mythology

become

matter

fruitful and

rendered

The

tion.

manner

in the Schol. Ven.

a

very

old

thing of

the

which

in which

no

significance

science.
must

II. 1, 367, the

reading.

The

by

mythi

more

the traditionary

cannot, in it

instructive

by

the historical

even,

be

applicar

proper

modified,

were

and
Comp.Stra.,viii.346";

ETPXKTAHinPaus.

"J. is

to

cultivated,the smaller

is

only arose

rejected,in

mythus, as

perfectlyindifferent

and

'

not

which

connexion

ErPTHTAH

Etymol.M. 426, 29,

and

Conon

THE

wholes, by authors
much

and

entitled

in these very

and

various

copiousmaterials

our

new

attention

their

as

of their

origin. Nay,
modifications,which mythi

causes

changesand

experienced at
most

the

into

by populartradition,is

even

demand

to

first beginnings
and

165

constantlycombined

strung together,and

as

MATERIALS.

MYTHIC

times, there
for the

intellectual cultivation

found

to be

are

historyof

the

religious

of the Greeks.

Secondly.But it is the beginningsinto which it is

here our
ledge
especialbusiness to inquire; and the knowof which can
alone give a correct solution as to
the manner
of that gradual transformation.
They
cannot
which
possiblyhave stood in the connexion
unfolded
was
by degrees,and must be extricated from
it as far as is practicable. But this is by no means
not
for
result, even
Baying that a connexion
may
them, at the close of the investigation
; and perhaps
one
more
simple and beautiful may be found in them
than that which arose
by progressivedevelopment.
Thirdly. But this analytical
process should not on
be so regarded, as if the great object
any account
to resolve the mythus into its smallest possible
were
constituent
parts. An arbitraryseparationof this
extent, would
nature, pursued to its utmost
even
those

dissever
very

first.

mythus

It

cannot

elements

is

which

plain that

well

take

were

the

united

from

resolution

place unless

of

assisted

the
the

by

rightunderstandingof it,and unless three pointsare

in order to its complete interpretation,
determined
did this

viz.,Where

By

of what

means

subjectwas
With

or

that

persons

particularmythus

and, In relation

arise ?

to what

it formed?

regard to

the

first

point,it

is evident

that

166

mythus

every
other.

Even

obtained

TO

must

have

though

RESOLVE

in
originated

have

time.

The

been

ascertainment

of the

business

in the

is of

mythus,
of

afterwards

became

of this

pkere, the localiza^

course

an

essential matter

those which

other, from

each

In

united.

most

inquiries. We

region speak
founders

that

tains, become

objects.
Grecian

any

mythus

in the

and

who

to those

personages

the home

for

foun^

dwell

rso

"

gatheredfrom

that

countries,too,
Greeks

reached

in actual
of these

back

ideas

sun,

Comp.

often

formed

purely ideal
history of

first

the

beginning of

geography, in

which

nothing correspondingto
experience,found a definite place.*

.Ethiopians,who
'

country in

are

the

that had

appears

of the

legend was

of the

themselves

the

to

were

graduallyconnected

objects,"imaginary races

nations, as

of

invented

also devised

they

notions

ideas and

of nine-tenths

everi/ notice

proof

the ancient
which

be

take

not

These

things,

real

mythic

must

there.

Many

such, celebrated

as

The

heroes.

place. Hills, and streams,

traditions may

we

them

place are,

dwell in any

who

native

ancient

In this way,

but

world

Those

does it

them, and feel the peculiarinfluences of these

beside

as

of their

of any

legends of

for

immediatelyconcern

more

to

answer

an

Whom

only to ask.

have

it is not

cases

the mythus itself furnishes

difficult,
as
our

which

separatingthose elements

originally
belonged to

first

for the

somewhere

uttered

it

widely diffused,

became

and

plaoe or

some

its appearance

after

soon

general belief

it must

tion

HOW

to have

of

been

men

the

with

Vblcker's

the Greeks

Myth,

of the

existing
with

case

long figured in poetry

before

as

became

Japet.,p.

with

58.

the

bours
neighhistoric

THE

MYTHIC

MATERIALS.

167

Now, it would be
callyacquaintedwith black men.
quiteabsurd to regard the mythus of suoh a peopleas
to themselves,
and in this sense
to speak of a
belonging
idea of this
Hyperborean mythus. The fundamental
mythus is that of a pure and sacred peopledevoted to
the service of Apollo,and living
in the farthest north,
but yet under a mild and serene
sky; for the north wind
only beginson this side of them, rushing fdrth from
dark

mountain

caverns

the

nearer

not, therefore,have arisen from

had

god
at

ApoUinian
said

was

that

Apollo

there

people ;

at

also established

was

alone

worship, and

which

known

were

the
of

spoken

are

to

It

discover,at

can

at

and

that

these circumstances

from

from

it sprang

find its explanationin the

must

difficult when

more

it is evident

spiritualconstitution

and

we

idea.

mere

Delphi,whither the
from the Hyperboreans ;
come
were
thingstold of gifts
many
Olympia, where the worship of

sanctuaries:

have

to

Delos, where

from

and

It is

its local habitation,this much

several

it could

knowledge, however

the earth's surface.^

of
slight,

south

in

ife

foreignand distant lands,

the mythus, reallyexisted,

the Greeks

at

development, although they might

in the tradition.

history

decision

The

thereof.

this

For

the

of

matgriaUy

be

in this

time

two

case

its
guised
dis-

things

might happen. First, An Hellenic legend may, by

been
the gradual enlargement of its circle, have
brought

into relation to

ferred to it,as

certain country,

on

the

trans^

done, I think, with the ArgonaUtie

was

expeditionto Colchis, and the

which
in Libya-^legends
were
ptoducts

or

baiiks
'

of the

Dorj^ tol.

abode

of the

far from
Phasis

i. p. 294.

Gorgons
being native

or

at Mount

HOW

168

Atlas.

The
in

whether

mythus
that

was

dation
its first foun-

had

also have

may

acquaintancewith

an

it

RESOLVE

TO

distant

the

habitants,
of its features, its in-

accounts

mythic form,

the

that

gods, assumed
mythi, already in existence

ears

of

received

and

the

its

Greeks,

of

legend to

may

"

in such
Greek
The

both

namely,

way,

mythus

Now,

in

it cannot

It

case.

barbarian

the

is necessary

portion of

the

country

natives

; and

on

mythus

are

not

the

native barbarian

for

of

expansion

legend.

instance, had

merely

found

its

for this reason,

there

god

called

worshipped with similar orgies.

beforehand
general be determined

suppositionis

which

what

was

adoption

the

that

of Alexander

who

Mahadewa,

as

limit fixed in India,

that the army

of

imagined in combination;

expedition of Dionysus,

extreme

their

into

be

by

met

was

or

the

to

came

^the reference

"

foreigncountry, and

foreignlegend

there,

were

Even

legendary sphere.
Grecian

and

country,

"

correct

in

one

particular

the

inquire,on

one

hand,

mythus actuallyexisted
belonged to the tradition

in the

the

to

other, whether

to

be

found

be

occasioned

of the

the roots

somewhere

of the

in Greece

itself.
Much

error

may

expression,

"

earliest

prevailsin

which

of, and

little heard

by

cosmogonic legends were

mythus

have

had

themselves
be

shown,

without

its

mythological work

which

the

intended

betray it.

now

theogonic

to

be

more

and

cially
espe-

is, properly speaking,

:
locality

originsomewhere,

seldom
was

First, there

denoted.
no

dinary
by the extraorcality,"
mythology without lo-

for it must

although its
But

much

of

surely
contents

it,as

local tradition, especially

at

can

ancient

sanctuaries.

Other

added

most

the

by

bards.^
these

it is

But

mythi
than

sense

MATERIALS.

MYTHIC

THE

composed and
portions were
the Pierian,
ancient, particularly
no

on

be

can

called

this,that they

of the

the head

proof

of their

to be

account

of

treat

not

in any

other

the earliest ages

of their

system does

conceded, that

oldest

the

least,the circumstance

at

169

standing at

now

afford the

superiorantiquity; and

slightest

the

ancient

native

legends of Argos, Athens, and Boeotia, from

the fact of their signification
being so obscure, and
their contents
various, ought in general to have
so
the preferenceaccorded, in conformitywith the principle
above.^

laid down
So

much

with

clearlybrought
the next

in

out

case,

one

that

earlier

an

the

mythus

continued

mythi belong

Boeotian

By

It

Whom
not

was

to

the

Thracians,

are

from

most

of

almost

all

not

Peloponnesian legendsante-Doric, and

from
other races
those of Thessaly derived

migrated thither

many

Attic traditions

the

Thessalians, who

so

How

ancient

and

of

entirely
left,by means

not

exist.

to

to

populationwho

were

Minyana ! how many

ante-Ionic
Pelasgians! and

Cadmeans,
the

scattered remnants

some

proceed

may

expelledby succeedingtribes,yet

of which

to

we

If this is

historically-knowninhabitants

the

district,but frequentlyby

but

Where.

originallyformed

mythus

always by

were

the

to

decision
questionwhich reqiiires

the

was

regard

than

the

Thesprotia?

separationmay be often effected,as in Athens for

example, the ancient traditions of the Erechthidae
from
those of the lonians.*
be distinguished
can
A

'
'

See

the

Comp.

Appendix
MinervcB

on

Hesiod.

Poliad.,

c.

1.

Dor., vol. i. p. 265.

P. 60.

HOW

170

But

this must

be

not

to be

supposed

tradition

As

easy matter.

RESOLVE

TO

is

thing that lives,and

receives

growth, development,and renovation,

mouths

of

those

by

legends and

ideas

been

with

united

latter

of the

those

of the

legends will
The
the

appear,

legends, too,

and

whose

history is naturallymore
of

that

entire

introduced

family of
the

the

into

.^gidse

-^

merely in

was

Euphemus
that

the

should
We

from

what

general way
But

it

can

'
'

needs

take

come
as

it

yet upon

the

Euphemidae,
Argonauts in all probability
For

Libya.

possession of Cyrene,*

the

was

of

two

be asserted

must

we

with
327.

have

Argo

Libya.
be attended

connected
originally
;

although it does

consideration

under

the

why

the back

graduallyunited

Comp. Oroh., p.
above, p. 83.

See

plexed
per-

much, for example,

resided

separate what

became

not, indeed,

and

which
the third point,

to

and

obscure

sailed round

transportedover

to in order to

individual families,

the circumstance, that their ancestor

must

come

been

but for the

and

constrainingcause

be

to

Spartan mythology by

have

never

have

to

races;

royalfamily of Cyrene, the

would

it

the

isolated

them

turn

we

seem

How

everythinghere depends.
was

in

more

enigmatical these

propagated merely by

formed

than

of the

only preserved

anxiously should

more

suit the

to

tone

strange and

more

Many

account.

be

the

and

race,

therefore, be supposed,

originalspiritand

that the

traces.

It may,

the
have

must

remodelled

and

of the former.

character

earlier

in the

down,

inhabitants

new

variouslyaltered

ancient

it is handed

whom

and

simple

in

such

already discussed.

confidence, of
Dor., vol.

i. p. 373.

great

THE

number

MYTHIC

MATERIALS.

of

existing
legends,that ttey refer to a definite
and were
formed
object,
expresslyfor it. One

relates to

mythus

old usage, another

some

regulationof public life,a

of

and

god,

171

its usual

cient
an-

an

third to the festival

attendant'

representations.

accountingfor the origin of these

thingsstill existing. The mythology of the Greeks
everywhere exhibits traces of this strimngat ea?plan-"^
This itself must
ation.
have given birth to n^ythi;
of the age to clothe even
for it was
the spirit
opinions
They

all aim

to

at

of

in the form

narrative

it is that those who

of actual

and

occurrences:

between
distinguish
mythi and historymust frequentlyregard a custom
of some
as
a
or
mythic event,
consequence
usage
althoughthe latter in fact sprang from the former.^

hence

it is to

But

such
on

be

that

understood

to be

account

that

seen
distinctly

whatever;
could

subjectsto

not

arisen

they

were

no

other

they wanted
their

as

own,

well

no

the

to

them

or
"

circumstances
had

become

Oomp.

Canne's

real tradition
notions

contain

the

stood
longer underclass belong,in
abound

the

as

Hebrews

language ;
which

to

in

the

but

as

compare

capacityfor philosophical

did
and altogether
reflection,

enteringinto

own

tongues with
as

often

early period,to

very

in their

of words

derivation

well

as

be

can

import. To this
which
false etymologies

in their true

the
particular,
mythi ; for the Greeks
applied themselves, at

is not

prevaileduntil

and

relate

It

upon

mythi

many

nay,

which

based

are

of

correctness

tested, and

pre-supposed.

they

have

the

be

mythic explanationsmust

any

which

cannot

not

which
so,

possess the

of
faculty
either foreign

were

their attempts

Myth. Intro.,p.

46

sqq.

were

but

seldom

Thus, every

successful.

^AwaTovpiafrom
there

"deceit,"

regardinga houndary
and

Boeotians, which

the verbal

in

separate,as

far

of

found

hovered

with

from
explanation,

the mind

of him

even

carried

place

cityTeos
the adverb

founder

in

has been

Athamas

derived

"

have

of that

sake

etymology;

heroes

of that tribe.^

The
in

The

of

name

But

invented

Teos

for

was

of

the

for

no

one

something

will call
was

'

Pherecyd.,40.

'

Schol.

fallen.*

city

"

the

the

the

city.
sole

talaria

This is surelyabsurd

it

by

some

one

St.

Juvenal.,iii. 117.

the

sole of the foot" because

there lost from

p. 160

of

one

to

here

the

this

of the Cilician

name

ceived
re-

certainly

was

has, among
others, been referred
from
Perseus'
which
foot, {rapirog,)
said to have

the

manner

historyof

Tarsus

are

event
on

childish

Athamas

and

peopled by Minyans,

grafted
en-

itself forthwith

been

for

be

significant
play

therewith.

connected

historyassuredlycannot

reflected

long,"^and

so

only

mythic

who

mythus.

the

reeoj

The

the sound

; and

sound

it will
is

name

merely

on

portionswhich

general

of the

derivation

the

In

for

introduced

was

those

before

from

what
possible,

mythus.

the

Ionic

as

earlier

or

name,

it is

so

"

an

on

example,

"

traditionaryorigin.
that

originatedin

logical,
point not merely in etymoexplanatory legends altogether to

but

are

in this

essential

of

the Athenians

have

not

tion
tradi-

genuine

between

war

As

the purpose

are

could

explanation.

throughout an

and
corruption,"
although
erroneous;
"

the latter

with

is interwoven

received

commonly

of TIvOiov from

the ancients

will, we

now

one

that the derivations

think, admit
among

RESOLVE

TO

HOW

172

Comp.

Steph.B.

and

Ordi., 399.

Tdgeog.

THE

it

might

founder

be

MYTHIC

MATERIALS.

Bupposed

of Tarsus

173

Perseus

that

called

was

the

suit this

etymological
conceit.^
not the case
This, however, was
certainly
;
the contrary,aU the ancient Argive fables relating
on
to Perseus, as well as to the wanderings of lo ; and
the worship of the former were
naturalized at
even
Tarsus.*
The
honoured
Argive Hercules, too, was
there, as Archegus,with the burning of a funeral
gends
pile;' and there can be no doubt that all these lewere
brought to Cilicia by an Argive colony,
established through the agency of the Rhodians.*
It
is obvious that here the etymology was
grafted
merely enthe alreadyexisting
fable, and may be as
on
late of invention

and

new

merely to

genuine ;

remark

fables

of

also

the mythus
resolving
laid

of

must

all this it is obvious

From

the

on

the chain
observe

was

of

that

a
"

races

and

it is
of the

influence

depends entirely

What

stand

course

how

much

of this

each

formed

in many

mythus,

here it carries

us

trict,-^that this narration must

other

cases

fall with it.

or

stress

ought,in

into its original

elements, to be

determination

to what

all such

logical
etymo-

fabled for its sake, and

"

the derivation

old and

was

the

far the

what is
etymology extends
what
is independent of it.
on

latter

appliesto

Mycense.^ ,In

inquire how

to

necessary

which

the

as

reallyexistingobjects;

and

we

if

Now,
cases

we

we

ence
referfollow

shall

to another

away

have

families, ^that now

"

point,viz.,in

dis-

with
originated

it relates to other

shall have

no

hesita-

Ammian.
Solin.,38.
M.,
Lucan, PharsaL, iii. 225.
de
Hist,
v
ol.
ii.
I'Hahl.,
Raoul-Eoch.,
p. 125.
*
Or.
Dio.
See,particularly, Chrysost., 33. Comp.Eckhel,
Anecd., p. 80. Vdlcker, Myth, of the Japet.,p. 210.
*
'
Dor., vol. i. p. 130.
Dor., vol. i. p. 129K.
1

soon

xiv. 8.
Num.

174

HOW

tation

different occasions

ligationd"es
in

those

in their nattire, with

the

thol(^y.

manifold

ihe

Greeks

fevourite

of the

gods

substantial

and

comparatively speaking, a
complete knowledge of
must,

origin;
in

and

be-

of my-

in

trofh^ a

the religious

known

to

us

from

have,
descriptions;we
very comprehensive and

their

state

it is obvious

thousand

was,

existence

their festivals,
are
priestho"ds,

of their

which

theme

it

; but

Greeks, their sacred places,

of the

notices

mythic

is connected.

my thus

va^iotts and

gefvice

The

contemporary

not

the

all otherSj the

observances

their

which

of real and

matter

importance of becoming

4"f
religions
woirship'

abdte

camej

attention

not
existingobjects,.

doubtless

were

inves*

consideringthe

acquainted with

was

higher unity.
third point,ouir

indicate

also called to the

has been

These

further
rise,proviiied

gave

not

which

things to

those

keeping separate

in

But

RESOLVE

TO

at

that time^ if

that this knowledge

places,render

assistance

and
direct it into the
mythologicalinvestigation,
Add
to' this, that these very references
rightchannel.
has been shown
to the service of the geds,^
as
above
extremely faint
by various examplesi^become
in the narrations of the poets ; for they repeated tbe
inythuS as a pleasant and ingenioBs story,without
about
its strictly
giving themselves
any concern
radical ingrfedientsi
When
read now*
for in"
we
had two wives,
staflce,in ApoUodorus,that Athamas
the second
of w'hom
plotted the destruction of the
to

other's
was

children

consulted

herself

had

and

on

caused

'Pp.

that

account

when
of

by parching
14 Bq., 49,

the

Delphian god

famine, which
the

r4sq.,

78.

she

seed-corn, she

MYTHIC

THE

MATERIALS.

the oracular
obtained, by artifice,
of

them

manner

linked

take

place

Whereof?
the

This

at

there

was

Minyans,

the

left him

ancient

an

of Athattias

of the

other

none

to the

as

when

the

subject

when

sprang

he learns that

of Zeus

in the

than

the 'sacerdotal

he has taken

from

l^nd of

and
sacrifices,

will also
the

race

into consideration

great varietyof legends which

mythus

and

course,

requiredhuman

this sacrificial observancCj he

the whole

for and

mythus, scarcelya single

in its poeticalelaboration.

worship

which

and

miraculous

accounted

But

evident

becomes

once

likewise involves the Wherefore

formation
been

one

sacrifice,from

natural

the

that

for a tale
probability
that events
requisite

it is not

in

which

that, too, from

be

to

nothing further.

desires

vestigehas

the

as

up

sufficient

which

in

romance,

reader

of

everything seems

together with

should

or

offered

response,

fate, however, they escaped in

which

of

be

must

175

turn

upott

perceive that

worshipjand

not

all this, it
mythus.^ From
to me
there can
seems
Scarcelybe any doubt, that
the historyqf the worshipsof the Qrecicm gods is the
auxiliaryscience of most importance to mythology,
well be disjoined
from it,in treatingof
and cannot
rooted
the latter,althoughit is itself only partially
in mythic soil. It must, therefore, form part of our
task to exhibit a distinct view of that subject also,
tention
atwithout, however, bestowing an equallyminute
the history
on
every point ; becausej after all,
is merely subsidiary. I have only to
of the religion
of the mythological
remark, that the correctness
method
hitherto developed,stands quiteindependent

the

worship

the

from

'

Orch.,p.

lei

sqq.

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

176

of the correctness

outset, inasmuch

at the

of

the existence
is
interpretation
how

this belief

niythus generallypresupposes

the

as
a

into existence.

came
originally

XII.

CHAPTER

Adminicular

AuxiUa/ry and

it

which
well

as

as

nations, can

other

from

manner,

here

historian must

and nature, which

In

2.

ancient

which
with

the

hence

by

and

richlyendowed

man,
'

lay at

natural

was

by

times

existed
other

it became

whom

it

was

circumstances

vincing
con-

of

am

clusions
con-

opinion,that

the

pre-supposing

hyperphysical livingworld
the

bottom

of every
the

to

necessary

menon,
phenomind

of

nature.

this belief

in constant

cherished.

was

mutual
the

personal and

therefore, has its foundation

and

the Greeks,

impressions,and

activities of
as

Essence,

deduced, in

satisfied with

rest

assumption of

that the

; and

hending
all-compre-

divine

among

be

sensible

built thereon

that

in the

find in the earliest times

we

Beligionand

Greeks.

impossible that

pervading belief

and

the

on
Propositions

Bymholism of the
1. I consider

gods, and its

by the question

belief in the

little affected

but

laid down

here

to be

of the views

ciple,
livingprinrelationship

human

mind,

individual
Its

in the

of individual

as

and

those

particularform,
particularnature

nations and

tribes.

ON

RELIGION

SYMBOLISM.

AND

177

3. To

of the
communication
suppose an original
first rudiments
of faith is inadmissible, for this
reason,

that without

"

it cannot

faith,even

for
susceptibility

be

at a time when
the
imagined,especially
was
Spiritual
onlymade manifest by sensible images;
and because, moreover,
have no ground whatever
we
for assuming,that belief in the gods was
only the
growth of some
one
particular
spot. Besides, it

be

must

taken

into

early antiquitywas
within

the boundaries

of

entire

people rests. For, were

that form merely from
be, what

it

imparted to
if it

what

upon
of

that

any one to think of deducing

the conditions and influences

that determination

was

to show

the human

assume

mind

determinate
certainlyis not, somethingquiteinand merely passive. But how
itself,

in

it

constitution
spiritual

of external nature, he would

to

smaller

form of
particular
tion
of peculiarcivilisa-

is,in fact,nothingelse than

the

even

in later times.

explain,therefore,why
is found
a
people
among

foundation

in

confined

more

nation, or

To

belief

cultivation

generallymuch

communities, than it was

4.

that

account,

the minds

direction

and

of nations,is a

at all within

were

at first

problem which,

provinceof philosophical
history,does not certainly
belongto any individual
be the inquirer's
chief busibranch
ness,
of it. It must
in the first place,to make
himself acquainted
come

with

individual

their

precise nature,

the

of

modes

faith

theitr

and

worship,

peculiarand

in

internal

essence.

5.
modes
We

Now,

we

find

in ancient
find there

greaternumber

Greece

than

in any

of such

other

peculiar
country.

greater varietythan anywhere else,

N

178

not

of

name

the

choose

we

mind

in the

the riotous
marked

which

ter

sombre

times, in

merely

some

did not
of

perhaps,no

worship

of

should

have

said that

in different

birth

moods,

which

of

and

essence

them.

from

the

the

same

acter,
char-

the

require
It

same

they certainlycontinued
in

ship,
wor-

among

it would

produce

the relation in which

sometimes

Greece; and

these kinds

that

they sprang
as

of the

service

scanty honours.

their

reason,

different moods

to

artists,but

and

simultaneouslyarisen
to

that, too,

consequence

that

widely in

individualities

be

indeed

the

in

were,

deities, although many

but

conceived

be

tribes, for this

different

worship

poets

of any

state

teresting
in-

view.

diflferent cities of

all the chief

so
differing

same

of

ApoUo

most

united, and

them, doubtless, received

7. It cannot

of

of the

our

religiousbelief, and

templesthroughout the
was,

joyful,and

service

few

measure

in the treatment

also in the

there

but

different modes

6. All these

not

the

deep

of Deme-

that

serene,

presented to

contrasts

later

which

the

which

the

Bacchus,

by

awe

shall have

birth, we

by

those

in

utterance

of

worship

energeticfeelingsto
gave

find

characterized, and

was

excited

emotions

the

legendsof the gods. If we call to

revelry
delightand soul-intoxicating

the

melancholy and

"

which

"

whatsoever

feelings, or

give to

to

particularfaith,

forms, and

and

thoughts

worship, but

of

forms

external

the

of

merely

also

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

minds.

might
minds
to

give
But

they actuallystand

lity
resistance, exclusion, nay, almost hostimust
have been the
each other, which
towards

is that

case

to

of

still greater extent

they operated much

more

in

earlier times, when

powerfullyupon

the mind.

ON

8. Neither

can

the Grecian

well suppose

we

179

SYMBOLISM.

AND

RELIGION

worships

belonged,as those of India appear to have

for we
civilisation,
done, to different periodsof religious
to another,
one
a transition from
very rarelyobserve
a
or
change of one into another ; on the contrary,
tence.
exisin simultaneous
to continue
they are all seen
Altogether,there cannot, perhaps,be found
a
singleauthenticated instance of any considerable
worship having disappeared in the palmy days of
and families by which
heathendom, before the races
to have

it

observed

was

9.

This

agrees,
with

had

died

the

in
great diversity
the

on

another

other
fact

partitionand

hand, in

some

country.

remarkable

of the nation

subdivision

physical condition

If,with this,we

also connect

promiscuous habitation

and

of

Phrygians,we

co-existence

of

worship, particularlyif
the

Israel with
circumstances

continued
10.

If

result,the

it

was

exclusion

and

to
a

we
as

was,

of the

numerous

tribes,and

the

their

country

same

nations, Thracians, Ca-

so

producing

systematic; but

the

shall find sufficient

Greeks,

that nation

religionof
from,

one

other, though kindred

for the

into countless

relation to the

these

rians, and

manner,

circumstance, again,doubtless

migrationsand expeditionsof
with

worships

Grecian

equallyundeniable, viz.,the early

individual tribes,which
bore

out.

an

different

many

the

contrast

instance

an

opposite
indeed,

grounds
kinds

people of
of opposite

result.

more

of

simple

The
and

onlythrough their separation

of, all foreignnations, that it

exist for thousands

of years.

general view of the subjectshows this

vestigatio
proofs are suppliedby every separate ininto the historyof the religious
worship

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

180

tricts,
Every deity had his favourite disin which he was
even
usuallysaid to have been
the ancient legends peculiarto such a region,

of the

born

Greeks.

of him

other

deities,particularly
Dionysus, it

that

they

into

in

manner.
especial

an

their

made

the country at

collect all the

specifiedtime

sanctuary revealed its

one

traces

of

Apollo

Thrace, all the sanctuaries

Poseidon

worship of

shores

in

indulge confident

nor

the

every

hopes

thic
my-

north

of

Boeotian

Argos, and

from

Corinthian

we

service

probablyaltogetherfrom
and

Saronic

of the

not, however,

must

another,

obscure

of Hera

we

by which

invariablyderived from the

'Op'yia of Dionysus from

was

if

; and

be, that, for example, the

may

Thessaly, the
the

from

descent

faint and

shall discover, however

penetrated

allusions

and

intimations

stated

was

and

appearance

some

respect to

With

spoke

gulfs.

the
We

instance, presuppose,
of

discovering,such

of the deity may

unityof origin; as the name
or
heterogeneous
very general in its significance,

local
be

elements
A

be

may

in

judgment

in it from

comprehended

singlecases

he

must

its

grounded

origin.
on

dence
evi-

alone.
11.

It is manifest

Olympus,
every

and

the

tendency

and

every

not

the

from

all this,that the Homeric

artistic world

of the

talent,found

originalform

human

of

mind,

its ideal
of

Grecian

gods,
every

in which

activity

was
representation,

worship,but

was

gradual process of union ; for, in the

first place,every citygathered into a cycle the gods
whom
the tribes inhabitingit had introduced.
Thus
Amphiotyon, who united the inhabitants of Attica
into one
people,is said to have also invited the gods
created

by

ON

to be his
a

RELIGION

AND

guests ;* secondly,the Greek

natural

therefore, of
them

181

nations, from

desire to conciliate the favour

adored, and
reared

SYMBOLISM.

course,

of

where
gods else-

believed

in,

and pracdisposition
tice
which
much
were
encouraged by the national
sanctuaries, such as Delphi ; and, lastly,the poets,
especiallythose ancient bards of Pieria,^ always
brought into more
perfect harmony the occasional
tion,
members
of the divine confederastray or struggling
and defined and established the poeticalcharacters
of individuals,according to the requirementsof
the whole, as well as in conformity with the ancient

temples to

also

local creed.
12,

this

But

must

we

Homeric

union

not, on

cycle

of all the

of

any

account,

gods

contained

accredited

bard, doubtless, took

deities

his

imaginethat
a
complete

for the

ancient

particular
spot in Greece, and assembled what appeared to possess
from that point
as
seen
weight or significance,
Had
of view.
the Arcadians
arranged this group of
should
divinities,we
scarcelyhave found Artemis
should
representedto be the sister of Apollo ; ^ we
rather
have
found
a
Despoena; and probably the
mede,
PhigalianEurynome, as well as the Phliasian Ganyalso have found
would
a
place.
When

13.

we

stand

this,and

take

into consideration,the
of the
to

increase.
in the

name,

Grecian
I

have

stances
several other circum-

and
multiplicity
continue

already hinted,*that

several kinds

Min.

Pol., p. 1.
Comp. Dor., vol.

some

worships

regularsystem

denotes
1

local

at

i. p. 390.

of Greek
of

the

sity
diver-

visibly
same

quently
divinities,fre-

worship widely dif2

See p. 159.

"

10.

ferent
the

Zeus, who

the

different from
Achaians

and

of

Other

; and

gods

sphere of

ought not ideas of even

to be comprehended in

wherefore

daemons

subordinate

Pausanias

Thus
the

Argive
and

Chthonia,

temple

the

goddess Demeter

here

it is

that

Chthonia

with

met

for

the

Minyades

This

worship.

earliest and
every

",^but

oldest

Pherecydes,
Minyas, Persephone,*

elsewhere

are

and
multiplicity

of local

that

relation.

same

perfectlycompatible with
the

built

indeed, is frequentlyto be

latter name,

Clymene, Eteoclymene,

14.

latter

by inscriptions,^
herself,and Clymenus

Demeter

was

standing in

the

called

called

Hermione

at

instance, calls a daughter of

whilst

the

that

Pho-

perfectlyestablished,even
The

Hades.

and

the

local traditions.

daughter

and

son

merely

Argolis,that

in

Clymenus
to

also in

often

heard

had

; often

heroes

or

deus f

into

down

gradually thrust

were

general mythology, but

roneus

Hellenians

Zeis,Aew,
as
generala signification

so

dued
sub-

originally

was

Homeric

of the

Zeus

diversified character

the most
name

mystic ceremonies,

and

with

in Crete

worshipped

was

perceivethat

it is easy to

; and

in their nature

orgiasm

in

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

182

and

For

always

Periclymene.

however,
diversity,
certain

the

has

are

originalsimplicity

more

ideas, the

worship, which

almost

we

return

do

more

historyof

we

its

to

find
own,

expressed the religious

originally
feelingwith a certain
and was,
in many
degree of generality,
respects,
sufficient for the tribe by which
it was
practised.
and
But the particularcharacter
individual occupation
of the tribe,speedily
gave it a peculiardirection,
'
'

Dor., vol.
Dor., vol.

ii. p. 405.

Paus., ii. p.

i. p. 414.

P.

119, St.

35,

3.

ON

in which

RELIGION

it

AND

SYMBOLISM.

183

lengthinto poetry, after having

The
modifications.
undergone numerous
worship,
not based
therefore, was
on
physical or ethical dogmas,
insulated philosophemes on the world and
or
on
of the Divine.
deity,but rather on that generalfeeling
The

at

came

of nature

powers

the Beol of the

in nature
and

established

dexterities deified

is

; but

into

supported

of the
Zeus

by

even

alive

revealed

were

talents

individual

alreadyexistinggods,
We

worshippers.

further

any

the

Oeol,but

to

presidedwith protectingcare

activities of their

enter

faith

neither, perhaps,were

active themselves,
the

exalted

not

were

this view

which

names,

here

cannot

investigation
; but

their

over

are

chiefly

generalsignification.Beside the Argive

placed"Hpa, probably the ancient feminine

most

was

Aecnroiva, sovereign
"ipws,a hera, or heroine.
the title given by the Arcadian
to his
lady,"was
verential
goddess of Lycosura, who was worshipped with reThe
Athenian
awe.
virgin" (IlaXXay
of Athena, just as Perthe entire name
sephone
"AOrivaiij)
was
called the Eleusinian virgin,
was
(Kopa.) To
next
linked, expresthese, predicatesperhaps were
sive
the pride they felt in
of the people'slove, and
of

"

"

their

deity.
rich in

Ancient

Greece, indeed,

appellationsof

Thus, the

endearment

that

bride

the

ingly
exceed-

was

to

its Madonnas.

Naxian

worship
'ApiaSvn the

assignedto Dionysus,was simply called

called his ancient tutethe Arcadian
lar
well-pleasing;"
beautiful ;" the
goddess KaXX/o-ra, the most
"the
Phliasian had his VawfitiSti,
heart-gladdening;"
his Bpirofiapris,
sweet maiden,"
and the Cretan
or
"

"

"

"c.

Or

the
'

deity even

Comp.

Welcker

received
on

his

Schwenk,

name

p. 343.

from

the

18*

AUXILIARY

character

of his

PROPOSITIONS

worship ;

called Bacchus, from

and

the

his sacred
15.

the

from

it does

there

with

the

which

would

presupposes
withdrawal

of

be

the

there

In

at

reduction

of the

deities stood
of

discord

between

Demeter

and

leadingto

different

individual

was

in

was

"

could

"

the

those

those
a

the natural

to

after

aim

worships,which

general creed, the

other

whole.

as

in the

only for

the

council

of

popular belief,under

exalted

sumption
as-

prin-

constant

members,

higher unity.
up

principles

harmony

formed

They

Hades, existed

and
Spiritual,

in relation to each

body.

sprang

head, who

In

as

unity.

unity

together into

members

well

as

hand, from

to

antiquity.

length grew

nature.

faith,they always strove

fact, such

Grecian

and

deitythroughout

pluralityof

always

removal

of

in

the other

of every
and

it

experience,avoid

was

-ciples;although,on
concentration

worship,

as

the risible world,

from feelingand
scarcely,

tendency

of that

traces

saw

sometimes
conflicting,

that

external

religiousfeelingsfrom

manifestation
significant
constantlyobserved a meeting of
sometimes

the

regarding

perly
pro-

Greece.

of

worship

in every

with

at

monotheism,

abstraction,

of life in

forms

16.

was

follow, from

scarcelypossible;

Greeks, who

ancient
aU

Bacchi,

resounded

which

the foundation

certain

was

notions

lay at

monotheism

The

the

unnamed,

means

any

ancient

the

speaking, in
world

shouts

by

not

remarks, that

Indeed,

frenzy of

was

procession.

But

these

the festal

Nysa

of

god

lacchus, otherwise

Eleusinian

denominated

so

the

as

real

as

spective
re-

the
The

case

purpose

gods
a

of
of

wards
after-

supreme

divinitywhen

he

ON

became

RELIGION

AND

identified with

SYMBOLISM.

universal

185

fate.

And

the

to

still left as the

the Aal/xwv was
religiousfeeling,
unpersonifieddeity,which lay at the bottom of all
personifications.
17. A livingand natural faith is, perhaps,from
its inherent character, constantlydrawn
in opposite
directions.
mind of earlyantiquity,
To the believing
deity appeared,on the one hand, so near, so friendly!
it sat with
toils and

speaks

pleasures,and
to

But

man.

if it

kept

before

between

mind

the

his

and

own

and

he

soon

have

of

gods

received

tendency,the

one

and

was

other

and

ancient

other

well

Dionysus.

gods

of

tribes

and

the

of the

endeavour

means

at

to

meric
Ho-

of the

the
In

and

world

Greeks
a

similar

therewith, the

the

if,by

which

obscure
as

knowledged
ac-

dark

in consequence

connected

; and

he

express

most

of deity,stand
universality

each

gion,
reli-

which

which

prevailedamong

individualize,and

the
with

as

their form

somewhat

to

by another,

in, inspiringhim with

whatever

in the service of Demeter

way,

prevailsin

It is certain, that if most

him.

man

the infinite difference

man

incomprehensible in himself,
around

as

destroyed all

to
mystical feeling,

in his

him

that divine nature

led to choose

was

idea, which

believed

and
reverence,

this

counteracted

not

were

him

with

conversed

mythology,must

every

table, attended

the votary at

dency
ten-

hend
compre-

antagonism

of the former, the

districts

were

almost

brought down to the level of humanity, so the Divine

and
Imperishable was vindicated by identification
with Destiny.^
18. The
peculiareffect which these oppositeten'

Comp.

the

MythologicalEssay

in

posthumous
Solger's

works.

186

dencies must
is

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

perhaps

have

most

seen

of Zeus.
of

The

who

sends

the

world

He

is the

^ther,

in the

ner
man-

the

on

together,
the

same

time

proper

sense

of

dwells

in

rain, is at the

of the

tvpofold

clouds

gathers the

lightningand

word, God.

tion
representa-

deity. For,

supreme

god who

great governor

of the Greek,

in the miud

clearlyin Homer's
poet has evidentlya

conceiving this

hand, the

one

produced

greatest that

tiny
: he
imposes desgods and men
All thingstake place in order
; his will is fate.
that this will may be accomplished.^ It is the same
deity who, according to the transcendantlybeautiful
and sublime
fable in the Theogony,^espoused Themis,
the moral
und physicalgovernment
of the world, and
by her begot the Destinies.
Eurynome, likewise,
bore
to

the father

the Charites, who

to him

form

every

of

of life.

He

who

religion,genuine, true
Moses

and

only

are

feelingor

is

the

in

In

must
aflfairs,

clouds
of

manner

and

Zeus, when

human

dark

the

poesy.

livingand

'

See

V.

in vain.

nise
recog-

him

have

But

these

active

sqq.

and

Zeus, highest

in ^ther

"

him

viewing

fact, it could

he interfered
have

at

god, and

Od., iv. 207;

901

"

It

which

peculiarly distinguishesthe

once

everything,and, therefore, could

a

here

not

religion,for

beginning

prayer

means

predominates
such

charm

intense
an
expressions,in which
of thinking finds utterance,
customary mode

greatest in

Homeric

and

grace

isolated
a

by- no

does

prophets written

in the

as

and

the

lend

v.

137;

in

be

not

the

be

and

of

settled

imagined

least of all

ix. 52;

; for

confusion

solved
not

so

as

xl, 559,

an

"c.

as

epic

ON

RELIGION

AND

SYMBOLISM.

personage.

As

but has his

palace on Olympus.

of

and

gods

such, then, he does

family,to which,
gods,subjectto

tie

Zeus, and

19.

The

scarcelybe

can

of the

people in

the

of
the

other

the

However,

the

of

important

duties

of those

the

ter, according to

kings of
lost their
most

the

part,

the

administer

Not
the

heads

of

community.

at all

authority;

events,
of the
and

it

truth, that the kings

much

kings. DemeHymn, taught the

priestswere

Homeric

service

of

their

tribe

and

of Priene
^aa-iXeis'EMKwvioi

the

Panionian
but

country's
continued

sacrifices of Poseidon.

every

subordinate

union

in

togetherby the bond of religion.

in earlytimes
no
family of consequence
was
its form of worship, which, accordingto the

state,

but had

the

side
pre-

her

merely states,

There

the

orgies; and when the /Saa-iXeii

they still retained,for the
political
power,

Eleusis

gods;thus,
to

the

that

as
priests,

were

"

also

nations, one
in

tribe

any

governed

religionwere,

just as

first

to all the

8acri\eis in the

less warlike

said with

the

as

life,would

the

especiallyamong
be

who

religiousobservances

private,and

may

those
of

families in

most

considered

beginning,common

concerns

services

in the Home-

one

deitypeculiarto

and

wisdom

Supreme Being.

tribe ; and

their

over

the

on

worship

members

proper

resulted that extraordinary

strike every

must

from
naturally,

was

extended

maintains,^his

hence

; and

of reflection

glimmer

the father

widely

very

strengthand weakness,

of

ignorance,which

not

is not

Besides, he is,like all the other

fate

mixture

Poseidon

as

is restricted.

sway

of

but

men,

inhabit ^ther,

not

He

187

was

held

history of
particular
1

the house,
II.,XV.

was

p. 197.

either that of the

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

188

cityand people,or
in

both

peculiarto

one

when

cases,

itself. The

family,

attained

general

worship

its

particularoccurrences
of
gave occasion,^ ^mightobtain a publicpriesthood
themselves
the same
distinguished
; for, as families which
in the art of predictionwere
intrusted with
the office of prophet at national altars,(for example,
the lamidae
at Olympia,) so, it was
considered, that
the service
maintained
those who had long carefully
of a god were
best acquainted with it,and that their
skill should be turned to the advantage of the whole
community.^
within the historical period,family
20. However,
repute,

event

an

"

which

to

"

less

priesthoodswere

administered

community

than

numerous

their

through

regularlyappointed priests,to whom

often assignedas an especialhonour.'

or

was

there

ever

in Greece

was

in

opinion, cannot

my

contrary, however,
in actions

which

forbidden

to

priestsin

Greece

and

short

more

the rites

(such as
'

See

"

Attic
3

consisted

to

of

in

the

the

skill and

atonement

the

office

But, that

have

point which,
The

itself

shown

order, but

the

duties

were

of

the

utteringsometimes
;

much

accuracy
of

fices
sacri-

offeringup

all kinds

for

established.

one

prayer

performed ;

were

importance
with

which

ceremonies,

blood,)which, however.

p. 101.

Min.

II.

the

Now,

other.

Pol.

and
ii.,

Process, p. 472.

Comp.

all be

less solemn, wherein

or

above,

Comp.

at

doubtless

simple form

attached

was

belonged to

the

laity,is

to

must

magistrates,

speaking,
priesthood,strictly

in contradistinction

the

those which

V.

78, vi.

300.

the

concurring sentiments

of

Meier,

ON

RELIGION

intrusted

were

AND

at Athens

SYMBOLISM.

the

to

189

Ephetse, who

were

regularpriests; the chantingof hymns, although

this was
usuallythe business of public choruses ;
and occasionally,
prediction. There is nothinghere
pointing out a separationbetween priestsand laymen,
not

as

by

all these functions

who

persons

even

to obtain

from

time

meter

and

which

Dionysus,
but

once

coffers screened
the

under

caused

with

dark

things,not by

the

on

account

no

priestsor
while

there

which

the

kept

were

of the

doors

vessels

were

and

; but

all this

shrinking awe

of
striving

the

be

priestesses,

or

secured

tapestry,and could only be

conditions

same

by

few

; and

worship

of the

could

a-year,

closed

temple were

sacrifices

in the worship of Detime, especially

to

even

art, in order

indeed

were

might

one

any

other

any

livelihood.^ There

performed except by
often

priests; thus

prophecy,like

on

carry

not

were

exercised, in all ages,

were

was

bols
symin
seen

merely

for these

holy

priestsafter weighty

important privileges.

and

the contrary, there

nothingin ancient
maintained
like a sacerdotal
Greece
discipline
by
instruction from
generationto generation, nothing
the priesthoodsof
like permanent relations between
the priestsof one
and
different cities ; for not even
21.

On

was

"

the

same

members

sanctuary constituted, in the strict sense, the

of whole.

I will,confine

myself to Eleusis,

example ; and yet certainlyit is there, above

that we
all other places,
might suppose a kind of
Demeter, accordingto
hierarchy to have existed.
in the Hymn, instructed
Celeus, Tripthe account
tolemus, Dioclus, and Eumolpus, the princes of the
as

an

See, among

others,Solon.

Fr, 5.

v.

53.

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

190

which

most

were

solemnization
is

which

of the

invitation

an

The

Hymn,

holy things of

the

view

to

also in the

and

festival/

sacred

sacrifices

those

performance of
pleasing to her,

Eleusinians, in the

Eleusis, is evidentlydesigned to representin what

existingrelations derived their origin

the goddess ; for the attempt to explain and
from
and
for extant
account
long-established
usages is
to be perceivedin it. The Eleusinian princes,
chiefly
the

manner

therefore, must,

time

the

at

community

and

of the poem,

tenor

Eleusis, with

that

independentcity,a voXis,^and
Athenian.

not

afterwards, for the

the

historical
of the

member
a

number

of the

indeed, advanced

first

the

entire

the

some

former,

that

what
to

came

in

Thracian

the

Muses'

the

ev

their

Eleusis

lay around

Helicon, the

worship. Afterwards,

became
fieXirea-Oai

Comp.

V.

Comp.

Chandl.

ii. 20, p. 601.

generallyreceived

very

150

only a

274, 476.
78,
Inscr.,'p,

n.

123.

was
.

tion,)
tradi-

birth-placeof
the

contrary,
subordinate
matter,^
on

sqq.,

or

pidse
Eumol-

neighbouring Thrace, (forEumolpus

which

'

of the

out

more

from

'

the festival

things. Originally,the

denotes, a familyof bards, who

and

rank, as Hierophants

name

called

for, in

become

Triptolemus;

certainlynothing

were

out

had

Athenians,

of

to the

of sacred

showers

died

only the Eumolpidse,and

pretended descendants

an

princes must,

Attic commonwealth,

stillfind

we

the

Eleusis

times, when

observance

state

of

part, have

most

time

its festival Eleusinian,

families

The

loftywalls,

its

still at that

was
(Cyclopean fortifications,)

the

whole

the

also clear, from

it is

lived,

rites for

sacred

the

still administered

have

bard

the

when

y.

99.

Philostratus, Soph.
i.

ON

RELIGION

AND

SYMBOLISM.

ail4 the /cjoa

to.
(paiveiv,
lepa SeiKvvvai

191

office

an

was

of far greater

importance; wherefore Eumolpua, in

extolled
the
proud family legends was
even
as
founder of the festival altogether.The second office,
that of torch-bearer, was
for a long time held by the
rich and
influential family in which
the names
of
Callias and
Hipponicus alternate.
They also, perhaps,
from
Eleusis ; for they deduced
their
came
their
and, in like manner,
originfrom Triptolemus,^
priesthoodwas regarded by them as a high honour :
hence, Callias the Second fought at Marathon, decked
in his sacerdotal
out
insignia; but these Daduchi
at the same
time, generals,statesmen, and
were,
ambassadors.

When

priesthoodwas

transferred,as

the

Lycomedse,

had, from

to

to

families of

there

Ceryces,or

that

one

the various
this account
can
priests,

1
*

The

sqq.

find

origin,that

and
of

in

heralds

mere

ancient

the latest

they ought

these, (to t??

mysteries :

be

so

Hieroceryx,properly

but the

to

access

question,whether

the

on

four

times, administered

of the

the

Athens

of

; one

celebration

ceremonies

but

priests.^
Hieroceryces. According

were

was

certain

Poseidon

others,however, had also free

easilyanswered

Xenoph. Hell., vi.

We

Christ,as
43

the

of its members

called.

so

at

Cauconian

it consist

the

down to
fivcTTiipiwTiSos,)
the service

hereditaryoffice,to

an

Demeter

did

family were

account,

one

extinct, the

period,performed at Phlya

remote

assuredly neither
third

became

race

family of

mystical sacrifices
The

their

whole

by

to

be

one

any

on

called
who

is

3. 6.

Lycomedse

as

Daduchi

at

least

200

years
the genealogies.Min,

from
be reckoned
may
But at page 44, N. 2, for j". C"r.

read

a.

Chr.

before

Pol., p.

acquainted with
Now,

is,the
de

right to give,according to

jure sacro}

But

that
i^vji^ris,

Ceryces,an

and

EumolpidsB

the

possessed,especially

council, and

justiceand

of

could

how

together

formed

families

these

that

Ceryx.

the

Andocides

historyof

the

it is true

court

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

192

custom,

responsa

who, descended

those

pursuingdifferent aims in civil

with guarding the ancient
each contented
life,were
of their birth and family, and keeping up
privileges
the

and

different races,

from

by

like

has

could

laid to their

been

The

of other

creeds, and

Herodotus

of the

the

and

relations.

here avoid

fluence
time, the in-

operation
The

hood
priest-

least, for they

of influence.

I cannot

in these

naturally

necessary

destitute of all

means

systematic

place

to

them

saying something

also

on

merly
subjectof Mysteries, in defence of opinionsforlaid down.^
institutions
Mvtrrtipiaare initiatory

the

; and

main

the initiation,by
in

in it.

to consider
to the

age

how

thing

who

would

In reference

how

connected

of which

means

worship

concern

and

took

and

altering

"

and

and,

of what

times,

certainlycontributed
22.
the

which

concert

thought

later

wants
religious

of altered circumstances

were

have

consistent

of Homer

of the

out

grew

in

changes

the time

between

they

charge in

religionand mythology
manner

mated
priesthoodani-

and actingin
principles,

how
particular,

in

fathers, form

of their

usages

'

Lysiasag'. Andoc,

With

these Volcker

by
"

no

10.

concurs

is

pate
partici-

have

had

this,we

have

at

to

totallydifferent

are

those

even

them

otherwise

of the institution,and

both

with

means

Andoo.
in his

the

no

once

questionsare

as

that of the

worship,
necessarilyfound toDe

Mi/ster.," 116,
of the Jap., p.

Myth,

371.

ON

RELIGION

AND

SYMBOLISM.

gether; but, on the contrary,the

other only in particular
cases.
well
times

from

Megara,

as

the earliest

the whole, the

legendsconnected with
the sacred rites transplanted
the same
to Sicily'^
were
with those of Attica, but the latter only became
an
ordinary CereMvarrypia; the former remained
alian worship. Now, in order that a worship might
be converted
into Mysteries,two thingswere
less
doubtFirst, the worship must have sunk
necessary.
whether
this
back into a sort of mysteriousobscurity,
caused
were
by external circumstances, especially
attached
the subjugation of the tribes which
were
of the
to
it, or
merely resulted from the nature
are
commonly found in
worship itself. Both causes
The worship belongedto a remote
combination.
age,
and
to tribes whose
ascendancy had passed away,
and the Cabiri ;
is exemplifiedin that of Demeter
as
;

and

rises out of the

Thus

Demeter

Eleusis, honoured

as

one

193

on

its usages, therefore, became

strange,and

almost

pugnant
re-

A certain unrefinement.
defined
prevailing
hung around the symbols preserved in

to the
terror

the

inner

fxe'yapov

as

well

as

the ceremonies

{opyia,

TeKerdt) performed by skilful hands; the sacred

almost only whispered in the ear, and
legendswere
the strong expressionof natural things,which almost
contrasted
ment
with the refineappeared obscene when
of

more

advanced

and which
civilisation,

in all thes,eavopp^ois,whether

raised the

to
mystic feeling

sayingsor

vailed
prebols,
sym-

still higher pitch.

of the genuine myspeculiarity

terium, that the longingto share in it arises in those
the worship does not belong by inheritance ;
to whom
it is
But, secondly,

"

Dorians, vol.

i. p. 416.

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

194

and

ces,
awakened
by particularcircumstanfeeling,
institutions of this
only evinced for some

this
was

of

deisidcemonia

The

nature.

the

and

Athenians,

who
navigated the
superstitionof the Greeks
why
Pontus, were
unquestionablythe main reasons

the

Eleusis

should

and

alone, of all the sanctuaries

the Cabiri, have

Lemnos)

(together with

Samothrace

become

of

celebrated

so

and

Demeter

initiatory

as

institutions.
23.

what

"

with

such

mysteriousawe,

Eleusinia
if

we

it that filled the

was

inspiredat
it

assume

as

could

sacredness

of

matter

and

Sophocles,

assuredlyhave been
of dark
symbols.

in

dread
I

and

also here, out

of

the

alone

and

whole

formed, which

was

had
In

any
some

doubt

kind

of

to

or

that purpose.

the

culiar
pe-

art ;

the

so

of

mystse,

tic
imposing artis-

left behind

that much-

and

confidence

it cannot, surely,
admit
particular,

other

as

perceive how
say

else)

one

for symbolicalcomsusceptibility
munication.

that the mystae went

means

is easy to

the

exhibition

by

common

comfort
prizedimpressionof spiritual
in those who

for

an

religiousceremonies,

chanting of hymns,

the

It

imagine (without,

people,became

symbols,actions performed in

man's

them?"

however, wishing to urge this view on any

the Greeks, everything,from
that, as among
of
disposition

tion,
instruc-

certaintythat

imparted

the

as

reverence,

the divine nature

not

ber,
num-

of the Greeks

the time of Pindar

destiny,were
not

minds

deep

so

properlyspeaking,in
future

without

asked, times

But," it has been

"

to

away

tranquillized
by

their future state

readilythe mythi

the least, could

be

of

made

; and

it

of Persephone,

available

for

ON

24.

RELIGION

I have

consider

here

be

nothing of

the kind

the way

Where,

in

worship

for the
all.

there

was

connected

priestdid

for

them, "Apollo

it

god

should

who

vice,
publicser-

ducted:
altogethercon-

was

the

address

not

example,

is

in the

introduced

could

There

general.

in which

struction,
regularin-

no

dogmatical communication,

the Grecian

from

195

assumption,which

the

on

gone

unavoidable, that
no

with

SYMBOLISM.

AND

people at
said

have

he

defends

to

destroys,

or

in
accordingto the nature of the case "? But even
be
the mysteries dogmatical communication
cannot
The
Upol
pointed out, as is proved by Lobeck.^
themselves
Xoyoi were
designed
mythi which were
to explain symbols. The
only direct declarations
to be sought for in the sacred
are
thets
songs, in the epiof the hymns ; but these, however, were
still
outbursts
than stronglyconcentrated
nothing more
tion
of feeling,
such as Zed, KvSicrre fieyiare ; the continuaimmediately relapsedinto the mythical and symbolical.

But

25.
be

clearly-announceddoctrine

no

for

looked

it has

when

once

times

gave, of

notions of
was

only

all

that

it

was

themselves,

that

the

earlyworld,
ancient

those

be

either

mere

of the
1

De

See

the

doctrine

derived

necessary

to

of the

creation

from
possible,

not

be

or

perceived that

Such

therefore, could
it would

the

edly
assur-

necessity,a mythic expressionto their

communication.^

and

been

deity,and
at

tradition from

as

will

of

want

adopt

direct

communication,

or

from

mythus

the
the

speculationof

earlyworld,
supposition,
the

philosophers. Now,

Myster. Argumentis.
above, p. 19.

no

priests
traces

196

AUXILIARY

whatever

of such
be

can

much

have

much

from

that

had

indeed

views

which

reasons

well

not

be

official duties.

their

the

easily

may

shade, and

every

otherwise, these

altogethera private affair,and

with

of

opposed to philosophy to
source.
Supposing them to

opinions of

and

it could

administrators

the

for

were,

too

conceived,

borrow

and

mer
part of the for-

the

speculationon

found

positiveworship
be

PROPOSITIONS

had

Thus

were

nothing

do

to

heard

Herodotus

historical philoan
priestessesof Dodona
eopheme regardingthe origin of religionin Greece,
in that form certainlyno
primitivetradition.
from

the

"

Ancient

26.

Greece

representingand
Mythus

and

the Symbol.

visible to the
connexion

the

by

sense,

of

Both

gods

from

through

them

it

objectplaced in

an

have

must

the very

alone.

in

renders

co-existed

beginning;

presented alive,expressed and

was

an

reveals himself

Being

means

therewith.

latter

relates

mythus

individuality
; the symbol

belief in the

with

The

Divine

the

and

^the

"

action, by which
his power

of

possessed only two means

communicating ideas on deity

The

idea

for

municated
com-

of the

Defender, the Bright God, {^oi^os'AiroWm,) when

conceived,

once

distinct naked

certainlynot

was

doctrine,

"

There

expressed in the
is

being

of such

and

have
agency." But the people would
experiencedhow their god warded off and protected ;
power

and

of faith

the power

speedilyled
assumed

to

another.

the form

of

such, that

was

Now,

notions

27.

intimatelyconnected
But

an

which

have

experienceare just mythi.

religiousworship, therefore, was

most

experience

one

attempt has

with

even

the

been

at

its

The

origin

mythus.

made

to

deny

the

ON

of

use

RELIGION

symbols

AND

SYMBOLISM.

to the earliest ages

197

of Greece, and

to

bringit down to the post-Homeric and post-Hesiodic

is really meant
period. What
by this I cannot
in which
it is here
imagine. Symbol, in the sense
^

taken, and

in which

ancients, is

it

external

an

also

was

visible

spiritualemotion, feeling,
or

understood

sign,with

by

the

which

idea is connected.

As,

the

accordingto

the mythic
foregoinginvestigation,
rest upon
representation can never
arbitrarychoice
of expression,I am
also led to the assumption,the
proof of which properly belongsto Symbolism, That
this connexion
of the idea with
the sign,when
it
took place,was
in like manner
natural and necessary
to the

and

ancient

world

that the

that it occurred

involuntarily
;

symbol consists in this

of the sign with the thing
supposed real connexion
are
signified.Now, symbols in this sense
evidently
coeval with the human
the
race
: they result from
union of the soul with the body in man
has
; nature
heart.
implanted the feelingfor them in the human
is it that

How

understand

we

of human

what

without
peculiarities,
spiritual
our

part
be

of the

like that

countenance

should

yet, when
An

its features.
still

more

of the

earlier

in sensible

Now,

the

wore

to

worship

having

which

not
can-

seen

ever

Jupiter Olympius, we

race

of mankind,

must
impressions,

them

on

it,immediately understand

for them.
still strongerfeeling

all nature

consciousness

experiencealone

without

saw

we

any

Here

cause

guide: for

our

the endless diversities

expressionand gesture signify?How

physiognomy expresses to us
every

it that

comes

of the

essence

It may

who
have

be

lived
had

said, that

physiognomicalaspect.
of
representedthe feelings
a

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

198

the

Divine

doubt

that

prostrationat

corporealabasement

that

language

except by

equallycertain

the

would
who

god

that

from

the

of the

has

of

use

deity?

its

the

food

and
a

portionof

settingit apart

idea

the
the

signand

it is

But

drink, display

preciselybecause

in

essence

between

with

and

But

reason,

spiritual

the

relation.

by withdrawing

man

ritual
spi-

symbolical; for
acknowledgment, that it is

feelingof

itself in action, but

this

also is

sacrifice

suppliesus

symbolic act

describe

material

its

seriously

evidentlydenotes

even

of

is

in

was

can

evidently,for

so

cannot

means

one

prayer
very

subordination:

how

actions,

thoroughly symbolical. No

nature

for

visible,external

in

of

the

in honour

symbolical

actual

an

them

connexion

was
thingsignified,

inlet

an

left for the

that something palaterror

superstitious
able
reallyofiered to the gods that they tasted
it will scarcelydo to derive the usage from

was

"

it.

But

this

superstition
;
of

the

that

poured

was

gods might
into view

lick

one

at

it up !

which

assign the

the

then

earth

be

idea which

that

times
and

forms

the

of

could

intense

death

animal."

; we

The

in

was

numberless

religiousfeeling.
as

shedding

"

substitute
of

from

usages

only spring from

offer

basis

other, certainlynot

sacrifice ; which

expressed

which

most

by

the

only brought

ancient, always accompanies, namely, the

atonement

sary
neces-

libation,

in order
here

the

We
the

tention
in-

original

of

ceremony

I have

the

the

as

It would

the

on

side of the

sacrifice,and

of

steam

savoury

of all sacrifice.

suppose,

wine

other words, to

raisinga

foundation
to

in

idea

the
and

less
of

earliest

legends,

strongestand
are

deserving

blood

blood, also, was

of the
not

ori-

ON

RELIGION

SYMBOLISM.

AND

199

ginallyconsidered as a mere
figure,but as a real
compensation ; for the feelingby which the act was
accompanied in fact made it such. This signification
of

the

sacrifice and

Homer

libation

also

was

known

to

only he puts it in a somewhat

problematical
shape,in conformity with the particularoccasion of
the rite at the oath-taking, May the brain of him
;

"

who

violates

the

oath

be

like

scattered

this wine

the

in this poet,
ground."^ However, even
both the meanings of the sacrifice already pass into
each other, and he views it as a giftby which pardon
for past sins is in some
measure
purchased from the
gods.^
upon

28.

of
.

Accordinglyit is to

course,

only what
such
no

as

one

was

generalfeelings,

the desire

also

symbolism.
hand, that

considerable

any

whoever

extent,

worships,must

(I here

appeal with
the

festivals is often most

II.,iii. 295.

'

Nevertheless,

404,

and

alludes

the

Le

indeed

has

with

have

the

is

said, on
of festivals

confidence

history "of
to

to

in

subject)that

the

mentions

the

Panionia

are

foundation

intimatelyconnected
11.^ix.

the

the conviction

all who

with

quainted
ac-

of
the

499.
on

yearly sacrifices of the Athenian

to others.

been

gods

occupiedhimself, to

come

individual

of

little said in allusion to fixed

Grecian

with

has

of the

part post-Homeric,because

is but

feasts.^ But

annual

the nature

to

But

practicesthere

the establishment

even

for the most

poet there

that

festal

specialworship
It

symbolical;

pleasethe gods.

to

that in many

the

was

often very

definite reference

more

other

matter

is expressed are

deity,and
the

are

doubt

their

as

that all festal acts likewise

joy, and
can

be understood,

Helice, XL, xx.

Erechtheus, and

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

200

establishment
festal

symbolism, as

must

have

last autumn

Elaphebolion,the
months.^

The

derivation

generalidea

of the

The

and

For

great biennial

of wine, would

god

festival of

Dionysus, called

the

after

the

Parnassus

at

winter

solstice,{pulsahrwmaif and

winter

months

and
religion,

the

sacrifices.^
further

In this way,

if there

investigation,
we
might

fragments of

have

accompanied

itself from

the

think

the Greeks,

of

it

than

was

recent, and

any

but

they

must

worship

altogether

these

other

for

give still

to

it is

fathers,and

what

even

here

room

of the

deducing

of their

carefullyrepeated
because

of

at all the

Feasts, which

But

the

Dionysian

the

were

colonisation

more

customs

to

Delphi, all

be enabled

district to district.

absurdity to
the

Calendar

at

then resounded

Dithyramb

more

which

consecrated

were

nassian
Par-

that
certainty,

with

know

we

plantation
trans-

and

Heliconian

from

missible.
inad-

be

the

in

found

be

celebrated

Trieterica, was

merely from

of this custom,

worship

Thrace.

an

all

Dionysus

the three winter

and

is to

reason

of the

the

ample
ex-

place in Poseidon, Gamelion, Anthesterion,

took

the

festivals of

The

suffice.

entire

One

time.

that

at

the

of the festival,

the time

as

alike fixed

been

will

well

that

and

worship;

of the

things,in
served
people,ob-

always

did

stand,
under-

not

from
Trdrpiov,

times

little removed

most

paratively
com-

from

the

gods, as

well

limits of memory.
29.
'

from

Further, the human

According
the

to

Bockli's

allusion

Exposition.

in the Inscr. Merm.

to the 19th

Gamelion.

Comp. Ersch, Enoyclop.,xi.

'

Plutarch

Ei

form

9,

s.

229.

p. 267.

of the
The
Oxon.

Lensea

can,

21, p.

perhaps

15, be

signed
as-

RELIGION

ON

as

AND

SYMBOLISM.

of

in the bodies

their appearance

201

animals, is symbolical.

Anthropomorphism did not proceed

from
actual external
but from
impressions,
pression,
feelingsand thoughtswhich sought a sensible exand
and found the most
natural in
fitting
For

the form

of

idea of the

Which

man.

might and
celebrated

so

arms,

even

the earlier ; the dark

was

power

of Hera,

Homer?

by

her

or

the

idea

strong
of the

paternalcharacter and divine gloryof Zeus, or the

mild and majesticfeatures of the countenance
sented
repreby Phidias ? Every one must acknowledge
it

that

the former

was

; and

the latter is,therefore,

symbolical. Or did
representedDemeter

the ancients

that

had

nature

young

those

human

come

forth the

not ;

breasts, or

the

on

as

imagine,when

full and
sucked
that

blessingof

they

bloomingmatron,
vital energy

from

that

from

body

had

the harvest ?

contrary,the form

was

Certainly
blem
eman
entirely

thought. All attributes likewise were

symbols ; only they commonly represented
originally
of

the

singlemanifestation of the deity's

Apollo was
regarded as the god who sent
person.
For this agency, the
mysteriousand sudden death.
languagehad scarcelyany other word than the figure
shot from a distance,and by it alone was
of arrows
brate
the thought recognised. Numberless
epithetscelebut

one

side, a

the Far-smiter, the skilful Archer.

pointon which the opponents

of symbolism insist with especial
obstinacy; and it
is this : That there is no trace of animal symbolism
to be
to be found in Homer
; that the gods are never
animals.
Now, I
found
representedby particular
had
will readily
admit, that Homer
reallyno living
relation of the animal, as a
intuition of a particular
30.

But

there is one

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

202

natural

the

symbol, to

but

god ;

maintain,

at

that

time, that he aflfords sufficient indications

same

perceivedsuch a relation.
example. That Homer
striking

"Hpa

is a

attach

to the

eyed," is

expression any

manifest

epithetalso

to

scarcely

can

"large-

idea than

other

this,that he appliesthe

from

Nereid,^and

^owins

The

earlier age

an

heroines.^

two

the

same

On

the

of this appellation,
frequentrepetition
the goddesses of Olympus,
that, among

other hand, the

and

the fact

Hera
of

is

scarcelycalled by

solemn

derived
Homer

than

Argos, which

from

in

famed

the form

to

when

worship. Now,

of

cow
came

Egypt ;^that

that sacrifices of

also known

was

in

of

events, before the Greeks

with

elsewhere

goddess, 'Iw KaXprimitivemythi, appeared at

that the servant

XiOvea-aa,SO

Argos

hardlybe

can

the chief seat of her

as

know

we

it,which

of

use

other,furnish evidence

any

cows

Hera

the

; and

that, too,

into any close

had

sacred

at

all

tance
acquainthere

cows

offered up to her; and that,

were

drawn
was
accordingto ancient custom, the priestess
also perceivethat when
the
to the altar,we
by cows
ancient

Argive

called

nieant to describe her

And

it is

he thereby
deityISoSnris,
having the form of a cow.

his
as

clear
perfectly

how

the

full
originally

name,

after having circulated

significance,

of

place,and

bards, became
Homer
from

carried

been
a

and

derived,also,from
certainly
ancient

names,
'

in the

customary

mere

local

FXavKcoTTii,
which,

about

he

uses

worships,the
weU

as
as

as

from

some

substantive

place to

mouths

of the

unmeaning
the

same

source,

of Athena

name

other

;*for

II.,xviii. 40.
Comp. Hesiod. Theog. 355.
'
II.,iii.144, vii. 10.
Comp. above,
II.,viii. 373, 420.
Od., iii.135, xiii. 389.

form.

pp.

very

the

cient
an-

temple,

72 and

122.

ON

the

or

RELIGION

citadel of

SYMBOLISM.

Troy, is

called

Glaucopis;^ at

of Athena
a

AND

himself

by

the time

sanctuary, called TXavKWTrbv, stood

which, according to

town

built

from

Athens
and

the

was

also

sacred

name.^

from

asserted

say, that

horse

lies the
be

called

from

as

this

dedicated

to

the

of

god

of waters
the

acquainted with
it was
solelyon

animal

; for

horses

of Achilles

horses

of Zeus

were

so

far

the

with

how

; and

as

ship.
wor-

connected

deep
ever,
how-

Homer,

of the

sacredness

that

the

giftof Poseidon,*and

the

this account

unyoked by

were

be

animal, of all others, should

well

was

from

are

Poseidon

to

Glaucopis is,

only go

comes

mystic mythi

why

cause

ancient

an

meant

of

was

citadel of

the

and

surname

owl.

the

symbol

"

account,

it is not

epithet also

many

Sigeum^

Glaucopion,as

However,

this

How
the

Troy;

tuary
sanc-

of Alcseus,

in

ancient

an

this,that the

perhaps, derived
to

of

ruins

203

the

same

deity.^The

still present
grounds,also, of all these fictions were
to the
in the worship ; for horses, as offerings
to him
plunged into that stream,"
Trojan Scamander, were
just as the ancient Argive sunk bridled horses into
the fresh- water
gulph Aeti/^J But by this we do
the horse
not mean
to say that the relation by which
was
appropriatedto Poseidon as a natural symbol
cated
earlier generationshad dedithe feelingwith which
and
to the god of seas
that animal
fountains,
still alive and distinct in the poet'smind.
was
"

31.
1
^

Mythic narrations,

II.,vi. 88.
there
However,

Alexandrian

authors.

xxiii. 277.

XL,

Jb. xxi.

132.

ancient
^

was

See

local

traditions,

Str.,xiii. 600.

dispute on
Stra.,vii. p.

this matter

the
among
Schol.
297 ;
XL, v. 422.
' lb- viii.
440.
'

Paus.,viii.7.

2.

PROPOSITIONS

AUXILIARY

204

lead

back

ua

the

to

select

elsewhere

^the Swan

"

I have

which

example

an

alreadytouched

the

in the

Trojan

island

Tenedos.

Tennes

honoured

as

his

thereby meant,

Poseidon

the

god

circumstance
white

from
as

and

father

the

to

the

chief

forward

come

fact that

think

recognise a mythus
and

could

accordingto
brought home
swans.

of
a

from
The

and
simplicity

we

to the

Schol.

here

can

boldness

Schol.

'

Find.

Theoc, xvi.
Comp. Virg. Mn.,

was

x.

"

Tzetz.

'

Myth. Letters,ii. 12.

Lye,

232.

189.

was

fore,
there-

god, who

local

invented

is

at

of

time

of Homer.

instead

altogether
are

the

Died., v.

Lye,

had

the musical

swan,

On
;

when,

mariners

fancy which

to

Tenedos,

at

hero, demands

O. ii. 147 ; Tzetz.

49.

he

the

scarcelyfail

the
idea,too, of calling

than the poems

Vet. ad

by

ApoUinian

Liguria,the legend of
of

many,

prominently,from

Cicero,N. D. iii,1.5,in Verr., 1. i. 19

Qu. Gr., 28, "c.
^
Canne
on
Conon, 28.
*

the

on

'

by

is also called the father

which

father

parents,

swan,

notion,^adventurous

Voss's

Apollo,the

ancient

still more

possiblybe

not

his

The

hero

himself

ApoUo

Tennes.*

of

from

youth upwards."
to

aquatic fowl

this is confirmed

island,stands in distinct relation

made

the

oft-told

an

by Hellanicus,*that

mentioned
his

in

is named

of waters, who

was

of the island.'

Cycnus

legend.^ That
be proved
may

Scamandrodice

and

called

the Iliad,

There, too,

^'jowj
eiroow^os

the

was

romance-like

and

is

father

of

upon

deity was

testimony of

worshipped,accordingto

Now,

That

Apollo.

of

symbolism.

of animal

cultivation

early

allusions

Homer's

than
frequently

more

232.

far

more

contrary,
83

Plut.

ON

RELIGION

the fable
later

SYMBOLISM.

AND

character.

that

It says

metamorphosed into

guria,was
the

fate

the

stories

of

However,

his kinsman
of

mariners

Hesiod/ bears

from

quoted by Hyginus

205

Cycnus king of Lifrom griefat

a swan,

Phaethon.

Here, indeed,

have

may

play.*
Cycnus, in

into

come

example also shows, that

the swan
read in
we
mythology,signifies
; and when
Hesiod's Shield, that a Cycnus was
slain by Hercules
in the Pegasjeansanctuary of Apollo, and
that the
had plundered the hecatombs
of the god
same
person
at a
as
they passed along, it may be understood
have been formed
glance,that this mythus must
by
nearlythe followingtransitions and metamorphoses :
First, Cycnus, Apollo'sprophet, stationed at Pagasse
and in the sanctuary ; then, through misapprehension,
Cycnus plundering and devouring Apollo's herds.
the son of Ares, and Hercules his
Thereby he became
and

enemy
32.

deep

this

conqueror.

Whoever

wishes

to

exercised

influence

convince
animal

by

himself

of the

symbolism

on

the

take
mythology of Greece, has merely to underthe task, not a trifling
indeed, of reducing
one,
fables related by Ovid in his Metamorphoses, to
Although certainly
originallocal traditions.

not

in them

the entire

the

flnd

all,in many

symbols of
of which

may
a

then

the

can,

of them,

in this way,

perceivewhether

historyof

Grecian

derivation

gods,the

and

work

which
civilisation,

Perhaps only from the ao^g/x^"/"Xos.

Pronieth.,p. 569.
Comp. Welcker's

See

and

he

be called

can

declares symbolism,

though evidently the product

simple and childlike intuition of
'

will

tion
explana-

obtained

be

any

he

however,

of

an

tremely
ex-

nature, to

above, p.

139.

bie

for the

Very

often the

unfolded
in

and

and

through

the

symbol.

for centuries
of
On

the

from

and

one

whole, the

older and
former

dark

the

but

Divine
and

and

that too

more

an

can

the

of

the

tion
crea-

other.

general,be

mythus

still

for in the

undefined

sentiment
pre-

notions

rather

are

clear and

definite

in

presented,
manner.

XIII.

the

foregoingchapterswe were
occupied with
expositionof the method
by which the mythus
be reduced
to its originalelements, and
the circumstances

existence

has

relations amidst

discovered.

mythus

I think
way

the

Interpretation
of the Mythus itself.

and

the

them

expressed ; whereas,

are

CHAPTER

On

in

may,
the

of

between

and
strong feeling,

latter, ideas
a

tions
deriva-

always, by

idea

formation

the

symbol

the

in

legends,especially

do not

correct

originalthan

more

of the

In

Many

frequentlyintervened

the

bol
sym-

or
only explanations,

are

set out

else than

action, having its existence

in

symbols, although they

means,

any

nothing

put

lepolXoyoi,
of

is

mythus

nature.^

from

part, emancipated

most

gods, who

of

world

Homer's

than

recent

more

were,

INTERPRETATION

THE

ON

206

Now,

itself is not

that,

at

been

it is indeed

over,

it

came

into

true, that

yet thereby explained; but

all events, the

gone

'

which

and

greater part of the

the

Comp., however, Dor.

direction

i. 327-

of the

OF

remainder

MYTHUS

THE

pointed

ITSELF.

Experience

out.

207

in

numerous

has

the mythus almost

at least, that
taught me
interpretsitself,if seized in its native soil, if

cases

taken

its root.

at

point
"

But

on

this method

be

grounded.

alone
It

can

can

therefore, to lay it down

this work, that in the
very far

interpretationis
ought

rather

to

be

from

regarded as

lies the

main

viction
conphilosophical

result from

never

and sporting with

conjectures,

of

here

and

"

mere

I
possibilities.

ture,
ven-

tion
leadingproposiof mythi,
treatment
being the first,and

as

last part of the

the

business.
The
are

we

of the
be

main

problem, however,

arrive at

to
MYTHIC

STYLE

regarded

grammar

and
; and

as

How

tolerablycertain understanding
?

The

mythic expressionmust
peculiar child-like language, the

dictionaryof
this

still remains.

have

which

must
investigation

to be

tained
ascer-

be confined to the

planation
regardingthe exof expression,
terpretati
authentic inof this mode
an
is not to be expected from
or
antiquity,
be recognised. For the era of myth-creation
cannot
itself could not possiblysupply the interpretation,
law of this spiritual
it is a fundamental
as
activity,
that it immediately adopts the imaginary as truth,
itself; and later times,
without
on
ever
.reflecting
which indeed occupiedthemselves with interpretation,
had, togetherwith the creative fancy,lost also the
ness,
who had the boldinward
sense
; for the (roq!)t^o/aei'ot,
time, to separate mythologreat for their own
however, than
from
facts,^did nothing more,
gemes
subtilize.
Antiquity,on the whole, did not perhaps

existingmaterials, as

tradition

Plato,Phsed.,p.

229.

208

INTERPRETATION

THE

ON

of removal

sufficient power
historical consideration
possess

; and

thought
it.

So

incapable of entering into

was

that,

by

not

must

we

had

which

invention

and

of

account

surrender

criticism

that

the

mythic expression

our

times, with

idea
in

of

the

and

relation

the

enabled

of

manner

in

characterized.

We

first chapter, that

know,
the

the relations of

is

that
has

as

substance

into

enter

been

deity,nature,

in the

shown

and

the

periodwas

remote

diversified ideas

most

in

even

especially

and

to

measure

which

thinkingby

attempts,

myth-forming activity,

the

some

; nor,

already a general
form

between

to

philosophical

which

have

we

of

and

mythus,

are

earlier

conducted,

conviction

this, that

on

this matter

great certainty and

right consequence
grounded

concede

investigationinto

be

can

foreign to

means

of

conviction, that

the

styleof

become

any

an

ject
sub-

elucidation of the

and

authority in
antiquitya legislative
on

self,for

from

ing
regard-

humanity,

are

presented in the form of actions of personified

notion is doubtless thereby
beings. The fundamental
here

expressed,that beings analogousto

and

only difieringfrom

internal
the

is

agreement

physicalas

always

the

conceived

of

them

well
as

as

in the

world.

in close union
both

(as

out
through-

move

with
in

Nature

Themis)

; nay,

was

that

theatre

all life and

of dcemonic

times, when

tical
iden-

the

only a particular
dependent spiritof nature.
it

and

man,

often
spiritof man
genuine philosophy of identity,

homogeneous

appears,

the moral

as

men,

by greater unity and

action, live and

principlesof
spiritual
or

the souls of

nature

agency,

came

"

enlighteumenthad

to

be

Hence
viewed

belief which
obtained

the

as

in later
ascen-

OF

THE

dancy, continued

MYTHUS

to exist

ITSELF.

merely as

thus, for example, the story

and

children

of

Hipponicus
out

an

daemon

of

table,^

superstition
;

the

among

ran,

women

Athens, that the rich and

cherished

in his

to the

ancient

enemy

209

powerful
son
(who actuallyturned
honour
of the house) a

who
mischief, (aXirvpioi,)

his

overturned

superstitionwhich is finelyapplied by
Helen
to be denounced
Euripides,when he causes
"

view, which

we

can

and

perhaps even

the

natural

have

arisen

Cultivated

now

employ

belief.
at

in

in

are

at that time

was

it,mythology could
nature

when

ages
and

more

man

the

especiallythe

relations

immense

be

more

free

dividual.
in-

pervading
also

are

human.

not

are

of

relations

ordinaryhuman

beingswho

is

not

to

was

as

ordinary mythology,it
to all

which

poetry,

all, although it stillcontinued

those

that
principle,
transferred

in

Without

regarded as inanimate,
Now,

'AXda-Twp.^This
only attain by speculatiod,

of Zeus, but of

daughter,not

as

Such

by birth,by
affinitjj

of

thingsare denoted, a
at a time When
very natural circumstance,particularly
of
and gentile
union stood in room
the family bond
aU

an

number

"

Procreation

other connexions.

is therefore

one

principalimages employed in mythology,

is attached
to the
although no particularsignificance

of the

act

"

itself,
except where, in

in

health, blessingand

tepoiydfiot;

in the

generalWay,

plenty,are
and

the

life and

derived from
of

organ

it,as

generationin

symbol where
constant
fructification,
permanent production,were
imagined by faith to proceed from the gods,as in the

the

human

Andoc,

body only figuresas

De

Myst.,p.

17.

Troad., 769.
P

heroic

mythology,

main

every

condition

and

heroes

the

gods

the

progeny

the

son

of

prophecy
of

It is

of Zeus.

Apollo

prophets

take

in

of

the

the interest that Zeus

tribes, who

inhabited

that

was

the

connexion.'
genealogical
the gods of a
When

district,are

same

nation

or

the

and

beget

ancestors

the

of

cumstances,
cir-

later

different

entirely different
placed in

family are

begotten its founders, this is

of untutored
piety: but when

have

said

simple

the

the

to

sion
expres-

contrary

deities, as

curs,
oc-

the

hero

the father of the fostering

Erginus was
god Trophonius,* and Phlegyas the grandfather
was
Esculapius, who
originallyworshipped by

Minyan

Phlegyans,"we
not spring up
those

among
race

Stesichorus^

by

and

by Homer^

Hector, that he is called

it

of

leaders, descendants

only from

former, and

or

warriors,

tribe

Hence

did

; valiant

Ares, and

foundation.

the

music

and

father

children

are

Bygone are often the parents of

although these may rest on a

latter.

of

figureof

musicians

and

conspicuous

rivers, beget nations

and

Lands, mountains,

merely of

not

also of the most

the

also

but

cause,

of existence, and

quality,is represented,under

But

Dionysus.

the

only

not

collective existence, but

mother.

and

Hermes,

of Demeter,

worship
in

INTERPRETATION

THE

ON

210

; and

forward
"
3

"

the

among

whom

the

offspring. I

examples,
II.,xiii. 54.
Orch., p. 257.
Orch., p. 199.

in

that such

people, but

worship

who, therefore,looked

its

as

to

conclude

may

would

ewternally
from

came

upon

here

support of the

mythus

the

god

that
self
him-

scarcelybring
position,that

"

Tz.

Orch., p.

Lye,

266.
152.

OF

the

THE

national

MYTHUS

deities

how
the

of

show

gods

into

came

surnames,

deeds

the

at the

naturallyit

the

heroes, while,

still continued

that

of
of

was

the

not

were

clear

ferred
re-

logy,
ana-

oi

surnames

selves
them-

names

disuse

to be proper

as

names

time, the remembrance

gods

themselves

ally
origin-

were

of the heroes.

Poseidonian

latter

fallinginto

held

same

the

national

the

that

pass

room

the fathers

regarded as
Theseus

at the

of

time, by

to

came

in after ages

were

the

former, if it

same

in consequence

; and

of

the

temples

design to

my

211

frequentlybegat

heroes, especiallywhen
to the

ITSELF.

hero.

First, in the

don,
religious
worship, for he was
worshipped like Poseithe o'ySoai,
the eighth days of the month.^
on
Secondly, in the mythus: for the chief exploit of
Theseus, in genuine ancient
tradition, is evidently
the
Poseidon
expedition from Trcezen, where
was
the isthmus
of the god to Athens,
TToXiovxoi,^
across
and

the

he

destruction

encountered

of

but

the

robbers

it is clear

6"6g,the rocky path along the

gulf, as

well

sacred

that

shore

from

Attic
said

instituted

were

tradition.^
to

be

either

king, ^GEus,

of the Corinthian
of

by

Theseus
of

Thes., 36.

Oxon., 21, p. 15,

It

be

can

that the Poseidia

gathered from
were

fied
puri-

Isthmia

Attic

alyes,

from

god

of

the

the Inso. Marm.

celebrated

on

the

eighth

of Poseideon.
2

Plut.,6,

"c.

'

Plut.,25.

to

was

the

or

billows, breakers," just designates the

Plut.

and

Theseus

also derived

name

god,

according

god Poseidon,*

the

the

the

even

the father

Now,

which

for

^la-Ofiiag

the

pine-grove

profane intruders,

themselves

'

murderers

thereby representedas being delivered

were

"

the

as

and

Plut.,6.

212

ON

sacred

whose

sea,

at the

^gseon,^ otherwise

called

Cephissus,

on

banks

the

employed in rearing
and who
trees, especiallyfigplantations,^
worshipped
deities
corresponding to that occupation, namely,
phyrus,* and
wherefore
his

addition

in

jEgeus

"

Isthmus?"

to

Zefruit-ripening

these

Perhaps

friendlywelcome

son

were

Poseidon, the

Athena,

Demeter,

who

gion
reli-

in the

this is to be found

proof of

who,

and

Mggi,

Phytalidse,a family settled

of the
the

called

placesare

itself,was

Isthmus

Mgdsws,?
of

INTERPRETATION

THE

because

when

Now,

iEgeus.

he

This, in fact, is stated

they

gave

from

the

came

in

the

legend,

others contained
in the Theseus
of
which, like many
evolved
from the religious
Plutarch, was
usage ; but
alone

context

our

because
2.

teaches

is but

^geus

us

another

the

viz.,

reason,

for Poseidon.

name

the Corinthian

Bellerophon,

true

hero, as

ing
search-

mythologist^has latelyproved, corresponds,in

his activity,
to the god Poseidon, as horse-tamer
and
of
fount-opener. Now, he also is called the son
Poseidon, and the latter as the true is placed in opposition
to the reputed father, (ttot^jo
/car
eiriKXtjcriv,)
that
know
Glaucus, the Sisyphide.* But when
we
'

Callimach.

in Plut.

Pherecyd.

in

Symp., v.

Sohol.

3. 3.

i. 831.

ApolL,

Comp. Lyooph., 135,

Hesych., Alyaltav.
3

Pans., i. 37.

Plut.

Tu\)

the

c.

as

35,

Plutarch
nor

of

de xal
s^fi"i6ri

'

AirEI,

1.

n/tEvos

ATTXll,

and

afterwards

must

we

xal

rouj

sVa^an iig Suff/au durw TiXiTt

neither speak of a riftsvos
can
of Theseus,
Suff/otoffered to him while alive.
Comp.
dadfjih
oiMug

ibid.
"

Pans., i. 37.

^^

context, read

'Haiasyjiwwrh

ampag"i,
Comp.

for

23, where

from
certainly,
"?rh

2.

Paus., 37. 3. Plut. 12.

Volcker
Myth, der Jap., " 5.
Schol. Vet. Pind. 0., xiii. 98.

OF

yXavKoi is

MYTHUS

THE

thedon, in Bceotia, worshipped

Glaucus,
heroine

and

"

that

that

the

father

that

"

too,

case,

"

longer doubt

sea,

of

Glaucus.

also

the

Bao-iXeis,whether

ascribed

their

Lycian, were
3.
Ionic

the

which

Boedromia
But

the

Xuthus

is

god, who, being

^av6o9,might also
The

fourth

is called the

son

parents, is

They

called

his

father.

^ov66sby

children

be

may

often

the

called

tion.^
dialectic varia-

taken

from

the

in like sense,

TENNES,who,
Cycnus.*

and
and

sisters, like

various
of

of

surname

called

of brothers
susceptibleof

often become

Apollo.

be

relation

The

is

of

occasions

of Apollo

in

up

son

other

of

Apollo

of

(or Xuthus)

on

example

the

Apollo'sfestival,the

commonly

above-explainedmythus

of

him

is also called

more

of

brought

was

this, too, is evidentlybut

Here,

4.

of

introduction

he
lastly,

Ion
from

Pythian sanctuary, and

also derived

the

Euripides handled

prominentlyforward.

legend according to

they

collective

to the Worship

nation, the reference

it is

Glaucus

or

Ion, the

of

mythus

no

race.^

of Poseidonian

the

most

comes
a

In

can

Hence,

Neleus,

origin to

Bellerophon was

Poseidon
Ionic

was

we

originallycalled
clear, that

An-

called

itself there

Corinth

in

213

sea-dsemon

Glauce,'^ in this

named

the

epithetof

favourite

ITSELF.

interpretations.
father

one

that

by

means

widely different,and are then

in some
measure
brought together,as, in the above
of the Olymelucidated
genealogy,^the fiftymoons
of references

"
3
5

the most

Paus., ii. 3, 4.
Dor., vol. i. pp. 267, 273,
P.

161.

824.

Herod.,

P.

204.

i. 147.

214

pic Cycle
and

INTERPRETATION

THE

ON

^Etolian

But

race.

designsto point out

however,

sisters of the

representedas

are

is not

fraternal relation.

always

affinity,for

be

to

the

on

The

pair,Prometheus

taken

from

Another

by

have

step, and

same

the

hostile

called

and

class

which

the

were

the

points

many

Epimetheus, is

of

stands

to

nearer

of Phocus

sons

and

they

stand

of

contact.

example

an

so

historyis

and

peopled by Cretans,

afforded

Panopeus,

earlyas

considerable

were

ideas

purely imaginary persons.

brothers, Crisus

Panopeus
former

and

because

ternal
in-

an

as

between

beings mutually opposed, merely

this,

Even

understood

exist

it may

really

often

mythus

the

Epean

Asius.^
in

towns

who

Crisa

Phocis,

and

probably called
belonging to the

latter
Kpicra from K-ptjcrla
; the
Minyo-Phlegyans, the ancient foes of the Crisssean
not
They certainly,therefore, were
sanctuary.
of any
placed in juxtapositionas brothers, by reason
but merely on account
of their hostility.^
relationship,
There
is one
thing in particularto which I must
here

call

heroes

from

sprung

ancient

must

probably recognisean

Thus

Homer

calls the

thus, also, a brother

to

whom

feature, is called
and

of

4.

mothers

predicates,wherein
ancient

Athamas,

of

usage

oi^oXio;;

son

in the

"

Orch., p. 188.
Comp. Orch., p.

we

poetry.

mythus

bear

Comp.

of heroes

sons

lating
re-

reference

Schol.

to

frequentlyappear,
the

deeds

Eurip. Orest., 33,

Tz.

939, "c.
2

of

flightand exile are a fundamental

Aiw)(PavSai(from SiooKeivi.q.(jyev'yeiv,''

names

Paus., ii. 29,

and

wily Melanthius,

x^**"-)* Although
whose

'

fathers

attention, viz.,the

175.

Buttmann

Lexil., p.

219.

of

Lye,

their

fathers, as

father

MYTHUS

THE

OF

and

Ajax,

ITSELF.

215

o-aKos
evpii

Eurysaces

to

the

Tisamenus

to

Orestes'

must
(ria-afiivov
we
t"iv ixrirepa,)^

consider

this
be

to

sons

sufficient

in every

real children

might

the

honour

people,in

in Homer

in

so

was

by

; for

the

of their father, as
"

even

family

the

or

Trojans

because
city-protector,"

reality. This

continued

was

called

so

call Scamandrius

his father
names

be

geance,
ven-

not, however,

fictitious persons

case

of

act

pronouncing these

for

reason

of his

during

even

of

mode

giving

historical

the

times.^
Even

happen
each

indications

these
that

run
genealogies

other, yet without

and

family successions,

of

and

them

how, in

the most

easilyit

athwart

any

and

untrue;

how

show

may

contradict

being

ingless
mean-

larger tissue

different materials

of

may

mingled together. A most strikingexample is

furnished by the many-coloured and perplexed genealogies
lie

of the
of

son

Minyan

race.^

the

because

Orchomenus,

Minyas

Chryses, because

of

city ; the

son

gold from

his ancestors

; the

son

is called the

race

dwelt

he

inherited

in

that
much

of Ares, because

the

Minyo-Phlegyan tribe signalizedthemselves by fierce

of Sisyphus, the JEolide,
daring in war ; the son
the Minyans were
because
nigh-relatedto the Coof Poseidon, because
rintho-iEolians
they
; the son
of Aleus, from a
carried on navigation; and the son
neighbouringsanctuary dedicated to a dsemon of that
name.

In

also, the relation of husband

like manner,

Alcseus

'

Hercules'

Comp. Dor., vol.

sons,

and

i. p. 72 f.

Palffimon,also
^

Qrch., p.

come

133

under

sqq.

and
this

ON

216

INTERPRETATION

THE

wife naturallyadmits
but

here

that

of

union, which, however,

only the
On

this

masculine
proper

division

of

relation.

merely

further, that

observe

mythological beings into

and feminine,-^the ancient Grecian people
neuter
a
hardly knew
gender, cannot, in

all

"

event, have

any

natural

been

result

the

religion,properly
to be

known

; but

of

shall

subject,I

be

also

often

may

representing another

of

means

the

even

idea will still always be

fundamental

the

interpretations;

manifold

of

the

mythology, why

to
a

accident,

called,

so

the

active, woman

in order

of

In

is well

man

receivingprinciple

explainthroughout the

mythic being is

male

or

whole

female,

the

of the genders in the ante-historical

signification
of
ages will first requireto be investigated. Instead

Prometheus,

for

instance, a Prometheia

might

also be

not of
emplpyed, if the never-restingintellect must
the contrary. Divine
necessityhave been a man
; on

Providence,

being akin

to

Destiny,was

rightlyput

But the reasDn

tiny
by Alcman.^
why Desis invariably
personifiedin that gender,as Morjoos

in the feminine

and
as

so
a

forth, (forfiopo; is never

person,

and

in

represented in

Hesiod

it is

for

death,)will

the

secret, the invisible,is far

Homer

only another

word

reflect that the

perceived,if we
noiseless, preparing,spinning activity,the hidden,

than

woman

with

Mwo-at, and

be

In

man.

not

every

sort of
1

manner,

the

certaintywhy
Mmreg,

regarded the
to

like

when

soul of

knovv

we

woman

Fort.

we

may

goddesses of

as

which
inspiration,
Plut.,Be

characteristipof

more

Rom.,

more

stand
under-

song
that

are

quity
anti-

accessible

also, accordingto
4.

THE

OF

MYTHUS

ancient

opinion, is

said

this

on

try with

we

whose
and

is

As

union

of

the

and

be

may

time,

same

under
feelings

made

masculines

in which

words

many

far from

us

into the

originaltongues

so

217

Much

watr^eiv.

reflection to enter

feminines
to

subject,especiallyif,at

influence the

now

still

ITSELF.

the

reason

clear at first sight.

concord

generallyexpressed by

are

and marriage,
relationship
so,

in the

mythic language,

is the

combat

generalfigureto denote every kind of

opposition. The mythus loves to render that which
is internal external, to change relations into actions ;
and in it,therefore, even
at
never
thingswhich were
variance, must

conflict,^ But

in

engage

seldom

happens, that a mythic

endeavour
to explain how

the

into the
fabled

place of
by

some

whom

Eumenides,^

that

Themis

driven

and

was

present has

earlier condition

an

of

^Eschylus
the

forth

hence, also, Pindar's

un-

arises out

contest
a

it not

come

hence, it

reproves

of

in

was

his

Delphian-oracle deities,
by

Phoebe

combat

with

between

violence

Apollo

and

the Earth.'
It

is

impossible to

add

here

to

these

remarks

of every action which occurs

consideration
particular
and is in the clearest manin the mythic expression,
ner
in the theogonic legends
to be figurative,
seen
but also in local mythi of a mystic
especially,
more
swallowing,
nature; for example,binding and loosing,
asunder, restoringto life,serving up, emasculating,
tefiring
heaven,
burning, robbing, hurling from

sinking into the earth and water, wandering about

when the
and searching,
spinningand weaving, and
"

'

Comp. above, p.

In

the Schol.

to

53.
y.

2.

Eum.,

5.

218

action

INTERPRETATION

THE

ON

also

and

symbolical beings

other

in

takes

things fightingwith dragons,sowing teeth, tasting

"

certain fruits,
transforminginto horses, serpents, bulls,
and

forth.

so

be

would

It

obvious, that

is

nothing else than

dictionaryof symbolism
symbols,togetherwith
stand

verbal

as

means

However,

the

entire

and
the
as

mere

follow

seems

be
be

fools.

childish
this

in times

To

interpreted.
it does

But
the

that

certainty,

originally
significant,

settingthe

Greeks

pose
supdown

not, however,

symbolical expressionis

inasmuch
always significant,

imagined,that

it may

as

all sorts

when

well

very

into heroic

ordinary adventures,

as

another

; and

nothing further
or

sort

this

on

than

beautiful and
are

very

and, of

course,

of these

mythology, some
be

hero's

frequentlyto
add

inasmuch

be

greatlyto
as

admissibilitydoubtful,

in many

unless

one

with

in

daring,
of this

mythi,^

of
difficulty

they

cases

other

to

signify

Imitations

met

the

would,

now

strength and

attractive tale.

once

from

transferred

transference,would
the

be

of marvellous

stories, originallyof symbolical import, had

entered

by

cal.
symboli-

of

matter

therefore

contrary would

from

of the

treatment

mythic language was

must

is not

Introduction.

an

to the

also, it

me,

This

join
here, to speak with Heyne, sub-

may

cautiones

To
that

we

the

which

mythic personages, would

the mythic activities as

the

for

and

grammar

mythology, in

roots, and

problem

some

and

collocations.
syntactical

flexions and
any

compile a

to

of these

treat

to

pretation,
inter-

render

its

determinative

grounds present themselves.

Here

lies another
"

difficulty.We

must

Comp. Canne, Mythol. Intro.,p.

58.

not

always

OF

that

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

219

actly
symbol correspondsexparticular
tomed
particularidea, such as we may be accus-

presuppose
to

THE

conceive

to

of this

it.

On

contrary, it is

the

liarity
pecu-

it takes

figurativelanguage,that

different sides of the

up

object,bringingforward

same

and

the one
sometimes
employing in representation,
and sometimes
different thingsdoes
the other.
What
the serpent denote
in Greek
berance
mythology ! the exuof all-producing
nature, (in the mythi of Ce;)eternal youth and health,
crops, Erectheus, Cadmus
(in Esculapius; ) and impure, savage, barren nature,
must
that be the
more
(Python.), And how much
"

case

when

we

nation, and
character

The

the

beyond

go

of

others

to

come

of

boundaries

ticular
par-

different

symbols will partlyremain

the

same

long as external nature continues unchanged ; but

their signification
will sensiblyvary with the different
so

national

of intuition

modes

this, external

but

nature, which

leaves

is
symbolical representation,
often
and

happens

widely

Sothis

dog

to

was

latter,it

heat

of

star

Nile's overflow, and

the form

of

cow.^

and
of

may

mad,

serve

the

what
it

and

deprecated;

therefore

This

to

was

the former

Isis, the

it

revolution

from

import

To

on

different,then

drives

summer

adjured

the mild

was

its

Egyptians.

humbly

therefore

the

the

which

in

to

impress

the star Sirius

Thus

different

the

also

its

everythingundergoes a

transformation.

Greeks

that

if,in addition

to

was
was

the

harbinger of

representablein
as

proof how

symbol, and what is symbolicallyrepresented,

correspond among different
always necessarily

little the

But

nations.
'

St

when

Martin,

such
Notice

a
sur

correspondence is found,
le

Zodiaqm,

p. 42.

ON

220

it may

THE

INTERPRETATION

have

its foundation

either
of

nature

transference
build

; but

or

in

ought,however,

we

conclusions
philosophical

it oiit either

the

nations,

and

lands

both

in

by
directly,

of

means

external

when

would

we

latter,to point

the

on

common

tion
informa-

express

by
regard to the connexion, or indirectly,
of the former
showing the inadmissibility
supposition.
with

In

most

that

cases

least in

likely,at

suppositionmight be the more

ample,
general,as we can hardly,for ex-

from
derive all phallic
representations

tribe.
same

The

Egyptian women
greeted Apis
unbecoming ceremony^ which those of
strangers of

practisetowards
would

Noah,

much

for

of the

mentioned

first

said elsewhere

time, because

mythology
To

say

would

be

not

Hebrew.

The

to

languages.
'

Diod,

Certain

i. 85.

that

not

distinct historical
be

handled

rately
sepa-

nay,

strictly

much,

as

merely

the Greek

assert, that

the

guage
lan-

Sanscrit

certainly a

is

quite

civilisation of

common

kind
man-

of the Greek, Indian, and

that of this
besides, it is not likely,

civilisation

common

as

language

lies at the foundation

nations

be

will

this account

on

acquired without

proof that
irrefragable
German

the

which

point on

I wishexi to treat

it could

that

than

speaking,more
and

it from

; and

of the Greeks

in this way,

could

Humboldt

by

for the first time, to

come,

science.

dotus
Hero-

identify; but
Satyavrata,^and

deluge of

for the

has been

the

Otaheite

consequence.

latter borrowed

the

with

stillattempt to

may

we

of Mexico
I here

the

same

mythic delugesof Deucalion, Xisuthrus,

also do

that

so

say that

The

former.
and

the

nothing has

remained

thoughts,which
^^

are

Purana

except the
found

every-

of the Fish.

OF

THE

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

where, (such,perhaps, as that

claimed

be

may

earlyworld

as

those

of

son

inheritance

common

certaintyin

with

"

is

man

221

cases

dust,)

from

the

where

the

thought can be pointed out as alreadylying in the

originalstructure of the language. But the gods,
tinctive
the worships,the mythi of the Greeks, in their discharacter, assuredly belong to a totally
different period, a period of separate development,
"

in which

there

whole.

There

Athens
the

even

was

is

queen

the benefit

the Greek, and

latter,must

not

no

no

in the

arose

Argive

But

was

of

external, compact national

Athenian

an

in Acte ; and
or
Copaic plain,^
hardly older than Argos.
studyingother mythologiesthan

that, too, for the

this

on

virgin until

account

elucidation
be

doubted

of the
for

cause
Mythologiesof different nations, just bethey are mythologies,stand in a closer relation
modern
to each other than to our
unmythic modes of
thought and representation;and the same
process,
the same
mind,
epoch of development in the human
of being pointed out
in distinct
in all admit
must
characters.
Now, the main
thing is to enter into
be
of intuition ; and certainlythis cannot
that mode
better
accomplished than by occupying ourselves
with legendsand mythi of every kind, and considering
From
fore,
this point of view, therethem
on
every side.
the following
exhortation
to address
I venture
without
to ihe mythologist,
any apprehension tha.t
in jest:
be supposed to be uttered
words
may
my
mind
all things,call up to your
a
Above
lively
moment.

"

"

idea

adores

of

the

feelingwith

his Great

which

Spiritat
1

Orch., p.

the
123.

the

Nadowessian

murmuring

stream,

ON

222

beside

the waterfall

impression made
charivari

also

the

ecstatic

dance, the

but

learn

region of

the

with

horror

the

not, I pray,

vain,

all

worship,down

late

must

be

And

need

to make

formed

I tell you

the

in

the

the

how

of heaven

all their domestic

and

cares

whose

glowing tongues
kindled

by

livelier flame.
of

of the

the

appear,

even

and

in

you,

heroic

shall

mythology
of

dualism.

will be to

friend,

earth, who
with

again,

the

archs
patri-

and

pure

you

simple

sides

by

the

into manifold
acter
char-

only slowly

and

and

the
concerningwhom
prophets flash with inspiration,

priestsof

Chaldea

into

still

Behold, further,a hierarchy,

a system

beneficent
a
politics,

the

ages,

entirelydegenerates;

never

Let

therewith, is preserved in its essential

throughout long

the

Shiva.

of Israel your
and

and

in

Ferdusi

all
on
religion,although surrounded
worship of Baal, and brought
orgiastic
contact

of ideas

regular Magian

salutaryit

limitation,shares

narrowest

of

dominion

of the fathers

god

infinite creator

the

form, how

the

epic poesy

brought for

posterity;

under

of

in

primitivelife ;

religionand

you, in still later

show

how,

worship
have

their

lation
trans-

light is quenched

Zendavesta

to

readable

introduction

into

of the

of sacred

traces

the

divine Essence

desolation

and

in

astonishment

from

consider, again, how

wild

worship

rich abundance

Ganges, a

regardingthe

the

note

wisdom
religious

of

sounds

the vedas

into bloom

forth

nations

negro

listen to the

!) and

to

music, the frantic gesticulations,

the

India, (had we

bursts

fail not

by

which

Then

gods.

; and

of unharmonious

with

from

INTERPRETATION

THE

code

of

agriculture,
nay,

as

it would

ethics,engrafted
religious

nature-worshipof Egypt.

And

would

you

on

not

OF

also
the

take

hints

for

gods,whom
the

faith and

ancient

combined
heroic

blooms

poesy

curiously in

extend
"

Land

for

reflect

at

the

the

of

sober

and
all

and

of

time

same

and

the

that

side,

every

than

that

mazy

Only

fantastic

of

ancient

of

roam

garden

you

naturally

was

in this
in

with

legends, if

there

freedom

character.

fearless, in the

of the
crusades

locallyrestricted,and

was

earnest

chivalrous

Greek

of

another

also furnish you

must

treatment

out

Huns

Saracens

how

product,

among

the
"

handling mythi

Greece, which

how

"

legendarycycles on

greater arbitrariness
mode

events,

the

How

together

considerations

tions,
migra-

originalsoil, stands

Arabs

flow

ancient

the

all these

hints

its

strange world!

people, the Spanish

Promised

and

forth,which, in its main

of the tenth century

and

national

of

sway

there, from

how

relations

later

from

entirelysevered
Attila

and

remembrances
with

cause
north, be-

them, hold

longest retained

north

the

from

only know

we

223

study, by observinghow

your

high-minded people ;

over

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

THE

on,

of

more

fore,
there-

romantic

which

drawing within its circle all

itself but little
that is gloriousand
inspiring,
gave
its flowers
to where
as
concern
originallygrew.
the last forms of the mythical,the popular
Nay, even
tale, which
and nursery
sports with the significant
ments
and mysterious; the stories of ghosts and enchantand One
Nights of Arabia ; the
; the Thousand
Italian
Novels, which
Shakspere chose for the
mances,
groundwork of the most gloriouspoetry; our ropoesy,

which
would
let

no

wish

are

nothingshould be lost to you ;

fear of losingyourself restrain

that

foolish

told, in short, to kill time,

"

I
and
you

from

the

INTERPRETATION

THE

ON

224

spiritof

the

stir and

quicken

fancy,and

your

will vanish, many

manifestations,

all these

from

mythus,

viands; let the

these

and

this wine

yourselfwith

prejudice

many

analogy lead

an

liourish

and

Refresh

wandering.

of

joy

study into

your

paths."

new

well

may

after

speak thus,

thirteen
in the

of the
amidst

the

from
of

the

one

that the

of the

chief

is

it

opposed

to the

vestigation
in-

tions
rela-

and

inasmuch

formed, and

was

point

is the

mythus

particularcircumstances

which

the entire book

make

show

chapterssought to
historical knowledge

having throughout

theory which

as

would

majority of mythi importationsinto Greece

East.

even,

In

order

distinct

this may

that
is

proof

great internal agreement

be

assumed

required,either
only

as

be

to

by transplantationor, secondly,that
in the soil of
is utterlywithout
root

of

so

explained

the

mythus
local

Grecian

that transplantion
is expressed in
tradition,or, lastly,

legend itself.

the

It is understood
alone

in the

for the most

and

have

an

that

part, grew

will still be
extraction

Cinnamon,

up

have

local

can

main

Every

may

be

but

reign
external, of fo-

Phoenician, just

Kiwd/jLWf^ov.But

hardly admit
which

without

thus, for instance,the denomination

auxiliaryin
name

the

mythi,
origin. Some

from

come

that

little the internal tissue of Grecian

It

These,

togetherwith
and

ple
princi-

names.

as
distinguishable

of the Cimmerians
as

of proper

equallynational
may

also follow this

can

derivation

particularnames
they

the

of doubt

in

affect very

can

tradition.

that

etymology

explanation of

appears

well

as

thei

mythology

must

is

mythus.
d"sig-

either

nate

actual

an

be either

must

MYTHUS

THE

OF

real

or

ITSELF.

225

merely imaginary person

proprium, or

nomen

original

an

of the
appeUativum. That it also contains names
former class is indubitable.
Everybody will admit
this with regard to tribes, lands, and
cities; but
Greek

tradition must

of heroes

have also transmitted

as that
posterity,
done, (witnessthe Attila

has

to

of every
of

the

other

names

country

historyand E^zelof

German
son,
were

have

legends.)On the contrary,what is not per'

all cosmogonicbeings,
all gods,supposing
that they
such originally,
all daemonic
natures
can
only

however
we

the

which

names

one

cult than

depends

in

some

way

denote the idea of them,

be conceived : here, thereit may

fore,
generally
must
interpret.However, the separationof

from

the other

it may
on

the

also that of the

in detail is much

in

general; because
explanationof a mythus, to
appear

diflSi-

more

it first
which

belongs,what portionof it is
real and what imaginary;and because the mere
sibility
posof interpreting
does not prove that
a
name
the person who bears it did not exist. For, although
of persons
indeed the current names
as well as
places
indicate their nature and character,
do not generally
be often the case
with myyet this preciselymay
thic
persons, without their being therefore devoid of
and that for two reasons
: First, Because
the
reality,
the kind of activity
earlier the period,
much
was
so
determined
the more
by descent; and in a familyof
heroes, heroic,in a familyof musicians, musical names
heroes who
even
on
Secondly, Because
prevailed.^
"

This is aieoin

to
objection

the

invention
mjrthic

of

which

names

for

example, inLigyrtiades,
p. 330, assumes,
In
forth.
other
a
nd
so
father,
cases, it is really
grammatic
epi-

WelckeronSchwenck,
Mimnermus'

name

play.
Q

ON

226

INTERPRETATION

THE

their

reallyexisted,

current

names

been

have

may

perhaps merely by bards, during their

practicepointed at by the traditions of

first bestowed,

lifetime, a
double
can

borne

names

the

pronounce

tion, without
Neither
the

are

bards

the

with

to
seriously

derive

however, is

not

the

the

in

mythology

is at

consideringhow
number

it

easy

of persons

in the invention

of

names

ordinary constituents

Hence,

even

in heroic

of subordinate

is exhausted

received

Hercules

the

the Greeks

'

poet

to

with

sailors

dexterity

nay,

to have

of

formed

one

poetical excellence.

mythology, persons,
by

the

especially

thus, a hero who

name:

of

Receiver, Ae^ojuei/os;

tearinghis

of Poseidon

victims

asunder,

"c.
Pine-bender, HiTvoKaiMirrti^,^
but too skilful

were

of historical events, with

their

ancient

applied the pines

tyrant who
the

real persons,

disposedof by merely

is called the

cruel purpose

called

where
every-

rank, frequentlyappear, the entire idea

-of whom

and

see

of

names

appears

of the

who

those

as
fittingnames,
in
extraordinaryfertility

for Phseacian

inventingnames

this,

designof giving a

for the

was

All

that word.

once

for instance, shows

Homer,

gods oBva-avro,

the

real proper

of

in the

Odysseus

the least

superstitionof

belief which

by

names

on

poetical formation

from

name

we

all existence.

play

whom

said with

to

provide

him

calls himself

Odyssey

"

the

and, for example, because

colour

of

the -person

that

so

poetical inyen-

of

be

to

confound

to

we

heroes;^

many

name

robbing

ancient

names

by

ignorance of

the true

Clayier,Hist.,i. p.
'

; and

little trouble

name

by

p. 214

sq.

Od.,

was

In this

in the relation

concealed

invention.
=

48.

Comp. above,

even

to

viii. 111.

Thus

OF

the

THE

Mantineans

MYHUS

and

formed

called him

Spartans

Epaminondas, Machserion,"
be

the

slew

who

which

name

Machsereus,

of

after that

227

ITSELF.

to

seems

slayer of

Neoptolemus/
But with regard to those names
which, since they
denote
nothing real, must
evidentlybe significant;
these, again,fall into several classes,nearlythe same
the myithiwere
above divided.^ In
as those into which
the one, general ideas are
very plainlyand directly
expressed with

words

which

died

never

in the

out

Motpa,X.dpis,
"Qpn,Qifin,"H/Si;,
Eo-r/a, and the like. These beingsmust either have
been
the langu^age
personified at a period when
had alreadyassumed
its later structure
and form ; or
the names
were
propagated in common
usage together
with the appellatives,
because the signification
always
language. I

continued

refer to

present

to the

view, that all these

divine

mind.

It accords

beings,althoughthey

honours, had

with
were

yet, properly speaking,no

this

paid
tory
his-

of their

ed
worship by which they might be followfrom placeto place,like other deities. They were

usuallyattached
the

on

to the

whole,

images,to

Even

which

creative

With
that

'

See

these

the

as

mind

it

were,

and

11.

Narr.,
2

entirelystept forth

from

separatelyembodied.

connected
less

3.

P. 55

first only
gave

Comp.

4.

at

invention

were

much

names

Paua., viii.
Leuctra, Plut. A7nat.

the

indeed,

were,

gods,and,

degree of
pian
great Olym-

same

religious
thought and

this is doubtless
their

the chief

with
individuality

birth,but which,
the

attained

never

personalityand
deities-

worship of

the

resemble

the

mythus

Orch., p. 31S,
sqq.

circumstance

appellatives,
of the
8.

battle of

ON

228

and

then
of

idea

an

direct

such

no

of the first class

the
Arnnt^r/p,

ter;

be

these must
names,

and

them

Earth-mother
added

ent
of differ-

the

beings

"H/)a,Queen.)

class of

third

in

as

from

that sprang

those

sumption
as-

'AttoXXwv, the Aver-

instance

(I may

next
"

in

found

will be

the

language; and that even

comprehensive expression

of

epochs

by

changes,transits

of

of all sorts

tribes, and

such

explained from

be

only

can

INTERPRETATION

THE

the

To

logical
mythoepic

hymn-poetry, vv^hich,in general, announce

themselves
enough by their tone and
distinctly

or

earlier

reckon

these

among

the

Hesiodic

lour.
co-

names

Hours, Graces, Furies, Fates, Gor-

of the individual

Harpies, Nereids, (except Thetis,) Oceannymphs, (with the exception of Aiuvij, and also,perhaps,
Sri^, the Abhorred,) and many others in which

gons.

usuallythe generalidea
in the

and

sense

where

Now,

of the

transitions and
left in the
not

alterations

language,or

as

same

letter with

odor,

olQia
; and

not

the

simplest

the
did

Zeirj and

Did

not

Epicharmus
form

Gen.

p. 493.

no!-/3a, Herodian

the

out

Latin
as

iEolic

D
in

is often the

radiiv, piQa,

Aew?

also

SOphron
the

stand

be

n.

imv.

than

10.

us

name,

think, evident
Xsg.,p.

tween
be-

ignorant

furnish

sea-god's
I

such

out

signifies
nothing else
of

to

by traces
analogies. Did we

should

and

than

admit

to

borne

Z,

the

deus, we
Zew

are

Greek

noTt^ajj^the following,
as
'

only

clear

by

know, for example, that

that the Greek

importance

more

conjecture,and

vague

carried

spiritof the ancient bards.

it is absolutelynecessary to interpret,

nothing is certainlyof
discard

speciesis

deus.
v\n[th

viz.,
deriva-

Dor., toI. ii.

OF

tion

of the

THE

229

down':

laid

scarcelybe

word, could

Root, nOTOS,

ITSELF.

MYTHUS

"

related to

in ttoVto?,
vorafjios,
fluidity,

IJOii. noTiSas in the patronymic form, also HorelSas,

UotrlStis,
(from

Ionic

the
IloereiStov,

which

temple

god

Ionia, Attice

HoviStjlav in

month

of the

HoTeiSatav,TloreiSay,
Tloa-eiSeuv,)
and, by elongation,
Tloa-eiSSiv. But, alas ! etymology is still
Tloa-eiSecey,
science

in which

guess-work is more
tised
pracin which,
than methodical
investigation
; and
because
wish
to explain everything too
we
soon,
labours
our
more
frequently result in confusion
a

than

elucidation.

been

rendered

that there

is

that

inasmuch
almost

Yet

as

from,

this

strict laws

individual

for still more

points,
tant
impor-

we

must

everywhere pointed

of

its formations,

Let

not

out,

follows

growth, transition,
herself

nature

as

has

service

quarter. Only

language, in

metamorphosis

on

follyin hoping

no

regularitybe

as

valuable

such

by individuals

solutions
urge

blind

and

nants
conso-

be

of their
lightlyinterchanged,on account
affinity;for preciselythe finest distinctions which
vellous
writing is incapable of expressing,are, with marof years in
held fast for thousands
fidelity,
the mouths
I reof the people. This also would
quire,
that there should be no
strivingaway beyond
the proper
in primitiveform; you then
roots
sink
into an
abyss where no lightpenetrates. On the
other hand, mythic names
often lead to roots which
have
are
no
evidently
longer extant ; but must
existed.
was

so

There
called
'

'

can

from

Comp.
Dor.,

be

no

doubt

light;^

Schwenk

but

that
the

Etym. And.,

vol i. p. 328.

Zeis Avkuios

real

p. 18f).

primitive

230

ON

word

INTEEPRETATION

THE

is

only in the
and
\evKog,'Kv)(i"6r,
The

sun's

Latin

luim,although,in the Greek,

other

words,

'HXsKxpa,clearlyrefer

mythological name,
derivation

very

far-fetched.
root
and

but

from

Here

from

the

we

back

is

surely

the widespread

to

earlyworld,) which

be

cannot

in use, would

certainly

much

KaSfAos, the

ornatus
KeKaSftoti,

or

the
Koia-Tti,

adorned,
KacTTt],

also

or

Peleus,)are
forms
must

Violet-

therefore, his wife

(to whom,

prefers

simplestmanner.-'

in the

derived

Words

also, preserved merely in individual

be

brought

Achasa,

and

Demeter

my

opinion,most

particular,the

the

within
the

later

good,^ the

X'*'^"^""X"'*'^"

the

as

laws

of

scope

lects,
dia-

of this investigatio

merely

Achseans

as

Laconic

apiirr^es,

good goddess, may,

easilyadmit

of

verbal

the earlier epochs of the

the

Former, MtiSea-i-

the
Iokoo-ti/,

Wisdom-adorned,

thus, from

must

Well-former,

Emthe
Husband-adorned,
Kaa-Tiaveipa,
UoXvKoiaTi],TlayKacmi, and "AxaerTog, the

Unadorned,

^aos,

the

excello,

sum,

EvKaSfiog, the

Former,

the General,
Ka"rTft"/",

explanation.

formation, such

in
In
as

language represent them,

investigated. I here allude, for instance,

jective
practice of reduplication, by which an ad-

be

"

receives
1

"

bed

to

go

come

verbal forms

KeKaa-fiai,

orno,

to

to

light. The discovery of one

leading
of names
explainsa crowd
ko^w
: thus, from

afford

and

not

light.

to

complete comparison
not merely mythoanalysisof all names,
logical
also historical,
(forthese also,in great part,

explained from
root

"

eXa, splendour.

down

come

the

and
also, 'HXeKrtep,^Xe/cTpoi",

name,

The

it.

deiriviedfrom

are

Dor.,

vol. ii.p. 502.

intensive

more
^

Comp.

and
signification,

Welcker's

Cadmus,

p. 23.

OF

MYTHUS

THE

thereby becomes

ITSELF.

as

name,

proper

231

from
'Zia-v(l)oi,

in

patronymic forms, especially

and
that
in luv, without
patronymic signification,
the like.^ And
with the peculiar
in a similar way
be compared
laws: of formal
structure, which
may
with those of crystallization,
others in nature, so
or
must
also the laws of spirittml
tion
eTrolution,of associathe

a-ocpos,
a-vtpas,to
"

of

ideas, such

as

from

nations, be deduced

of words,
aflSnity

the

which, if conducted
also throw

issue, must

the matter, however,

enough

be

much

the

depends

clear and

strong light on

yet stands,

and

in

guide of
how

on

we

vestigatio
in-

tain
cer-

thology.
my-

cal
etymologition
cau-

it is

and

recommended;

to become

to

all others, the greatest

above
interpretation
is to

to

necessary

at different epochs;
significations

their different

As

and

natural

was

hardly ripe
tremely
investigation.Exenter, and

where

we

too, as well as the symbols, are

begin. The names,
of various explanations.
often ambiguous, and admit
An
example is afforded in Ai'oXoy, who, indeed, on
the Wind-man,
the one
hand, certainlysignifies
(as
bride ;) but, as a Thesthe Harpy 'AeXXw, a Wind's
salian hero, he can,
however, be scarcelyanything
else than
In

At'oXets.^

the collective of the

conclusion, I

different

activities

mental

ing the mythus,

the Real

scarcelyarrive
than

other way
'
^

Comp.

yet invite

must

attention

by which,

both its elements. Fact

and
at

the Ideal,
a

knowledge

by, in

some

Welcker's

Otherwise

are

Welcker

in

to the

decypher-

and

Imagination,
recognised. I can
latter in any

of the

measure,

reproducingit

Prometh,, pp. 549,

Schwenck, p.
on

551.
320

ON

232

in

myself;

work

the

INTERPRETATION

indeed, I

as,

of art,

from

THE

external

mere

understand, that by

to

world

of the
the

is revealed

within

in

the reach

strange intuition'

mythus rests, as well as

of thought,feeling,
and fancy
it,that this reproductionis not

singularmixture

which

it is easy

Now,

of the

reason

the

of every

and

one,

that it

requiresa

peculiar talent, a peculiardisposition,

nay,
peculiar dedication, although, from
of

judgment

so

many

to

this

to the

as

talent

clear,that

fine-spunit
goal,but

not

real internal

the

goal;

mental

the

behind

It is otherwise

regard
is

the

to

near

that the final act, the

and

extraordinary

an

which

powers,

spiration,
of in-

moment

exaltation, and

unusual

calculation

in

however
syllogism,

demands
intelligence,

cooperationof

explanation,

indeed, lead

be, may,

to

fluctuation

be found

combination, and

may

of

even

disposition. This, however,

and

mere

the

rightmethod

opinions may

different

a;

fact,if I look avpay

transaction.

which

upon

even

nay,

poem,

conceive

otherwise

cannot

leaves

all

it.
with

the Real

in the

mythus,

if

we

regard it entirelyas such, as something that happened

externally. Yet there is a great varietyof views as
to

the

way

and

in which

manner

It-has, indeed, been

cannot

be

behind

as

and

conceived

could

first

separated,or

Real

being determined

fruitless to hoild
deceives.
a

and

idea

explained as Idea,

remain

be

so

time.

same

were

form

It is
for that

the marvellous

can

far

Ideal

separated,without

external

Neither

criterion,except in

invention

what

at the

the

by

tinguished.
dis-

said, "Let

bad, if the

Not

Fact."

it is to be

as

it

but
the

quite
stantly
con-

furnish

expresslyexhibits

but the non-marvellous, because

MYTHUS

THE

OF

ITSELF.

233

possible,is not, however, therefore real: for

clothes the imaginary,
the drapery which
might,
even
from accident or internal necessity,
keep within the
of the possible.
bounds
it is

It is further

be

to

particular
importanceto us,
directlycommunicated
by any means
of

matter

thus

nor

can

it therefore be left as
Actual

the Ideal is withdrawn.

in general

is not

the my-

in

remainder

when

of heroes

adventures

;^ and

in the my thus

also, indeed, be narrated

must

this Real,

that

remarked,

ing
reallybelievthat Agameihnon, a Mycenaean prince,and
Achilles,
Hellenian, real persons, laid siegeto the
a Phthiotic
reallyexistingcityof Troy. But, in order to form
idea of the civilisation of the Grecian people,all
an

nothing,at

which

dates
the
the

least

Greek

races

are

mythiis says

puts the

merely

the

concern

hero

with

from

nowhere

the

people to

their

inform

the

ancient

us

in the

and

mythus, only as
'

so

Above,

race

forth.

often

manner,

time, and
The

; that

shores
In

concave

9, and

225.

we

that the

legend

god begat and

tected
pro-

he

where

short, we

circumstances

in
p.

place.

to those

and

occurrences

such

asmuch
in-

only be

mention

of the

perilouscourse

origin,

being
like

yet

in other words,

since

the

heroes

temple still stands,

the actual

that

them

of its

In

express

worshipped such a god

brought his worship to such

on

law

; and

can
religion

products;

expect the

merely

us

tribe,the former

for the

tribe

them

the

of

destinies

little expresslyabout

the collective of the latter.

discovered

can

and

important to

more

very

the relations of the

must

relations

in accordance

as,

it

prevents us from

now,

led

his
see

contained

mirror, from

ON

234

whose
the

INTERPRETATION

THE

of the distorted

originalform
It follows

important
through

much

explanation

that

depetidson

desired

in

for him

in

were

Lycia
that

of Cretan

time, there

If I learn that

was

that

Crete

of the

to the

in

utterlyobtuse
would
in

many

Apollo brought
that

not

ter
adminis-

the

ancient

region where

tradition

; that

settlements, and

Apollo

in

from

regard to

draw

places

the

ApoUo

lished
estab-

was

of

Miletus

of

in Troas

worship

of the

the

the

was

Smin-

expedition of

establishment

Apollo, and

other

first
of

son

Cretans

all historical

ApoUinian

of

stillfurther

quarters, I

conclusion, that

founded

the

same

the

that

called

Athens,

occasioned

kind

same

of

ample
ex-

long train

citadel

was

landing

several festivals in honour

data

of

Clarus

given rise

to

of

ancient

oracle

of

the

Apollo ;

Theseus

the

an

; that

said to have

worship

can

One

they might

Cretan

ancient

as

foundation, and that here, at the

mythic prophet

thian

clearer than

of the

notable

there

Cretan

science.

god stood in
dwelt, according to native

that the most

was

evident

Pythian sanctuary ;

Tilphossianaltar

of how

this decision,

and

that

plete
com-

thing,
Every-

decision

; but

historical

an

the matter

the

the

sure

as

Crissa, in order

to

Cretans

most

fact,

attained.

accidental

as

generalreasoning.

Cretans

the

same

scarcely be

cases

will make

there

the

indeed, here

also, is in many

of

and

presuppose

be

find

can

mythic period only

combination
of mythi.

they
certainty can

is to be held

well

we

present".

the

of

transactions

it

image

therefore, comparing different mythi, and

Without,

showing

this that

from

the

discovei, by calcnilation,

must

we
Gonflguratioii

must

be

inquiry,if
the

Cretans

rites.

But

also be

mmt

I to

MYTHUS

THE

OF

ITSELF.

235

stranger to all knowledgeofmythi, were

raise the

objection,that

makes

mythus

no

that

statement

directlyand

coincidence

things^the Cretans and the

Apollo,is only at all capable of tion
explanasupposition of a real relation, L e., the
of

of

worship

the

on

propagationof
must
entirelydeny

which,

however,

plain

Hence

terms.

the

real

two

actual
we

in

the

worship by

that all these

be

can

the tribe.

Or

traditions,

were

distinctlypointed

in

out

several

places; or, lastly,prove that such legends

by a secret conmight perhaps have been introduced
federacy,
whose
to persuade everybody
design was
that

the

Cretans

He,

popular
and

the founders

were

traditions

has

who

however,

has, besides, considered

which

those

of ages,

as

traditions
well

as

their

admitting such

before

have

of such

the

whether

persuasion,

great alterations
in the

undergone

deep

local

course

implication,will,

idea, at least

an

Apollo'sworship.

reflected

spring out

can

of

demand

"

the

proof.
accordingly,can

Combination,
value

legendsfor

of

in this

criteria

the ascertainment

field,therefore, it stands

criticism, which

by

is

which

the

determine
of facts

higher than

usuallyconducted

inasmuch

manner,

alone

it alone

as

the
; and

all literary

in

so

sided
one-

affords certain

legend springingout

of the fact

from its poetical modification.

distinguished
Of this also but one
example. That the Dryoto the Peloponnesus from
the regions
pians had come
itself may

of

be

Southern

Spercheus, was

Thessaly, lying
a

fact known

repeated the simple

tradition

around

to

OEta

antiquity.

that

Dryops

and

the

Aristotle
had

con-

236

ON

ducted

the

thither.^

them
that

was,

INTERPRETATION

THE

Hercules

had

of the

country
and

ordinary heroic mythus

expelled this people from

The

Dorians

CEtaic

that

therefore

had

they

bourhood,
neigh-

their

or

the

to

come

deed,
followinginformation, not, inin contradiction
to
the prevailingtradition,
but adding to it,however, a leadingpoint,vras first
dedicated
given by Pausanias,' viz., that Hercules

Peloponnesus.^

the

The

Delphian god, and

Peloponnesus in compliance

vanquished Dryopians
led

only
with

them

his

where
who

he

behest.

He

obtained

this information:

that

at

the

to

the

to

story; and

time
I do

does

not

tell

the

lived in Messenia, told

not

know

expressly

us

Asinaeans,
a

different

writer, except Ser-

any

statement.*
gives exactly the same
populi ah Hercule victi Apollini donati

vius, who
says, hi
dicuntur.

We

have, therefore, to prove

by itself,and independentlyof
Now,

know

we

entire tribes
and

this

that

render

it may

invented

was

also be

traditions,on

the

one

Dryopians

made

the

be

Apollo

existed

among

the

means

bable
pro-

legend

of that

relation

explained between

war

sanctuary
the

on

the

the

Strabo, viii.373.

IV.

"

'

Dor., vol. i. p. 283-288.

of

Apollo,

and

Pythian temple; and,

Dryopians

'

6.

Apollo,*

hand, that the Dryopian prince,

34.

the

of

analogy of existing

the other, the historical fact that

on

to

objected,that

to

might

Leogoras, desecrated
the

other instances

many

Secondly,By

contradiction

legend

the relation of Pausanias

according

circumstances.
the

are

esse

literaryauthority.

having been actuallydedicated

might

; but

there

all

the

He

the

in

worship

Argolis

Herod., viii. 43.

Ad. ^nead., iv.

of

and

Strabo,ib.
146.

OF

THE

MYTHUS

ITSELF.

Messenia/ where

in
Virgil,

poets of Greece,

even

the Delian

accordance

makes

altars.^

be

solved by
satisfactorily
tribe had been
subject to
agreement is certainlynot

of

purpose

also

circumstance

be
*

in Antoninus

however,

to whom

also
that

this bears

figures in
in

it

the

connexion

also

history of
with

to

ancient
as

in

the

to
not

it is clear

Now,

the

called
the

Dor., voLi.
*
^schin.,y.
KgavyaX/ovnear

Xenagoras.

tribe of
to

appear

Crauprobable
im-

me

Cragaleis,)which

sacred

(OL 47)

war

Cirrhaeans, and

was,

with

rendered

selves,
Pausanias, and, like the Cirrhaeans them-

had

'

were

fore
Apollo.* These were
evidentlythereDryopians, Dryopians in Cirrhsea,entirely

doubtless
ibut who

tory
terri-

others, that place

and

thesq, extirpatedby the Amphictyons, and

bondslaves

relation

also offered up at Ambracia

relation

was

third

Dryopian hero, Cragaleus,

galidseor Cragalidse,
(it does
that

Thermopylae, there

at

by Dryopians.

some

yet

it,that, in the ancient

by Pliny

inhabited

correct

romantic, this much,

very

ancient

an

that

might

for the

the

means

the

tion
the solu-

Although the

sacrifices were

was

just devised

considered.

is otherwise

at

hostile

but it

beg

is confirmed

for, as

granted, we

Dryopians

legendsabout

the

time, and

accidental

no

epic

would, I say,

this contradiction,and

is clear from

of the

for

is still by

mythus

This

one.

him

the

the God

serve

the fact that

story was

removing

of the

them

with

contradiction

This

still be said, that the

237

now

formerly attached

to

revolted, and

at

"

p. 286'.

Ctesiphon,68.
Cirrha

is referred

were

the
war

temple,
with

its

' Lib.
4.
j^nead, iv. 143.
whence
Harpocr. KgavyaXKlimi,

to, accordingto Didymus

and

could

We

guardians.

relations

otherwise

Pausanias

relates

of

of

aware

having
without

individual

which

subjoin one
in

or

laid down.

single position of

the

elucidation

instances
others

and

not

am

portance
im-

any

corroboration

supply, I shall,however,
which

plify,
clearlyexem-

may

the process

whose

principles

I select for that

of

purpose,

Apollo's servitude

explained it elsewhere,

but

perhaps

briefly. At least, a thinking scholar, Hermann,

in his

preface to Alcestis,*has reproached

having attempted
dam

last

the

entire work,

place,the mythus

I have

because

been

has

left

general way,

in the first

too

which

thus far laid down.

I have

by

XIV.

Method

two

not,

Craugalidsehad disappeared.

throughout this

Although,

what

that

in which

times

CHAPTER

Examples of the

evident

their

and

presence

tradition, and

is ancient

Cirrhsean

of those

trace

thing
concluding some-

it is

and

invention

an

means,

said

Pausanias

had

even

their very

sort, from

of the

any

not,

dedication, avoid

of that

nothing

METHOD

THE

OF

EXAMPLES

238

modo

charge

in

and

this
he

this, that I

explanation

finds
more

the

doctrinam
gionisinejeplieabilem

XIV.

ineredibili

chief

hodierno

with

me

ad

ground

quo-

of his

mysticeereli-

prc^endfirem.

Per-

haps, if

removing
city

of

house
from

Thessaly. Apollo

known

was

of

the

of Eumelus,

horses

trainingof Apollo.^

cydes^
which

for

the

Apollo

The

reason

bondage,
incurred

son

of

by killingthe

either

But

do

as

of

also

Euripides

and

Zeus,
of the

sons

he

Phere-

of

wrath

followed

Cyclopes
ApoUodorus.*
the

them, accordingto these authors,

Zeus
by Apollo, because
forged by the Cyclopes,killed

slain

the

to

assignedby
the

was

Admetus,

Cyclopes, wherein
thunderbolt-forging
Hesiod ; only that the latter mentioned
themselves,

him

rescues

for he ascribes the excellence

Homer,

to

even

his

ness.
gratitudefor his kindalready told before Euripides by
Admetus
the bondage with
was

./Esehylus",^but
even

in

serves

in

of Death

hands

This

pastures, and

his

on

the

in

Pheres, reigns at Pherse,

of

son

Southern
and

239

reproach.

Admetus,

1.

DOWN.

step by step, I shall succeed

advance
this

LAID

BEEN

HAS

WHICH

had, with
his beloved

were

weapons
son

Escu-

of this,again,was,
that the
lapius;* and the reason
miracle-working physicianhad, at that place,even
recalled the

dead

to

subjects of

him

who

thereby diminished

life,and
rules

in

the

the

infernal world."

myth-compiler referred to, related further,ihat

of the bondage to which
the time
pelled
comApollo was
of Zeus, amounted
to submit
by the command
that is,a definite period,*
as
to a eviavTog,''
Apollo,
with Poseidon, also served Laomedon,
according to
The

1
'
'

'
'

^
II.,ii. 766.
Eumenid., 713.
*
Schol. Eurip.ib.
Schol. Eurip. Alcest. 2 in Sturz,2d edit.
the
Hesrodic
for
ring
referverses
us
Athenagoras ias preserved
to this,
Legat.,p. 106, Oxf. Pindar; P. III. 57, imitated them.
Phereoydes,and in the Sdtol. to Pindar, P. III. 96.

Hence

Apollod.,iii. 10.

4.

21-8
Comp. Orchom.,'p.

sqq.

240

EXAMPLES

Homer,

for

established,and, in the

The

evtavTo^}

METHOD.

THE

OF

phrase is ^^eveiv
epic,frequently-recurring
terials.
itsiviavTov. So much for the ancient legendary maancient

The

first

what

tradition, and

and

for

handed

who

authors

the

inferringthat
of the

destruction

lapius,
"

into

the

native

localities,an

of

Delphi,the

being
in

nay,

the
he

tion.
elabora-

of

process

connexion

of the

with

that

statement

the

restored

of

one

has

legends

together from

linked

modification

is very

another

Escu-

legends have entirely

entirely different history.^

connexion

slain because

was

"

and

worship

whole

the

no
originally

different

in

legend

His

traditions

^the

slavery,

Apollo.

appearance

the

reasons

order to avenge

Cyclopes in

Esculapius had

Lastly,the

of

occasion

several

are

popular local tradition, but was

another cycle of legends,and introduced
not

was

from

derived

particularlyHesiod

there

Now,

by the

added

been

has

it down,

Pherecydes?

cient
genuine an-

is here

question is. What

different

Esculapius

dead

the

life

to

fable for the

clearlybetrayed, as

the

sake

of

traditions

person resuscitated by Apollo were

and diversified.^ It might be said, on

regardingthe
numerous

other

hand, that

local

tradition, which

Pherecydes

Delphian, because
given by him,
the

the

the

from

the

killingof

destruction

'

II.,xxi.

In Sohol.

444.

of

whole

But

we

so

the

this in
have

been

fable, as
know

that

Apollo's bondage, not

Cyclopes

and

Python.

Dor., vol.

Earip. ih.

course,

Delphi.

deduced

the

of

even

of the

scene

is laid at

Delphian legend

from

must,

found

at

i. p. 308.

Esculapius,but

Anaxandrides,*
'

See

above, p.

34.

WHICH

HAS

BEEN

Delphian writer, states

serve

because

he

slew

LAID

that
the

DOWN.

Apollo was
monster.

241

obliged to
This

is still

stronglyproved by the festal ceremonies of

Delphi,which I have alreadydescribed, and whose
strated.^
high and ante-historical antiquityI have demonEvery eightyears the combat with Python
there representedby a boy; and when
it was
was
over, he set out
by the sacred road for Tempe, iu
Northern
and
Thessaly,in order to be there purified,
to return at the head of a Theoria to Delphi,with a
laurel, branch from the sacred valley. All this was
dramatic
of the mythus. Thus was
representation
the god Apollo himself said to have fled and made
atonement.^
Now, on the road to Tempe, the boy
also representedthe servitude of the god,as is stated
by Plutarch;^ and it is evident that in the mythus
itself the bondage of Apolloin Thessalian Pherse corresponded
to this representation.
Moreover, it can be
clear evidence, that the sacred
shovra, with tolerably
by which the boy travelled,
path,the 686; tlvOias,
reallypassed:byPherae. It led from Delphi through.
mount
Western
Locris, through Doris, over
CEta,
throughthe country of the Malians and vEnianians,
ing
and then it doubtless went through Phthiotis,stretchinto the Pelasgianplain,and on by Larissa to
Tempe.* Any on^ whOi possesses a geographical
knowledge of the country will perceivethat Pherae
the more
so
also lay in the direction specified;
as,
more

accordingto

an

allusion in

Hesiod,' the hecatombs.

'P,97.
*
^

01

n
*

De
Comp. Callimachus in Tertnlliati,
vJMvai
De Defectu Oraa, -15.. ai re
rA Tl/tMrj]
xa6ag//,oi.
yn6/itmittgl
Uor,, vol. i. p. 231 sq.

Cor. Mil.
xal ^
*

c.

7.

XarjE/"rou

iraiiit

The Shield,v, 477;

R

242

EXAMPLES

which

from

sent

were

THE

OF

METHOD

Thessaly to Pytho

ducted
con-

were

past the Pagassean sanctuary of Apollo, and

Pagasselayonly ninetystadia

Pherae/

distant from

By this means, then, we have alreadyattained two

objects: first,we hare discovered, in the established
form of the legend,what
was
merely contributed by
treatment
have also ascerliterary
we
tained,
; and, secondly,
at the

connexion
It may,

time, the real form

same

of the

mythus

as

that

and

amalgamation

of

it

find their

all its elements

Delphian

by

and

customs

is this the
out

arose

original

local fable.

neither

perhaps
Delphian and a

but this is discountenanced

need

Delphian

indeed,be objected,that

Original
one,

and

Pheraean

of the

legend ;

the circumstance, that

complete explanation in

institutions,and

we

have

no

refugein anything else. We

turn, therefore, after having established the original
of the legend,
form
in which
to its interpretation,
it
shovm
and this is a main
will be most clearly
tion
posiin the present work
that its path is marked
when
the circumstances
out with
perfectcertainty,
influenced the origin,
which
of the mythus are
first
ascertained.
Here, in fact, all the individual points
of proare
completelydeared up by this method
cedure.
therefore

to take

"

"

First, Bondage itself

as
It is certain
blood

that

emanated

the

from

punishment for

entire law

Delphi, and

of

murder.

expiation for

from

thence

was

of flight
and purification
determined.*
necessity
tions
Now, bondage also was
formerlyone of the condiand restoration of the fugitive
of purification,
to
his native land,as several mythi bear which
could
the

'

Strabo,ix.

436

'.

Dor., vol.

i. p. 350

; ii. p. 241.

WHICH

be invented

not

that

reason,

The

deed

of

the

of

dragon,in

Bceotian
dorus
time

linian

Cadmus
like

accordingto
perpetualyear too,

as

latent

more

at the

which
It

^as

"

an

time, as the

same

for the

bondage

aveviavTi"rfi.os.

in Greek

more

Apolperiod
rent
cur-

ivcavTia-fios

was

evidentlycomes

from

journey of the boy to Tempe

ennaeteric.^
Consequently it is manifest,
also, of which

year

blood-stained, the

the

eviavTos

at that

year

"

and,
feast-cycle,

where

DelphoApoUo-

manner

the

killed

he

eightyears. This octennial

in several mythi
sometimes

expressionfor
and

because

serves

sometimes

and

of exile and

simple

to

found

apparent

243

no

{aiSidv
eviavrov.) Now,

amounted
be

DOWN.

longer appears.
Hercules
is almost
always derived
bloodshed, and frequently
through a

tradition, a

says,

is to

servitude

these

oracle.

Pythian

LAID

in the historical times, for this

in

bondage

from

BEEN

HAS

Delphi,
also

was

that

the

Phereeydes speaks, (in like

probably,that in Homer,) is no other than

as an
Delphian ; especially
epie poet, from whom

manner,

the

Clemens
to

Alexandrinus

derives it,evrai

it, the

definite

more

expression fieyav

magnum?
Accordingly,the simjdemeaning of

"s

annum

eviavrov,

this:

ence
used, in refer-

As, in accordance

Zeus, every

one

has

the

^ed

eternal

blood,

leave his fatherland, and

must
justly,

his native

who

with

gods, until

he

has made

the

even

mythus

is

"e/tisof

though

stay afar from

atonement

for his

must
the
so
even
guilt,and received purification;
he tainted himself with the
pure god ApoUo, when
blood of Python, a beingof dsemonic nature, however
'

^lian,

'Strom.

Var.

Hist.,iii.1, snuilndrov. Plutarch,Qucegi.

Gr.,

1.3 23 ".

12.

EXAMPLES

2U

jiistand
the

THE

OF

the

necessary

METHOD

might be,

combat

of flight,
bondage, and

general laws

submit

to

expiation,

and

undergo obscuration, in order that he might

the
the dyvos Oeog. The
^otjQoj,
as
again appear
more

exalted

more

is the

of which
arose

is he

same

thought.
should

servitude

the

be

found

be

the

road

high

sacred

was

so

fell

exactlyto

became

Pherse

connected

the

mythus

was

and

the

the

enjoyed by

Peneus.

Now,

distributed

in this way

that

think

still.

reason
satisfactory

Pher*

into,certain
use

may

representationof the bondage

with

However,

heroes.

the

places.

; but

stages of penitentialpilgrimage,if we
that the
the. expression,

the

completed there,

consideration

valley of

way

Tempe

to
he

expiationmust

of all

because

answered,

path, the

in the

namely,why

Pherse

assignedto

sanctuary in the

perhaps

expressions of

is in the dark,

it may

the sacred

why

is to
the

be

generalway,

reason

different

only

thing,indeed,

lay on

idea, therefore, out

for bloodshed
necessityof atonement
birth also to the'mythus: religious
usage

niiythusare

the
Oeftis,

tho

to

the

gave

One

bow

must

Befin glorified.The

and

In

who

place
I

can

the

and

its ancient

give

It is this:

originallydevdoped

mythus

far'

more

imagine that

with

daring

from
sublimityof fancy. The pure god, the fugitive
into
Olympus, as iEschylus says, w;as thrust down
the

infernal world,

earth-born

king of

as

Python.

punishinentfor slayingthe

He

the subterraneans.

expressed

in the

Apollo,on

other

vv^as

His

doomed

to

the

serve

degradationis thereby

strongest possiblemanner

for to

occasions, according to the belief of

the Greeks, all corpses

and

the

waves

of

Cocytus

are

WHICH

BEEN

HAS

abomination.^

an

subterranean

Artemis
that

deities.

filled with

eestis,because

Hecate

had

she

city of

there

was

adored

as

deity

same

of Al-

sacrificed to her."

not

the

Per-.

from

other.

245

serpents the bridal chamber

sephone-Brimo, also,
Hermes*

was

it is evidentlythe

;^ and

Pheraea

Pherse

Now,

DOWN.

LAID

who

the lake

rises with

Bcebeis

subterranean

by, is probably

hard

Periclymene,^the
mother
of Admetus, is in like manner
a Persephone^
observed
above," and it is superabundantly
as
was
manifest
that a sullen goddess of the nether world
in-^
But "ASfitrros,
"the
was
worshipped at Pherae.
doubtless like aSafiaaroi^an ancient
domiitable,"
was
no

Lastly,Clymene,

appellativeof
in

Hades

conjunction

or

himself, who

with

worshipped
deity, and the

was

female

that

'ASft^Tov /we\os originally

nothing else than
Now,

Hades

Admetus

that

god performed,on

to the Phei^sean deities

Afterwards, when
descended
service

into the

came

in the house

of Admetus

mythi
of

an

to be

and

ancient

I leave

the

sphere

like

so

as

of the

reader
reflecting

other

gods,

mythology^the
having been rendered
a

there still remain

worship

to servitudes

many

the pastures of

on

ceremonies

of heroic

viewed

originaltradition
'

account, various

bearingreference

and only remark

iiimself,
as

the

Admetus,

nsenia.*

legendwas that Apollo

boy who personatedthe

therefore, the ancient

served

gods
to

hero.

of

Dead;

but

these

np

further, that if
descent

the

distinct traces

of the

follow

In

we

for

assume

Apollo himself

Dor., rol. i. p. 355.

Ibid.,p. 399, 6 J besides,Lycophr. Cass.,1180.
*
ApoUod., i. 9, 15.
Propert.,ii. 2,
"
P. 182.
Orch., p. 256.
'
II.,ix. 158; and elsewhere.
Dor., vcfl.i. p.

to

"

6'4.

'

5
'

339.

EXAMPLES

the

infernal world,

thrown

unexpected light is thereby

fables, otherwise, indeed, extremely

the

on

METHOD

THE

OF

24.6

obscure, which

an

of

speak

To this refers what

Mnaseas

god Apollo.

of the

death

communicates

of Patara

Fulgentius
ApoUinem, postqtmm ab Jove ictus
ad septdchrum
est, a vespillonibus
atque interfectus

in

"

"}

esse."^

elatwm

example

Another

2.

different, and,

legendarycyclesof
of Perseus
main

fact after

epic poet, is proved

with

chief

Pherecydes.)"

up his

daughter Danae

in

heaven

golden shower,

in

Mother
thrown

into
from

king of

Zeus

the

the

streams

child

and

waves

but

the island, vdshes

the

daughter of (Enomaus,
occasion

2
'
*

"
"

of

is

down

going
and

banquet, to

Argos
him
to

of

in

not

shuts

account

on

from
her

begets by

her
from

her Perseus.

chest" and

Seriphus

rescues

brother, Polydectes,

to take

pretends that

he

his

of

upon

enclosed

are

He

'

agreement

tower,

and

Dictys

sea.

king

come

But

on

ancient

an

the accurate

brazen

offspring.

them

from

drew

Acrisius

threat that death would

probably

were

Pindar,^who, in his relation,assuredlydoes

follow

of

darkest

Apollodorus

whom

sources

by

even

the

tirely
en-

will first relate the

he

lays; (for that

an

mythology, the mythus

Gorgons.

whose

from

of

one

from
Pherecydes,^

excerpts,*and
Hesiodic

drawn

indeed,

Grecian

the

and

be

may

to

Danae
woo

to himself.

Hippodamia,

calls upon

fithim

Expos. Serm. ant. p. 168.

Coinp. Porphyr. Vita Pytha^..,16.
Fragm. 2. p. 72 sqq.; 10. p. 90 sqa.

his vassals,

out for the bridal

StuM.

II. 4, 1, 2.
P. xii. 11 sqq.

Comp. Shield, 216;

Theog., 274;

Homer,

II.,xiv.

3 IS.

WHICH

journey.^ Now,
Perseus, who
him,
the

as

when

by

was

it would

mother.

help of

LAID

DOWN.

he demands
this time

horse

grown

the

Polydectes

undertakes
With

gods.

shield

from each,
says to

up,

takes

threaten^ if he fail,that he
Perseus

247

in anger, that he should

seem

Grorgon'shead.

word, and

the

BEEN

HAS

him

shoes

at

will take

the adventure

the

land to Oceanus

his

and

of Hermes,
sea

of the world, where

at the end

his

with the

Aides, he flies invisible over

of

have

and
he

Gorgons ; and lookingonly at the reflection

of Medusa's
in his shield,
petrifyingcountenance
in severingher head from the trunk, and
succeeds
But
placesit in his pocket reversed.
Pegasus and
Cfarysaorspringforth from the body. On returning
home, he turns Polydectes and his people to stone,
and then gives the Gorgoneion to his protectress
finds the

Athena, who

dinary tale

fixes it upon
of

her

shield.

wonder, indeed, which,

times, might well

thought

also learn, besides, what

if told in

our

institutions of the ancient

the

mythus,

cooperated

mere

circumstances, relations,

and

or

the

extraor*

play of a
grotesque fancy ; but for higher antiquitythat idea
It will scarcely answer
is inadmissible.
mine
to deterat the outset what
dition,
portionof it is popular traand what poeticalembellishment.
The whole
has an
equallyfantastic and fictitious appearance
;
know
that the mythus of Perseus
and although we
in its native soil at Argos, Mycenae, and Tiryns,
was
unless
stillthat does not lead us to the interpretation,
we

be

An

in

Argives,gave
its creation.

rise to
If

we

determining these, though only in the

then hope to
leadingpointsof the mythus, we can
succeed

in

'

Comp. Welcker, Prometh.,

p. 381.

take up

more

unravel

the whole.

and

METHOD

THE

OF

EXAMPLES

248

end,

threads, and, in the

more

festly
is mani-

point

main

the

Now,

to

cutting off the Gorgon's head by Perseus.

With
regardto this Gorgonian he"d^ Tdpyei^Ke(pa"Jt,
it can
be easilyperceived that it was
a far-famed
The
Fopyoveiovis nearly
bug-bear in ancient Greece.
the

in the

tales.
from

the

what

mythus

fears

Odysseus

infernal world

the

to

Persephoneia might also

accordingly,was
the

well

with

is armed

Athena

prodigy

mythus

through
But

also

her

did

legend,a

Gorgon figurein

districts,in connexion
without
The

even

from

in

Pallas

having
'

any

power

II.,V. 738.
Ion, 1018.

of

be

deduction

appalling,
The

the

mention

her

on

deliberate

from

sion
exten-

blood

and

of

worship

of

various

of

of

made

being

the

the rest, particularly

head

the

segis,

accomplish

popular legends
with

very

saying,

with

head

the

that

head

Pallas,

Perseus.

Erichthonius, according to the Attic

earth-born

tradition

Gorgonian

Perseus

weU

for this reason,

the

terror

dreadful, the

the

this cannot

of the

from

"the

places the Gorgon's

and

Gorgoneion,'

examining, closes

are

we

Athena

gonian
Gor-

the

^gis-shaking Zeus."^

of

which

that

feat.^

The

sprung

with

of the terrible monster,

the

him

on

as

good.

Homer,

forth

creature

shades

more

blood-drinking,lest

the

send

sery
nur-

experience taught, send evil as

troduced
But the Gorgon is almost always inAs
reference to Athena.
early as

gods, who,
as

admit

to

of the terrificmonster.

head

in later

are
ftopfioXvKeta

Euripides,'was
two

to

drops of

the

said

to

have

received

Gorgon's blood,

kill,the other

to
2

cure.

Pindar, P.

the

one

It is told
x.

45.

WHICH

HAS

there that Athena

BEEN

LAID

herself slew

DOWN.

earliest
hairs

Tegea, where
times a worship

there

at

of

Medusa,

which

Cephens,the hero of
requiredto show from

the

reference

the wall to

they

manner,

the

from

that

goddess

had

which

and
city,;

to

be the oldest

existed

of Athena,
the

in the

Gorgon,

the

the
Phlegraeangigantomachy,where
the generalbattle of the gods may
not
portion of the narrative.^ In like
fancied

249

they

had

given to
they obly

besiegingarmy,
in order to scatter it in flight.*Nay, the relation
Athena
between
and
the Gorgon is so close, that
both are
taken
for one
even
dess
mythic form, the godand
herself being called Gorgon by Euripides,^
in several other

authors.

Whence

conclude, that the Gorgon

to

hostile FaUas

her,

as

Brimo

who

Demeter
and

could

we

may

imagined

was

be

sometimes

venture
to

united

be

with

is called

Daeira, and

Erinnys, and Persephone

sometimes
regarded as an

being,detested by the goddess herself.

antagonist
The
Argive worship of Pallas, therefore, is the
leadingcircunastance in the creation of the mythus.
The goddess had her temple beside Zeus Larisss"us,
the summit
of the citadel,which was
fortified by
on
She
with
Perseus
thence
was
Cyclopean walls.
called Athena
dition,
or
AKpls.* According to tra'A/cpto
in the
Acrisius himself lay buried
temple
Acria,*

of

"

for

me

not

'

V.

1006.

the
'
*
'

to

coincidence

of

too

names

remarkable

preferthe interpretation
thereby sug-

Paus., viii. 47. 4.

connecting link.
Helena, 1316, and
Fausan., ii. 24, 4.

Apollod.,ii. 7. 3,

where

Hercules

forms

Frag, of Erechtheus.
Comp. Hesych. s. v. 'Axj/a.

the

Jv
'Ec Awf/ffoj)
rj) dxgowoXe/.Clem.

Alex.

Protr., p. 20, Sylb.

EXAMPLES

250

other.^

OF

THE

In

like

METHOD

the fable

of

gested to

any

the

Pegasus by Bellerophon,according to
with
the
account, is wholly connected
of

taming

Pindar's

manner,

sanctuary of Pallas Hippia at Corinth.^

also in

Seriphus a temple

said

was

to

from

appears

have

been

where

to Athena,

reared.^

Pausanias,*he

There

was

Perseus

that island, as

On

paid divine honours,

was

of the goddess ;* and, moreover,

the
"irdpeSpos
as
coins of the island almost
invariablyrefer to the
Corintho-Argiveworship of Pallas, the opinion* is
not improbable, that its earlier inhabitants
were
derived from
those regions. If so, then the entire
connexion
of Seriphus and Argos in the mythus is
explained.
all this may
much
to strengthen
However
serve
for us
the positionlaid down, stiU it does not open
the way
to the explanationof the mythus, because
know
we
nothing yet of the character of that ancient
at once
Now, we
worship of Athena.
assume,
may
that the ideas of the Homeric
here inapplicable,
poesy are
as

and
ancient

that

legendsof

all events,

at

the

whom

the

give

produce

growing

up

and

'

Even

Comp. Bockh,

Hygin.,f. 63.

It. 18,

For

to

call to

aid the

neighbouringAthenians, which,
the

idea

deity, through

the

light,warmth,

blooming

that of Welcker's

of

fields,and

of the

receive nourishment,

men

rather

must

we

under

Prometh.,

children

and

such

of

increase,

benign

in-

p. 387.

JS/xpl.,
p. 218.

1.

I think

that

the

whole

sentence

must

be

read, e^ei /jLit

Si i'"
ruv
(Lty'KSrai
nfgneyjagim,
]jvMux^vais]ri/jii"s
ffagcfe
oS y,ai ira^Mtf)^ negStut re/isfof, ical Ai'xnos xal KKv/dvrx
l.e^!"p"j",
Pu//A(ouT^gm xaihcv/ismv Xlegeius^
Of Spanheim, De Praest. Num.
i. p. 265.
6fiivrauSa,

"

WHICH

HAS

BEEN

LAID

traces

of such

fluences.*

Even

yet

themselves

in the

Argive mythus

is

certain rule that

careful

in

turning all

such

261

ideas

present

of Danaus

be

must

we

DOWN,

much

so

traces

to

it

and

the

more

the

account

less

with later ideas.

Danaus, the
they harmonize
parched field of Argos, suffers through the contest
between

Poseidon
his

and

Athena, until the former

daughter,the

fountain

Amymone,

fills the

lake

life,he

was

protected by the goddess, and

account,

even

built her at Rhodes

which
it

to

me

goldenrain
else than

famous

various

on

this

sanctuary,

colonies.

Nay,

clear,that the Rhodian

of Zeus
a

and

but, throughouthis whole

into
transplanted

was

seems

of Lema

pregnates
im-

legendof the
Athena, is nothing

at the birth of

transference

and

modification

of

the

Argive tradition that Perseus was

begotten by a
golden shower, the latter having been carried over
from the mother-city.
Now, I think we
already see the path we must
of the mythus, distinctly
enter, in the interpretation
before us, especially
traced
by the main position:
Perseus
daemonic
a
being in close union with the
ancient Argive Pallas,as a goddess who
blessed the
land

with

fruitfulness.

proved, not only by

also

in

the

his wonderful

clearest

he received

daemonic

His

manner

in

by

nature

is

achievements, but
the

divine

worship

Argive Tarsus.^
of the latter that ^schylus
It is perhaps on account
placesthe Gorgonian fields in the east, as the Libyan
worship of Pallas occasioned another nearlyopposite
of the mythus.
transplantation
which

'

Minerv.

Poliad.,i.

Seriphus

and

See

aboye, p.

173.

interpretationitself

in the

But

METHOD

THE

OF

EXAMPLES

252

let

not

us

require

explanationof every individual feature

allegorical
be
of the legend,for precisely
thereby would its falsity
of the
Only the signification
immediately shown.
an

features

main

is

whole
The

dry

in

cloud

Homer,

drops fall/
an

Zeus

golden

obscure

in

in

like

embraces
from

one

of which

name

I have

as

manner

the

Earth-mother, is from
of the

hot
imaginary,

Palladis.
the

But

of

in

glitteringdew-

seen

no

however,

Uepcreiis,
satisfactory
is

to

seems

by

Perseus

root.

same

the

is called

Hera,

which

this much,

but

father

the daughter of Zeus

clear, that Tlepa-ecfjoyeia,

favourite

was

bounteous,
fructifying,

child of this connexion

The

explanation;

Zeus, the

rain, and

for

golden shower,

which
a

rest

these, just because

on

into its bosom

therefore

the

soil in the land of Pallas, Aavatj

sealed up

life,descends

out

/avOos.

thirsts
'AKpta-iwv^,

and

pointed

naturallyformed

afterwards
the

be

is to

be
the

is the

PaUas, also a merely

fruit-producing
an
being,a Genius
externally-existing
the god of the nether world, called
Hohj^eKTtn

Much-receiver,

AIktvs,

also

the

Catcher, for both brothers

to take

thing,wishes
of

chaos

This

the

goddess

danger
from

whom

the

her

look

and

its circuit

is about, to

is averted

her

the

moonbeams

is turned

upon

fastened

time, her full power

'

to

delivering
dreadful Topylo,

become

stone.

the
in the

351.

The

infernal

baleful,
influence of

world

deep ; while,

is restored

II.,xiv.

overshadow

Perseus

by

the
anti-type,

soil is turned

and

same

horror

eternal

and

her.

through

probably signifythe same

Aavoj; to himself.
The night

to the

itself,
at

the

benign

WHICH

HAS

BEEN

LAID

DOWN.

253

of seeds and plants. Then

goddess,the kindlynurse
spring up the clear and livingfountains, of which
the horse is the symbol, as, in general,so Pegasus
in particular,
born at the fountains of Oceawho was
nus, was
caught beside fountains, struck out fountains
"

with

his hoofs, in his

name

also

horse

of horses, and

Polydectes'demand

of fountains.

then

the

of
procuringof one by Perseus, are also a remnant
the symbolicallegends.
this mythus may be called a physical
Accordingly,
be
called
that previouslyexamined
one
as
may
ethical
if we
only discard the idea of instruction in
The
the powers
of nature.
operationsof nature are
conceived
by a powerful fancy,and introduced into
the creed of the deity; and thence
arises a daemonafterwards
passed into the heroic
story, which
mythus. I have designedlyavoided too particular
in
the ancients interpreted
references, although even
Thus the Orphiciexplainedthe ro^7oVthis sense.
which
then
to be the fades in orbe lunee,with
eiov
of Pallas as the moon
Aristotle's interpretation
would
very well agree ;^ but although this interpretation
ture,
manifestlysuits some
expressionsof that deity'sna"

"

fear, however, that it still offcener lealves

lurch, arid proves

in the

application.'But

into

symbolical;and
formed
and

'
.

Clem.

p. 7. 11.
^ Min.

to

this, that

from

Hesiod

as

it had

Alex.,
Pol.,p.

Strom,

5.

the

become

v.

restricted;

advanced
is

mythus

its age,
even

and

narrow

above
bring the principles

and

too

in the

here

time

Comp.

of Homer

Eschenb.
sp.

be

may

ordinary heroic

p. 571 *".

also

thoroughly

idea

some

us

^83.

fable.
Epig.,

The

THEORY

FOREGOING

THE

264

gives it

symbolical character

old Attic, even

very

forth, in

risingup

head, and

Chimaera's
a

of

in

Pegasus,

relief

CHAPTER

Comparisonof the

Theories

sections,may

it

now,

which

To
have

to

the

early

very

their minds, tbat from

with that which

me,

the

many
been

the

has been

foregoing

find themselves

theory and

in

mode

presented,will,I hope,
the conviction

and

appeared correct;

arisen in

simple consideration of the

suppliedby history,in the firstplace,obser-

'

Paus., ii. 20.

Millingen,Monum,

Treatise

this treatment

of

duly weighed

seems

situation.

of treatment

materials

Chrysaor springing

XV.

of Others

have

who

Readers

twofold

f Perseus

terracotta;* and

ancient

very

; scenes

at Selinus.*

style,found

have

teristic
charac-

Cypselus,*

the coffer of

on

reliefs of Gitiadas

the brazen

among

cuttingoff the

still

was

Etruscan, coins

of Perseus

the combat

and

art, which

portraiture.Hence, a Gorgoneion,as a work

impresCyclopes at Argos ;^ the Gorgonea, as sions
on

from

peculiarrepre-

representbut littleby expressionand

able to

of the

elder

attracted

and
sentability,

by

5.

ib.,v.

ined. N.

Pisani.

of the

5,

Compare

fable,besides

18.

1.

lb.,iii. 17.

3.

2.

with

reference

the brief notice

vol. i. p. 412, the profound and ingeniousviews

his Mythology of the JapetidsB,
p. 200 sqq.

to the whole
in

the

of

Dorians,

of Volcker

in

255

generalevidence, and
weightyimport,but stillat the

vations which
of

OTHERS.

WITH

COMPARED

possess

more

then

tions
positime

same

with the former, have been here

in close connexion

Others, on the contrary,who

have

come

folded.
un-

to the

at vaiiance
considerably
presented,have perhaps nowhere
under
the necessityof abandoning

\iews
perusal entertaining
with

those

here

themselves

found

them,

which

"

be the

must

longerconscious
their opinions
; but
still

method

ground

I should

of treatment

Both

escaped myself.

requirethat

of the

are

of

nesses
perhaps,see throughweak-

many,

defects in my

and
have

themselves

to

no

with all those who

case

which

classes of readers

lay before them

and
the views of other inquirers,
point out wherein
they differ from mine : the former, in order that they
whether
each theory has not perhaps equal
see
may
in order that I may
claims to probability;
the latter,
in some
measure
justify
myself to them for presenting
may

at

in addition
all,

But

own.

merely of
instead

of

I must

in my

and this

also

theories,a

characteristic
minute

at

not
mind, is certainly
to exhibit

the

indications

in each

expositionor

the latter,indeed, would

attempt

As

theory,
tive
exhaus-

be presumptuous

comparison,as
so.

of my

newone

always confine myselfto

indulgingin

criticism
;

to these

is most

what

now

mean

conceived

cularly
parti-

which
opinionsand principles

at the present time, and that,too, in Germany,

prevail
I shall beginwith Heyne, who has at all events given
a new
impetusto the study,and perhaps also laboured
it ; but it is not my objectto make
most
to advance
a
generaland comprehensive survey: and no one
stress on the circumstance, that
must
lay particular

only

six

scholars

are

adduced, whose

ideas of the

THEORY

FOREGOING

THE

256

presentedthemselves

science

to

In

than any others.

definitely
I pass by
above explanation,

and

the

laid

of

Petit-Radel

and

Bottiger^had already
connexion, vdth their proofs

to do so, if

his views

down

conformity with

the Euhemerism

Larcher, Clavier, Raoul-Rochette

perhaps I ought not

distinctly

more

me

in

methodicallyarranged.

Heyne. (l)
The
of

foundation

event,

an

or

of

notion

accordingly,mythi may
and philosophical.
(3)
mode

of

very

remote

of

the

"

the

not

than

mythus

that
to

necessary

itself otherwise

express

historical

assume

that it could

period

into

originof

we

representationwas

the report

humanity ;^(2)

divided

be
But

is either

earlier

conceived, unless

be

cannot

mythus

certain'

on

this

many

jects
sub-

mythically.(4)

the infant language of

mythus, therefore, was
race.
Poverty and necessityare its parents. (5)

The
the

Proper expressions,preciselycorresponding to the

The mind, strugstillwanting to that age.
idea, were
gling
through and bursting forth, felt itself,as it
with

itself

merely

about

for external

of

sensible

images ;

of external

mythicus

and

For

said

beget,and expressed a

by

the

same

figure,"and
into

bitus deorum
"

Amalthea,

'

Commentat.

N.

thus

ideas, particularly

were

into

events, h The

et

arose.

to occupy

impressions,it sought

holicus
to

Accustomed

kind, transformed
religious

narrations

and

confined.*

straitened and

were,

to

sermo

they

cause,

host of other

in this way

mythology;* and

symbols

came

here

sym~

then

relations

the c"ncU'
it is easy

i. p. 1 2.

Commtr.,

S.

G., xiv.

viii. p. 38.

p.

143; and elsewhere.

*

Commentat.,

ii. p. 13"5l

COMPARED

observe, that

to

yet

But
with

narrations
fostered
interest.^
ancient

actual

the

priestsin
Only those

(6)

times, which

arose

order

to

excite
of

narrations

was

greater

the

most

be,
can
incapacity,
mythi. In interpreting

from

transport ourselves

must

we

and

occurrences,

strictly
speaking,accounted
them,

257

the

contained

by

OTHERS.

myth-inyentingage did not

the morality and
delicacy of a later
the expressionbecame
founded
graduallyconthe thing; the error
crept in,that these

possess

period/

WITH

into the

back

of

thought and expressionwhich belonged

to that remote
period,and not go to work with too
much
subtletyand ingenuity. The interpretation
manner

must

itselfwith

content

undefined

much
resemblances, inas-

unites even
mythus frequently
thingsthe
most
diflferent,
by an accidental combination of ideas,
by an ingeniousplay of wit. (7) The oldest are the
physical,and then the theogonic mythi ; from these
as

the

graduallyunfolded

were

the

worships

the

of

gods,

is called
religions.^
(8) Every allegorical
personage
"eo?. (9) The
for a
poets, who did nothing more
long time than relate, embellish, and alter mythi,
afterwards

made

use

of them

as

materials

they might practisetheir art,and by

which

on

which

they might

of their hearers ;
gratification
as
pleasing fancies, {phantasmata;) (10) they first
added to them grace and elegance. The sermo
myihibecomes
cus
now
poeticus: for the poet does not now
mination
employ those forms by compulsion, but with discriand
perception of beauty. Thus Homer

their end

attain

even,

'
'

in order

to

"

^the

adorn

11.,xxiii. p.
Commtt., xiv. p. 148.

Sxe.

ad

565.

his poems,
^

Comp.

took

Exc.

from

i. ad

older

II.,viii.

258

FOREGOING

cosmogonies

and

in order

To

related them

and

him

they

were

which

Hesiod

these

arrange

in

the

best

sible
sen-

splendid

contented

was

he

way

histories.*

than

nothing more

existingand heterogeneousfables

unite

in

actual

as

vised
de-

were

physicaldoctrines

imposing pictures.

and

to

theogonies,fables

to convey

manner,

(11)

THEORY

into

one

to

poem,

could, and

to

(12)
by poeticalornament.^
partlyby means
Mythi have been variouslydisfigured,
the lyricand dramatic
of the poets,especially
; partly
them

render

by

the

attractive

industry

of

ficial
sacri-

prophets, ciceroni, and

priests;partly by philosophicalinterpreters,
and

mythological systems.

itself has also varied

The

mythic expression

in different ages

: we

fore
there-

must

caution
before we
can
proceed with the utmost
form. (13)
regard a mythus as restored to its original
And
is stiU very hazardthen the interpretation
ous;
even

for

authentic

an

is
interpretation

not

be

to

expected, as the ancient transmitters already took

it for a reality;and those who
followed, explained
into than out of it. (14)
more
(1.) "Without being able to promise here the substance of all
the mythologicalwritingsof Heyne, scattered over
a
great many
and continue till 1807,) I have, however,
years, (they beginwith 1763,
read the greater part in order

copious is

the last

pretatio ad
Commentat,
before

to write

these pages

treatise,
{Sermonis mythici seu
et

causas

S. G.

rationes

ductaegue

V., xvi.,)which

I have

inde

; the

most

symbolici interregulas revocata,

therefore

not

quoted

in detail.

(2.)Exactly so above, p. 9 ; in addition to which I only remark,

that to the myth-creatingpeople of course
both appeared
as
homogeneous, otherwise they could not have so come
together,
the
actual
of
statement
in
^namely, as
things the present or past.
"

(3.)Compare, on the contrary,p. 12.

(4.)The fundamental
positionof the whole inquiry,in
myopinion.
'

N.

Gommtr.

viii. p. 34.

Commtt.,

ii. p. 135.

COMPARED

WITH

OTHERS.

(5.) On the contrary,p. 20.

(6.) According to Heyne, therefore,the
knew

that

form;
Zeus

the

for
in

narrations

example,

which

that

there

personal shape :

this way,

all true

they

the

on

faith is

framers

of the

communicated

not, and

was

259

contrary, see

mythua
merely

were

never

had

been,

p. 50

and

59.

reallydestroyed,and

In

prehension
misap-

as

appears

of

enlightenment.
original
to one's
might greatlymisunderstand
this,and justify
self every interpretation,
however
foolish. Why
might not some
in ancient times have some
such notion ? An explanationis
one
it removes
the accidental.
certainlyso much the better the more
(8.) On the contrary,p. 60 and 168.
(9.) On the contrary,p. 183.
(10.) I think that such indifference for the materials is entirely

(7.) One

foreign to

the

certainlytook

Grecian

ancient
the

Hesiod, Eumelus, "c.,

in earnest.

thing more

(11.) Compare

world.

the views

opposed

to

this in the

Appendix

on

Homer.

(12.) Compare,
(13.)
never

An

taken

on

excellent

contrary,the Appendix on Hesiod.

principleat all events, only that Heyne

the

of exhibitingits applicationin

the trouble

has

lengthened

investigations.

(14.) And

yet Heyne

unfavourable

to

has

the

himself

shown

even

at

last not

gether
alto-

of
purelyphysicalinterpretations

the

Stoics in Homer.

Voss. (1)

MS^oj,
mythus

for

from

which

relation,and nothing more.^ (2)

are

doubtless also,in what

So

of reflection.

nourishing acorn
and

soon

to

as

earth, water,

call

we
man

However,

off

ing,
say-

there

mythology,results

lifted his eyes from

the oak, and

himself, the eater, had

forced itself on

palm

tale,signifies
a
word,

emblematic

an

tried to

it has been

reflected whence

arisen, the

sensible

the
it
idea

him, that "Everything had sprung from

the separation
and air, and these from
"

Antisymb., p.

198.

of

THEORY

FOREGOING

260

shapeless,confused

Powers

spirits assumed

him

to

related

by

in circulation

even

fables

earliest

these

natural

and
so

and

(4)narrations

action

not

performed by

were

the

the

others, and

them

mundane

which

He

as

in

personages

originof

who

were

will call
moral
may
vidual
indi-

from

persons
Far

propertiesof the originalbeing.

this be permitted in reference to

the

less,still,can

the

younger

sessors
pos-

dignitiesof nature, (6)

ancient

of the

thought,

because
allegorical,
as
acting persons,
try to explain every

objects appear
him

of

Homer.^

before

(5)only let

form

is the

Hesiod

further

rials."
mate-

originalpower, and
and
these
indwelling

the

This

shape. (3)

human

primary

an

thereon;

dependent

powers

do

efficacious,he

so

in themselves

contain

must

of rude

mass

who

of
graduallyelevated from the deified ancestors
diflferent tribes. (7) They govern
in the manifold

spheres

of the

Poseidon
realm

stormy
"c.;

of shadows,

so

individual
wiser

much

ideas, far

than

wisdom

for

forms
"

and

the

They

nature.

more

of adoration

Mjrth. Briefe,p.

independent

are

their

caprice

own

teachers

the

that

mass,

hordes
of wisdom,

they clothed

spiritualthan

could

as

dreadful

associated

the

mon
com-

seize, in deeply

even

the

wondering people.*(9)
priestcraft the former with
"

(10) as

13

the

ancient

rational
;

of

most

latter

aim, the

benevolent
introduced

they

and

language

or

emblems
significant
Secular

but

and

exalted

more

mind

Aides

(8) Among

humour.
were

sea.

acting according to

personages,

there

moral

and

indeed, propertiesof their administration,

assume,

and

of external

sq.

with

meaning

cunning design
"

into the ancestral

notions

continued
"

Ibid.,p.

grow15

sq.

COMPARED

WITH

OTHERS.

261

ing less rude, theygraduallypassed over

into

ideas

and

of virtue
from

rose

and

the

honesty :

physicalviolence

power.

Homer

himself

rudeness

of the

governors

hero

wise

to

and

spiritual
the

god

beneficent

godlikethan his
gods ; but as a layman he dared only touch gently
the ancestral ideals of perfectionwhich
the sacrificer adored.^
He
worshipped the gods of Olympus
from Thracian
(11)tradition; but softened, so far as
statutes and popular delusion admitted, the primitive
sylvan Bringersof
the boldness

force

superhuman, the
Mosaic

of the world,
Averters

ruler of the

advance

of brute

more

and

imagine

to

did the Greeks

the

Good

the sublimest

was

was

or

by
to

divine.

world,

still half-

"

of Evil.

Zeus

Homer

had

as

express him.
cultivation from

(12)

feelingof

human,

After

the

Homer,

Thus

the appreciation

echoes

the

of the

doctrine of the creation,the

gods,and

Phoenicians
and the
Hesiod

man's

and

the

the ancient

heroic

In the interval between

modified

extension of
partlyby geographical
ture
adventures ; partlyby the admix-

foreignwith
elevation

native
of

gods ; partlyby
the form

in Hesiod

tragicauthors,mythology was

ways

accidental

find them

we

to Demeter.^

in manifold

of

originfrom

to Greece, where

Hymn

the gloryof
deluge,
clay,came
through the

gods

rude

and

usages, and

deities of tribes

to

the
tional
na-

the alterations of

in
sculptors
who, feelingin

of the

gods ; by wise men,

of the
themselves a sublimer deity than the daemons
and
the people
people,taught the initiated plainly,
by indirect interpretation
; and lastly
by priests.^A
secret

union

of

Orphici,whose

'

Myth. Br., p.

15-21.

Myth. Br., p.

44.

agency
^

became

Antisymb..p.

visible
175.

THEORY

FOREGOING

262

the faith of

Olympiad, fraudulentlyengraftedon
Greece
a
religionmiscreated in Phrygia

and

and

from

the

30th

Egypt,

worship

of the

Pamphus, Musseus,
members

the

the

sun

"

Onomacritus,

and

sian
Per-

shocking medley. Olen,

the

the active

were

of this secret
from

lightwon

after

Darius, with

united, under

which tried to turn

fraternity,
Judaea, and through philosophy,

pervertingit by

the most

personaladvantage of

shameful

inventions,to

(13)
greedy priesthood.^

I fear
of the views of this inquirer,
representation
much
that I have not always rightlyseized his meaning ; for in
the MythologicalEpistles,as well as in his Antisymbolism,he
in which
his ideas of the manner
positively
very seldom lays down
I have, therefore,
been even
to
mythic narrations arose.
obliged,

(1.) In

admit

and

the

negations into

many

view

proper

may,
oldest

the above

as
representation,

his true

perhaps, be gathered thence.

of the language certainly,

use
(2.) In the
although no
in
authors.^
and
the
Alexandrian
The
Plato, Aristotle,
longer
word

is

ancient
be

to
must

always

poetry and

oldest

and

art, which

best,to

denote
all

at
antiquity,

the materials

of

events, imagined

in many
respectshomogeneous. But for that very reason
the idea be taken so widely,that the emasculation
of Uranus,

the adventures

and

the

of

both

Odysseus,may

fall under

it.

Uranus
is by no
to Hesiod
means
a
(3.) Certainlynot.
form, but the entire Heavens
Being livingin Heaven, in human
conceived
active and personal;' and justso is it with all
as
living,
theogonicbeings. Even that is perhaps only a bringing in of new
the idea of powers
must
he formed
out of them
ere

views, that
man

(4.)On

the

(5.) On

the

(6.) I

contrary,p. G2.
think,also,that much

These

sense.

contrary,pp. 60,

heingi with

beings have,
whom

hundreds

have boated
divine

before

the

tive
primi-

persons.

168.

truth

as

of

lies in

objectsof
thousands

this,only in

worship, that
were

conversant

another

is, as
for

but
centuries,in many
different
places,and under definite
attained a character whose
manifold relations,
originalfoundation
mMwy

'

'

Antisymb.,p. 155,
See

above, p. 2.

and

elsewhere.

'

Comp.

pp. 1, 44.

be unriddled,and
only with difficulty

can

(7.) Then
remains

sort

beings

is

anything but

are

at
end, and
an
religionat once
of philosophy and
history: for

do

(if we

not

were

263

OTHERS.

WITH

COMPARED

reckon

not

there
those

insulated

some

gorical.
alle-

merely
primary
and

less

had been, as can

important usages)objectsof worship, and never
be shown.
But accordingto this view, Zeus and Hera, "c., were

beings.Before their hero-worshipwas exalted to

devoured
the Pelasgians,
therefore,
acorns, and gave

human

little concern

about

Zeus.

But

the full idea of the Divine

(8.) In
as

the poet to

he also must

god

here, and

act

Being

wit, and

always have

if 2ii( is

what

not

had

else than

person

? p. 182.

speaking;
that, strictly

even

ground

for

abroad,

and

definite

themselves

nothing

in

concentrated

ship,
god-wor-

making

this

that there.

(9.) Compare the similar view, p.

(10.) But how did they spread

51.

it

it

procure

acceptance ?

(11.) Only

they are Olympian gods, p. 159; or

and
AiiSmtaTos,"Agye/jj
'A^^vri also
'AXaXxo/iswifs
"Hgjj,

did ZgCj

him

to

come

TO

so

from

(12.) Not

far

as

thence

Homer

see
first,

p. 186

; and

to

as

the

rudeness

of

the Homeric

gods, see the Appendix.

(13.) Against this position,see the Appendix
the

compare

Review,

Review

of

I know

1825.

meaning

the

not

of

Antisymholik,

whether,

the

in

after all

the

on

this,I

Orphici ;
Gottingen

understand

highly meritorious mythologist; and

would, therefore,only ask if it is reallythis ? The mythi of
the cosmogonic excepted
relations of
Greece
were
originally
actual deeds performed by all sorts of rude,immoral
tribe-leaders,
esteemed
their
still
barbarous
who
by
more
were, however, highly
afterwards
partlyregarded as deities. It is foolish
times, and were
the

aright

this

"

"

to

for

look

times

meaning

taken

afterwards
fashioned

out

up

of those

required. If

Heyne

and

in them.

The

by arbitrarypoetry,
rude

so, then

Creuzer, but

to

wonderful

is

more

actions

Voss

fact that

also
it

was

gradually

chose,and

the

is

all the

erroneous

and

which

tribe- idols whatever

Buttmann.

Nothing

originalis

events

directly
opposed,not only to
other inquirers
here named.

(l)
than
of the

to

consider

mythic

world

the
as

THEORY

FOREGOING

264

the

offspringof

accidental

modern

this

tales

of

our

entirelyforeign

it is

; but

wonder

vellous.
mar-

of

invention

is the

nature

of the

in search

imaginationgoing forth
Of

dowed
variouslyen-

and

rich

invented
primitive age which
ed,
nothing with design,but merely contemplated,learnand again figuratively
represented. An immense
in
number
of such allegorical,
and other mythi, were
that

to

simple

and

circulation,and, in process
that
on

the
to

muse

suggested,were

form

the

the

East,

ancient
than
the

that which

formed

them

other

cycles,and
confusedlymixed
how

the

most

lies in

must

oldest

'

"

in

not

field of

P. 169.

then

thousand-

now

birth-time

already

knew

that

form, matters

other, and

are

the

of fables in

now
same

general

highest antiquity,partly even

be

confounded

poeticalnarration, so

Berlin

That

separate development of individual nations.*

in the interval to

wide

The

higher,nay,

before the
It

over.^

into

heterogeneous materials

of the Greeks

directlydestroy each
times

transferred

were

together.(3)

up

unite, in outward

to

ten

of

into groups,

tongued mythology

other connexion

any

thinking which lies at

supplied. Insulated legends

the mode

themselves

manifold

expressions of

manifold

as

of

quired
re-

chain.^

without
ideas, originally

bottom

there

and

here

(2) These mythi had

places,partly in Greece, and partly

arisen in various
in

dependence

causal

united,

so

only slightconnecting touches,

another, and

which

time, became

assumed

by degrees they

one

of

with
far

as

time

the
we

are

of the

concerned,

which, again,there stretches

poeticalindustry,whose

Acad., 1814-15,

iiber
5

Kronos,

1816, uber

out

products have

p. 168.

Noahs

SbLne,

p. 146.

WITH

COMPARED

only come

to

Hesiod.^

(4)

us

in

To

the

OTHERS.

265

fragments through
later

poets, such

as

Homer
the

and

dians,
trage-

loping
expanding and devethe traditionary
mythi; and it adapted itself
to the requisite
mode
of treatment, and to the kind
of poetry.^ In these circumstances, we
must
not
expect that we shall be able to establish and explain
It is best to inquire,
every mythologicalinvention.
in the first place,for the greater and
more
nent
promipoints; and among the smaller, for those which
to bear traces of a severed
seem
or
nexion.^
neglectedconof
(5) Analogy is an important means
ance
interpretation.A successful analogy gives us assurof the otherwise
equivocalaid derived from the
explanationof names,* which can alone completely
f therefore,also,in
us as to the true sources
enlighten
must
not
order to obtain analogies,
we
neglectthe
comparison either of oriental or northern
legends.
By such comparison we can go so far as to wrest
the legends,
the authors through
to speak, from
so
whom
know
them, and to separate what
we
they
added
from
the genuine nucleus."
A great portion
historical impress withof mythology now
out
bears an
strict sense.
at all containinghistory in the
Natural
objects,general ethical ideas, national races
in regard to
and
gods, (as has been latelyshown
Hippolytus,) stand amidst heroes : down to the socalled expedition of the Heraclidae, there is not a
of
singledistinct historical personage; even the history
fell

'

P. 142.,

Kronos,

I. 1818,

merely

the

task

of

gerl. Acad., 1818, iiber Elektron, p. 42.

p. 1 69.

Verbindungen

mit

Asien., p. 216;

1820, Minyse,

p. 23.
'

1816, Janus, p. 125,

'

Noahs

Sohne, p.

145.

THEORY

FOREGOING

266

that

handled

whole

time

of

from

with

the

legends at

The

Pisistratus,is but

few monuments,

However,

legendsand

many
can

we

no

history,in which, perhaps,there

real

though

in deeds
"

uncertain

from

the

from

that

which, with

"

expeditionof

sudden

of
antiquities

be

the Heraclidae

in which

of

deeds

repeated only

scanty
wards,
down-

lie

and

only

the

the tribe,

mythic beginnings

composed,

of

of

of

not

insulated

mere

contimied

which

events

account

on

chronology is

all

historical threads, but

narrations

us

tradition
rich-streamingfabulous
change of character, begins from

point upwards, and

impossible,(7) as here
continuous

already

was

^thetime to

tradition,

that

and

epopees,

longer revise.^ (6)

carefully
separate the period preceding

must

we

epicallyhistory/

history,till about the

scientific product drawn

and

criticism which

of scientific

dawn

elder Greek

of

from

only composed

expedition was

the

to

amusement

or

instruction

they conveyed, or the national praises

they contained.
Nothing historical,generallyspeaking,
be

can

derived
of

except matters

large

scale

driven

the

what

we

minute

more

the

take

certaintyfrom

ethnography

look for, as
from

with

Mivvai, the

sometimes

earlier home

of

Idoves.
'

'

On

we

on

must

not

legend was

quite

by a later habitation ;* and

often perparticulartribes, are
fectly

for

good

any

men

earlyhumanity,

more

of the

olden

time,

appellativesrecurring in
near

connexion

between

AleuadsB, p.
Aleuadee, p. 12.

14.

^
*

Minyse,
Minyse,

and

many

them,

(8)
the

memory

national

places without

geography

localities

generaldesignationsof
as

and

mythology,

p. 15.
p. 28.

as

(1.) This
service

OTHERS.

WITH

COMPARED

267
done

since 1803,
has, particularly

scholar

and

very great
treatises ; and to

mythology by separate essays

is it owing that the mythical is recognised as
especially
that the historical
and
different from
the historical,
essentially
of Gatterer's times is completelyexploded. In the
superstition
to

him

above

abstract,I

ered at the

chieflymade
of

Academy

expressionsfrom

(2.) I

have

Berlin,and

would

excellent

"

say

See cap. 4.
for I at least
the

introduced

even

some

"

Only

hold, that

profoundviews," if that

and

the

are

separate thinking of the

figure represents,is not

be

of

self.
my-

wrong

figure,and

genuinely mythical;
about

were

embraced

that I have

same

represent"may
figuratively

to the

do

have

his letters.

as
egotistical,
they

not

of the last treatises deliv-'

use

and

for

what
a

tradiction
con-

wandering
mythi, see
truth in this,still I
(3.) Although I admit that there is much
think that so much
not
trary,
irregularity
prevailed. On the con1 feel convinced

of

mythi, and

we

can

that

that

when

the

the formation

operate in

certain laws

influencingcircumstances

yet frequentlyshow

even

p. 100.

the

that

mythus

known,

are

be

must

so

formed.

(4.) Certainlyvery
after

Homer,

sense

"

true,

only acknowledge
mythic in the very

we

invention

mythic

continued

if

"

to be exercised.

The

most

furnished

by the Cyrenaic cycle of fables.

too readily
regards every mythus as
antiquity;e. g., all those which

mann

between

Europe

Cadmus

and

It

to me,

seems

but
the

in

Europa,
that

Thebes.

the whole

and

there

first to
stands

"

What,

spouse,

I think

that
logographers,
and

can

soon,

from

legends employed ;

(7.)A

of

morial
imme-

connexion,

Buttmann

as

the

of
interpretation

there

there

to them

In order

entire connexion

Hermione, (Unity

the
Polydorua,(the Bountiful,)

(6.)Yet

from

them.

these stories current

were
ask. Where
? Assuredly not in Arcadia
or
Ionia,
then, in the relativelyoldest times, was

investigatethe
the

proof of this is
opinion,Butt-

does,tear out
mythology, as, for instance,

undertake

attached
signification

I have

indicate

strictest

must

we

Cadmus

about

in Greece

not, however,

from

groups

In my
descended

even

Asia.

I would

(5.) Only
individual

and

distinct

that

is

so

Crops

as

much

to

learn

in which
of

the

Love,)

the

this,
name

son,

and so forth.
subjects,
iv^hia,especiallyin the

easilysee through their mode of procedure,

their representation,
its elements,the
extract

we

and

that

even

series of events, of which

in later authors.
the

mythi

themselves

are

the

FOREGOING

268

often evolved

be

results,can
of the

THEORY

time, also,may

likewise,although

the

mate
estithen an
certainty
; and
gies,
be formed
by comparison. Genealomost
widely di"ferent materials are
with

chronologicalhints.
together,often furnish remarkable
of Thessalus
always stand
Why, for instance,does the tribe-name
of Jason
far down
as
son
so
or
Hercules, while Dorus, Epeus,
mixed

up

"

^tolus, and

Pelasgus

this

that

reason,

Greeks
on

Thessalians

the

Unquestionablyfor

up

much

not

were

until

shortlybefore the expirationof

grounds therefore.
chronological
(8.) Against this positionI would contend
I cherish

as

sprang

by

placed high

are

in

up

of

means

became
Samothrace

the

and
field,

Thessaly and

Southern

Teos

and

Tarrha
purification
only in Tempe
Euphemus in the places inhabited by

Taenarum, Gyrene, and

?

kind

same

to

much
the utmost, inasfor the most

part
then

Hellenic
poetry (which was the first common
sion)
possesand
is
Cadmus
in
Thebes
more
general. Why
only
is Athamas, the fugitivefrom
? Why
the altar,in

Orchomenus,

Lemnos,

mythic times,^

migrations,and

first by

the

to

the

conviction,that legends

narrow

very

known

is

There

of the Greek

doubt

no

in my

nations into countless

wherefore

; wherefore

the

thousand

same

the
race,

difierent

mind

the
tribes,

Apollo's
of

mythi

Panopeus,

things of

the

that the ramification

migrations,
hereditarytradition in families and tribes
contributed
to give its form
the other,chiefly
to mythology.
on
Buttmann
everywhere tries to obliterate the local ; so that, for
on

the

example,

he has

alreadyrectified
Minyans,
Phocis
even

and

hand,

one

and

in

by Clavier,
had

their existence

and,
as

host of

Pausanias, ii. 29, a passage

order to extend the legend of the

in

its root

I would
a

of

use
"

Locris ;

explanation of

made

even

which

thinking that

in the

"

very

end, he

national

tribe

deprive myself

to

be

restricted

over
locality,
takes from the Minyans
j whereby I cannot
help

of the natural

condition, and

on

the

the

religious
knowledge
other, from

to

the

(1)

mythology and symbolism

derived,

key

legends.

Creuzer.
The

numerous

one

poor

among

the benevolent

of the

hand, from
and

that

Greeks
the

are

helpless

scanty beginnings of

people ; and,

on

the

designof priestseducated

OTHERS.

WITH

COMPARED

269

to form
them to
origin,
cation
a
higher knowledge. Direct communipurer and
could not here be employed ; the pure light
of knowledge must
first be refracted in a corporeal
object,in order that it might only fall upon the eye
radiance:
reflected,and in coloured though bedimmed

East,

in the

therefore

of

or

Eastern

it that

was

those

of mankind

instructors

obligedsystematicallyto speak in figures.(2)

Teaching was one-half exhibition and indication, and
the other half explanationand
interpretation
; but

were

the

this,from

even

dark

revealed, was
and

abundance
and

of what

ancient

of the

To

priesthood.(3)
in

symbols,

occupations

the

of

manner

contemplating

the

mythology are
prevalent in

rooted, belongs the belief everywhere

which

universal

life of

spiritualand

the

of the

world

form

main

the

interpretsymbols,were

to

To

enigmatic.

be

to

was

things;

to the
quite unknown
thinkingpeculiarto the earlyworld.

which

necessityfrom
cannot

escape,

as

the central

as

in

mirror

twofold

became

distinction
and

even

which

and

point of

Person, with the

sex,

hate, death

That

to

man

to

idea

begettingand

and

ation
separ-

destruction.

mode

so

of

universal
mind

plant himself

to

view

then

man

of

us

abstract

the world, and

Hence,

naive

most

throughout all nature,

degree.(4)
of

the
leads

the

corporeal,to

still

was

easy,

and

symbolism

whom

himself

existed

every
was

in

Power

given

givingbirth, love
The
most
lively

law.
But as the
was
a fundamental
personification
aims
at representingthe infinite in the
symbol even
limited sphere of the earthly, at unitingthe world
of idea with the world of sense, there is always some
incongruity and a superabundance of meaning in
"

270

THEORY

FOREGOING

comparison

with

the

this tendency,takes
under
mythus, falling

(6)

derives

sometimes

from

and

ing
follow-

mystic character, (5)

generalidea of allegory,

the

on

The

its

symbol which,

of the

nature
vaguely-hinting

the dark

hence

expression;

the

from

sometimes

and

physical causes,

historical,

from

origin,sometimes

expressionsof
from the wrapespecially
ping

merely peculiar,often misunderstood,

the

language,(T)but
of the

more

and

symbol,

It is often
; and

the

the

nothing

older

allied.

main

branches, transmission

In

general it

of the

earlyworld,

and

which

it has

been

tried

name

of

have

been

been

so

the

called,are

manifold

other, and

diversified combinations.^

with

what

above,

inventions, derived
allegorical
the bottom
poesy,

of the
the

of its contents,

times,

without
was,

'

From

Briefe

so

was

mythus,

"

duty

(9) These

to

an

inventions

Hermann,

p. 55.

in the

conformity
symbolical and
East, lie

ancient
from
on

had
in

at

gical
theolo-

the nature
the

hoods
priestto the

come
more

of the East

Symbolik.

mixed,
un-

in

incumbent

speak, a part
to his

united

the

difficulty
; as Greece,

the Introduction
an

from

preservationof which,

of Greece.^
Greeks

Greek

of

the

appear

are

Now,

mass

doctrines

recognised.

seldom

very

most

is said

fail to be

cannot

have

in all of them

; but

nature

into each

run

two

thoughts,

What

and

convictions

elements, however,
but

are

define

to

religiouscentral point
These

more

into

of

enouncement

pressed
ex-

and events

deeds

fittingexpression.)

God, humanity, and

on

the

is divided

of the

glyph.
hiero-

symbol

much

the

by the very inappropriate

philosophemes,(Theomythia would

more

else than

it is, so

they

(8)

obscurityof

ancient
; and

as

to

COMPARED

the Greek
to hare

But

nation

existed

in

WITH

and

OTHERS.

271

they cannot
nationality,

till the tenth

century

before

the heroic

legend;

mythus

with

him

everywhere

princes,who

bore

and

one

primitive religion.*
(12)
basis, and

should, by

and

presented
re-

here restrict

character, consistently

same

of

monotheistic

pure

comparison

lightthis

to

this scholar has

I may

him

with

the

feelingfor mythic intuition,

this is the business

(1.)As

the

of internal

means

activity,
bring

served

united

it
But, originally,
fegtivals.^(ll)

at

sustained, that

oriental

up

that, for example,

so

Hercules, the god of the fighting

Sun, became

Christ.'^0")

Greece, that theological

mythology grew

togetherwith
in the

he said

one

of the

himself

so

well

as

and

as

external

universal character

mytTiologist.
Gy

minutelydeveloped his

myself to merelya

few

cursory

tem,
sysremarks.

(2.) It is easy to see how much there is here in contradiction to

the theorylaid down
in this work.
First,the assumption of a
determinate
designin the formation of mythi ;* then, the supposition
in the mythus, and
of a doctrine contained
unmythically
thought previousto being veiled j' further,the opinion that there
ledge
order of priestsexalted above the laityin point of knowwas
an
had received their
the notion that the Greeks
f moreover,
fonned,^a notion in support
mythi from without,alreadypartially
of which
neither Ceerops, Danaus, nor
the
Cadmus,'nor even
coincidence

shall

of

some

can
symbols,"

merely remark,

the necessary

and

be

brought

in this way,

that

universal

form

forward.

Here

however, the mythus,

of the earliest communication

aa

of

(which,as we have alreadysaid,can only

eieplained,
mind in general;) for
of the human
at all be done by the history
for instance, paradise,the tree of knowledge, the
must
even,
from a more
deluge,"c., be comimunications to the Hebrews
highly
Creuzer
himself
?
Even
acknowledgespicturcultivated people
of
in
itself a mode
of exesqueness and figurativenessspeech,as
ideas,is

'

not

See

Hermann,
above, p. 50.

On

the contrary, p. 188.

See

Briefe

an

above, p.

219.

p. 28.

'

'

^
Ibid.,p. 40.
Ibid.,
p.
On the contrary,p. 195.
See above, p. 114 sqq.

96.

THEORY

FOREGOING

212

it,then,
; and was
preseionabsolutely
necessary to early antiquity
likewise ?
not so to the priests
than by
(3.)Symbols could scarcelybe otherwise interpreted
mythi,to which the hgol\6yoialso belonged ; and here X6yos was
the term

employed

was
/itJSos

the poets.

But

so

cause
Herodotus, merely beexpressionfor the legend adorned by
authentic interpretation
of
be an
not
the time

early as

the current

there could

of

symbols derived from the framers of them themselves ; because the

symbol likewise,to the time which produced it,was the necessary
chosen to represent
expressionof thought or feeling,and by no means
freedom
and
it with
design. Compare above, p. 197-

(4.) Compare
(5.) Compare
(6.) On

the

what

is said in the

same

sense,

p. 208.

p. 205.

lyingfar apart, growing

in

Mythus

54.

contrary,p.

different

and

allegoryare

ideas

ferent
soil,and appearing in difThe
mythus thinks as it

cultivation.
epochs of mental
h\ wiT.
aXKo
speaks,but the other aXKo f/kva/yopiii,
(7.) Compare p. 171 sq. There is also in the mythus, as has
ception
been remarked
above, very frequentlyan error, a pure misconthe shoulder-eating
:
thus,for instance,I think that even
of Pelops arose
from u/i(Kpov/ia.
I would
(8.)Preciselyso, above p. 205.
onlyremark further,
the religious
(ifI must be the first to remark it,)that even
mythus

by no means
sprang always from the symbol as explanatoryand
but was
immediate
often quitean
expressionof the
interpretive,
it is a pure mythus, when
idea.
it is recorded
Thus
event
an
as
but it rests merely on the
in time that God
created man,
pre-suppositionof personalrelations : in this there is nothing symbolical.
(9.) This theologicalpoesy is to Creuzer what the religious
mythi, related at particularsanctuaries in the districts of Greece,
are

of this work.

to the author

concede.
possibly
Pelasgians,
Dorians,Achseans, "c., like the Goths, Saxons,and Franks, were
nation in their physicaland spiritual
nature, in language and
a
long before they representedthis unity in a common
manners,
in a national state ; they were
from immemorial
so
or
name
ages,
whose
most
centuries
before
consistent
Homer,
minutely
many

(10.) A positionwhich

portraiturecould

not have

things.
(11.) The enigma
solved

in this way,

I cannot

been

of the

produced

union

for in that

Zeus, Apollo, and Poseidon, who

of Euhemerus.

"

amid

medley

of belief with

case

there

must

only existed

of heterogeneous

fact is

have
in the

scarcely
kings,
imagination
been

COMPARED

OTHERS.

WITH

273

(12.)Compare p. 182 sq.

(13.)Although I admit that there is much truth in this,yet
therefore is mythology stillan historical science like every other.
For
of facts history?and -must
call a mere
can
we
compilation
ascend
the
on
we
not, in every field of the science of history,
ladder of facts to a knowledge of internal being and life?

Hermann.

The

(1)

is the

representationof an
figurative
idea.-^(2) Mythology must
be the science which
teaches us what ideas and conceptionslie at the bottom
of certain emblems
a given people,(3)
among
the historyof mythi.^ As regardsthe materials and
of mythology, there are
contents
in the treatment
of
them
four views possible,which
call the
we
may
and
the
poetical,the historical,the philosophical,
the first is not to be proved ;
: of which
theological
the second
remains problematical,
unless the third or
fourth find the key
that is,determine
what
in mythology
mythus

"

"

be set down

cannot

of

matter

fact, (4); the

views

at the

are

what

they seek

fixed idea

and

human

knowledge.
had
^

by

selves who

doubt

no

for in

givenrise to

in

or

sole

one

collective

gether
ancientlyaltopriests. Fear, horror,
belief in beingsof superhuman
was

Of this belief those

their

in

prehend
only com-

we

mythology

this

much

that all these four

-that of wisdom,

But

therefore is

have

correct, if

hands, of the

in the

power.

"

others

two

time

same

correct

amazement,

is

There

their favour.

idea, and

as

knowledge

and

availed

talents

them^
to

rose

priests that is,mediators between the peopleand

the gods. By observation of nature, they gradually
be

"

"

Wesen

der

Myth., p.

5.

"

Ibid.,p.

11.

'

Ibid.,
p.
T

30.

certain scientificcultivation;theyconceived

acquireda
what

THEORY

FOREGOING

THE

274

inconceivable,hut presentedit

peoplewas

to the

language,which the people,togetherwith

figurative
and as an objectof faith ;
their bards,^ took literally,
in

understood
but, in reality,

it

if it

little as

as

were

view
(6) Hence, then, the theological
foreignlanguage.^
is the exoteric ; the philosophical
the esoteric : the
former

that

men.

Now, the first and

philosophyis
in which

downwards

and

upwards,

and

reaches

physicalnature

it becomes

in derivative form

but

and

migrations of

genealogiesand

of

phenomena,

it finds historical circumstances

the
there

in moral

cause

of all

cause

it goes
investigation

ultimate

an

the

wise

important problem

most

to discover

of the

latter that

people,the

of the

lations,
re-

nations

and
religion,

also

by disfigurement,
mysticism:^here, it passes over into
both sides with theses,
history; filling
hypoup a void on
it loses itself in inventions.*
This cycle of

knowledge must
would
from

be
the

on

now

the

one

be

hand

fiuctuation and

confusion

would

in

communicated

and yet
figurative,
unsteadiness
be

thereby

of

that

way

be free

because
figures,

introduced

into

department of knowledge. The symbolicaland

not
allegoricalwere
adapted to this purpose, but
every

the

merely

which,
personifyingrepresentation,

still bears
ancient

by
of

speech ;
its

in
but

itself the
inasmuch

predicate,
(at the

the

the

poeticalcharacter
time

same

not

and

possible." This, therefore,is the

'
5

Wesen

Comp.

der

Myth., p.

p. 137

sqq.

56.
*

P. 39.

it describes

as

predicate,indeed, does
definite
^) it makes
thing,

deed,
in-

that

of

the object

identity

denote

identityof

certain

knowledge

necessary
^

Ibid.,p.

P. 125.

and

essen-

32 sqq
"

P. 47.

COMPARED

tial fonn

WITH

OTHERS.

275

of

mythology.(6) Accordingly,then, mythology,

and, indeed, not merelytheogonicbut heroic
mythology,is to be explained on the suppositionof
a connected
system of publicknowledge,(7) without
reference to popular belief,which took for gods what
not meant
for such.^
was
It is to be explainedmerely
from
the words, inasmuch
the inquiry is as to
as
what the given predicatessignifyin the language,
of etymology.(8) Now, the fact
therefore,by means
that a regularsystem of knowledge actuallyresults
from this procedure,and that the method
of explanation
be everywhere carried out, is sufficient proof
can
of its correctness.
(9) It is to be admitted, however,
that beside the eldest mythology, which merely personified,
self
a
mythology placed itallegorical
younger
; to which, for instance, belong Hercules, fameacquiringVirtue, and the whole Trojan war. (10)
"

"

"

self
(1.) This learned man, although he only began to occupy himwith mythology since 1817, must
yet here receive particular
because
Consideration,

an

endeavoured

especialmanner

general principlesof the science ; partlyin both

the programmes
DeAntiq. GrcBcorum
Mythologia and De Historia
GrcBCce primordiis; partly in the Briefe an
Creuzer, and the
iSchluss-briefUeher das Wesen wnd die Behandlimg der Mythto

lay down

he has in

the

"

ohgie" (which is
other prefacesand
(2.) To
idea in
what

an

is

me

notes

written

it does not

seem

(3.) Comp.
(4.) But we

since

that

of,)besides

In order that

various

time.

right to beginwith

so

arbitaryan

we
may be able to say
the given
set out from

formal

definition.

1.

the
can

agreement, p. 220.
also,however, by settingout

from

discover the historical even

history,
of a theory does not, by
correctness

certain
the

use

general,we must rather

with quite a
at first,
satisfied,

in

materials,and be
Comp. above, p.

logy ; and

particularlymade

historical science.

iMki

and

here

Comp.

p. 101.

ledged
acknowin

any

inythomeans,

THEORY

FOREGOING

THE

276

Hermann
as
says,
merely on its adaptabilityto explanation,
1 5.
7Oomp. above, p.
of explaining the originof religion,
(5.) Against this manner

rest

p.

p. 1 76 ;

see

p. 188

teachers

into error,

teaching,led
(6.) Only
thingsto
by

of these ancient

makes

who, instead of

men,

p. 51.

see

if the creators

necessary

of

mythi

themselves

held

personal; which, however, Hermann

be

himself

the

does not

believe.

means

any

its separate knowledge,

with
againstan order of priests,
which
; againstthe whole system,
either selfish impostors or perverse

see

(7.) See, on the contrary,p. 13.

(8.)Comp. p. 231.
(9.) Much, rather,of the ingenuitydisplayed;
believe in the very consistent and

does Hermann

or

well-connected

system of Dupnis?
ascribes to the theogo(10.) Hermann, therefore,
unhesitatingly
nic a higher antiquity
than to the heroic legend. But if the idea of
is to the
aXXtiyopiiis applicableto either of the two, it certainly
former.

Welcker.
At

the

of

bottom

system
connected

chain

mythology

Grecian
^

of nature
of

(1)
lies

archical
hier-

its oldest

as

contemplationsand

portion, a
on
speculations
"

preservedin an ancient priestly

but now
lies broken
of expression,
and scattered
through the whole of mythology. (2) This

Nature, which
mode

was

in the
system is still preserved,particularly

which

in Homer

already appear

earlier world

all

; but

religionsof nature,

the

divine

names

is,at all events,

and

the

therefore
main

one

(3) Many of the names,

ologist.
of being well explainedfrom
they belong
nation

was

to

not

time

when

yet formed
'

remains

of

an

represent the chief objectsof

the

Being, and

the

as

names,

Appendix,

chief
the

attributes

explanation of

business

of the myth

however, do
the Greek

the

distinct

but another
p. 258.

of

not

mit
ad-

language;
individual

class is satis-

COMPARED

WITH

To

the Greek.

factorily
explainedfrom
from

OTHERS.

277

try and derive

foreign
language,is an error which throws
Every people forms its
everythinginto confusion.
hieratic and poetic names,
it
and makes
to itself,
as
for its native religion,
a
were,
system of such names
for all higher and free contemplations. They are its
inventions.^
But
oldest thoughts and
the names
themselves, like the images,through misapprehension,
plicity
produced polytheism and superstition. In a multithe divinelycreating and
of genii,as it were,
and
adored
as
one
nourishingprinciplewas originally
them

whole

what

time, chance, and

united, and

was

and

themselves

the natural

dwelt, and
likewise

the

features

difference

of the

in views

themselves

images

of

natural

over

in this
common

sion,
posses-

they

embellishments,

host

land.^

the

respect

placeswhere

and

producingtheir effect)a

spread

originally
(while families,

even

great

hensible
incomprean

unfolded

are

tribes,separate, and

divide among
"

there

From

asunder

tore

it remained

then

purely magical.

pantheistichymn,
ranks, and

misuse,

of

gods

From

things, invention

passed

who

simple
on

to

cation
legends and popular tales, which, on every modifiof their
and
more
or
expansion, lost more
and
often scarcelypreserveda
signification,
original
when, through alterations in
vestigeof it f especially
the worship, beings deprived of their godhead, as
and
often happened, fell to the tribe-legend,
were
In
now
regarded as personal historical characters.
that case, it is an undoubted
rule, that the signifiof a later
ancient, the personality
cancy is the more

"

Appendix,

p. 255.

Ibid.,p.

344

sq.

'

Prometh., p.

132.

date.^

The

clothed

in riddles

of
of

the form

if sometimes

; and

Hesiod

consciousness

misapprehension

be mistaken.

(1.) The
stands

to

in many

nearer

mine,

the

the

I restrict

method

tain
re-

cannot

myself to

to have

the

has

theory, which I hare

Appendix to Schwenk,

of his

writings,the

mode

of

thinking and

I
other respects,

separate from
been

now

selection of

the Prometheus.

and

one
ptCrts

been

inquirer

this

of

not, however, call it a system, in any

in most

enough

points

his last

reignsthroughout ; in

mythi

originallegend

characteristic features

would

than because

still to

seems

relatinga priestly
places,however, a

is

the

must

more

from
gathered chiefly
the work
on
Cadmus,

(2.) I

of

and

(5)

insulated

some

he

time,^in other

riddle of the olden

real

that

such

of Homer

poems

the bard

tive
figura-

this form

Already in

into the

come

was

receives

the whole

and
representation,

then

narratives

itself in that

(4)expresses

popular tale.

which

science

of eldest

character

manner

THEORY

FOREGOING

THE

278

first.

sense

contemplating

imagine the

the very

other

Of

formation

of

ever,
this,how-

said.

(3.) Comp. p. 224.

(4.) On the contrary,see p. Ill, and frequently.
to me,
however, that the dispute as to whether
(5.) It seems
and Hesiod
Homer
understood
not what
or
they tell us, (of which
has been said in the Correspondence
Hermann
also so much
between
and

Creuzer,)rests

mythi

which
assumed

conceived

that

on

themselves
an

misapprehension of
have

earlier poet and

been

the laws

formed.

sage had

Here

according to
it is

designedlyveiled

always
clearly-

ideas in

symbols and allegorical

mythi : that these were
afterwards,from misapprehension,adopted as actual facts,and
so
repeated. But if it is admitted that the mythic and symbolic
it follows
to the mjrth-creating
expressionwas
ages,
necessary
that the mythic and symbolic mode
of thinking was so likewise,
other,for instance,occupation with clear intellectual
notions,powers of nature, for example, and the like,(ifthe idea of
because

any

must
is at all clearer than that of an
indwellingSaiucov,)
power
also
have
immediatelycreated its language. Consequently,those
*

Prometh.,

p.

133, and elsewhere.

Ibid.,p.

151.

WITH

COMPARED

OTHERS.

279

imagined all circumstances and relations of deity,nature,

ficant
humanity, as if stamped on individual personages and signiactions.
to
us
as
hension,
misappreAccordingly,what now appears
and
in the mythus from
the very beginning,
never
was
there ; although it is,indeed,true that the expressedmythus,
farther back the time of its creation lay,so much
the less excited

times
and

came

the

the
and

that

and

more,

feeling,the

same

idea out

same

The

stiffened J the

form

remained

and

it to

had caused
spiritwhich
ancient Argive, believingin

The

spring forth, had

gods,Zeus and Hera,

his

observed
actual union of
an
blessing,
when the seed quickensand germinates.Zeus
pair in the season
Hera
embraced, and the thoroughlypersonalconception of
as

the

arisen,

thereby its proper signification

always disappearedmore
from
its native soil and
when
it was
torn
particularly

transplanted to foreign circumstances.

fled.

it had

of which

of every

sources

marriage begat a numerous

and mythi.
The
formed

and

season

or

to nature

at

be

golden dropping

sends

forth shoots

all; he

handled

cloud

; but

in

somewha,t

the

same

this

monies
cere-

storyas

definite

where, from

its

green,

is the wish

soft couch.

time

and
for

The

certain feeling

only entirelylost in sheer Euhemerism.

The historyof Agamemnon's sceptre,
detailed with truly
is no allegory
Hebraic
the supreme
on
simplicity,
sway of the Pebut an expression
of belief that the skeptronwith which these
lopidsB,
from
shepherds of the people ruled over
Argos must have come
the king of kings ; and this belief is entertained
as
by Homer
inventor of the mythus.
well as the original
of the

The
compares
in

some

which
significance,

of

want

and

sportivemanner

for the former

concealment, and for the latter the

bard, however, has still,
perhaps, at

the

the earth grows

remains,and

the motive

naive

reference to

it into his poem

weaves

and

Iliad,also,hears

widely-circulated
mythus,without

it must
singularity,
the

of child-like

progeny
bard of the

the

more

the

is

author

of the

the theories which

of their

widely they

have

foregoingTreatise
justbeen presented

generalfeatures, and

differ from

the authors

of

each

other

considers

; and

how,

them, all thinkingand

how

theless,
never-

learned

arrived at

men,

THEORY

FOREGOING

THE

280

of their truth

conviction

firm

less does he feel himself entitled to pronounce

; the

sweeping
with

judgments, or disposedto reproach any of them

most
their theories, as those now
readilydo who
which

they

have

to

who

what

it

with

attack

follow the

things

thoroughly

these weapons

every

such

But

banner.

same

sidered,
con-

others, but

gence
begets not only greater indulgreater severityto one's self ; and

compares

is

comparative

he

to

will not

who

themselves

never

in order
one

propositionson

assertions and

few bold

row
bor-

view

obliged him

that

was

involuntarilyled
to

exactly in such a way ; nay, it

strong feelingof dejectionwill
least many

sanguine hope
from

However,

damped.

treat
turn

may

arise from

of

such

external

examine

to

the
out

subject
that

it,and

at

be

success

comparisons, which

undertakes, the author

always comes
frequently
back
bled
again to these inquirieswith calm and untrouinasmuch
he derives comfort
from
two
as
spirit,
in particular. First, The
ciding
sources
meeting and coinwith other inquirerslabouring independently
he

in the

same

field,
"

quently happens,
respect,the

circumstance

and

appearance

referred

to

in

is

always
of

these

which

not

welcome.

Volcker's

sheets,

In

book,
was

unfre-

so

this
quently
fre-

especially

gratifyingto him : there are even here, indeed, still

some
points in dispute,as the critiquein the Gotfor 1825
does not
conceal; but in
tingen Review
he found his own
most
cases
paths carried farther
ones
out, or new
opened up, which he had no less
the greater
and this with so much
pleasurein treading,
satisfaction,as Volcker's talent and learningeverywhere
testified clearlyto his vocation as a mytholo-

But

gist.

that

restored

by

in

the

chaotic
of

mass

in

the

brighter
is

general

fame

too

perhaps

nearly

science

him

who

shows

these

party-spirit
back

with

error

adopts

the

to

talent

of
;

his

him
own

for

level.

who

would
of

the

merit,
present

carries
and

of

close

the
and

out

energy,

indolent

moment,

these

works

development

lying

way

by

who

qualifications, although
raise

may

truth

own

for

with

who,

knowledge
his

is

point

when

in

degrees

inquirer,

one

another,

zeal, have

possess

however,

for

advanced

than

and

and
not

thereby
more

this

on

the

tion
genera-

and

replaced

less

or

themselves

altogether,

greater

decided

most

recognises
Let

about

this

pages

and

And

calculation

have

may

the

feeling,

promise

explained

first

science,

better.

impossible
the

even

been

fabric

the

the

one

to

labourer

long forgotten,

here
all

the

selfish

comprehensive

complete

glades

this

truth,

life, is not

has

to

incomparably

when

In

individual

the

been

quarrel

and

that

much

have

large

hardly

belongs

pages

of

and

the

throughout

reigns

mythi.

more

attends

paths

new

which

hours

to

will

even

will

confusion

transmitted

science

finding

always

still

are

which

feeling

peculiar

of

281

confidence

and

peace

the

investigation,

OTHERS.

WITH

COMPARED

the

mind,
at

hand.

subject,
he

who

the
soon

nesty,
hodoes

surge

of

sinks,

APPENDIX.

the

On

relation

which
hear

In

this

could

neither

for

abroad

this

the

to

be
until

which

On

to

science

more

Homer

receive

freely,

obscure
from

liberty

of

think

be

must

have

obtained

granted

to

only speak

their

disjointed

in

point

what

of

light.

some

will

clearness

the

did

he

given

here

whole
did

matters

the

merely

which

on

aphoristic

had

take
is

at

alterations

Indulgence,
and

not

What

example.

be

will

itself

confine

investigated

changes

what

What

will

no

tradition
?

I ";c.

is

this, for

older

already undergone

contribution

there

treat

against

war

perfect

with

thoroughly

than

notions

mythology

hand,

the

are

them

to

merely

not

the

points

declare

points

first

mythi

other

are

it

making

does

these

treat

confess

to

present,

the

others

many

therefore

striving

logical
mytho-

my

unnoticed;

adhere

who

which

extraordinary,

most

those

and

of

these

on

Orphici,

points,

some

altogether

part the

in

the

and

exposition

precisely

truths,

outside.

enabled

leave

nevertheless,

scientific

every

the

into

that

and

established

as

bring together

reason,

which,

Tradition.

yet

nor

opposite,

most

elder

introduce

method,
latter

Hedod,

to

Appendix

Homer,

therefore,
form.

HOMER.

When
the

we

received

we

can

all this

the
of

number

immense

Odyssey,

consider

endless
persons

detail
that

scarcely persuade
from

tradition.

of

figure
ourselves

Were

the

and

occurrences,
in

the

that
hundreds

Iliad
the

and

poet
whom

APPENDIX.

286

his

slay,and

heroes
principal

they

have

Could

he

the

perhaps,in

First, for this

which

them

Phseacians

most

of

those

because

could

other,which
For

such

assume

of the slain almost

often

notices

in

?'

instance, is

not

And

yet,

of

unmeaning

are, would

be

the

application
ingenious. Secondly,
as

connexion

the result of

there

legends?

transmission.

always

bard

preserve

scarcelybe

until

well, for instance,as

as

occupation as unworthy of the

those other names
is happy and

an

him

to

that the free invention

reason,

those

named

never

referred to above

must

we

cases

are

down

invented

have

of the

names

names,

handed

fallen, all
not

who

each

tion.
arbitraryinven-

obvious

an

with

in

agreement

Oresbius, with

who
variegated mitra, a man
in the thriving town
hoarded
well his wealth, dwelt
of
lished
Hyle, on the lake Cephissus,^and that there also was estableather-cutter
the excellent
Tychius, who made for

this, that

giganticshield!^

Ajax

his

been

invented?

Can
the

Further,

names

national, as Amisodarus, Maris,

a

the

that

last of these

although they

that

they

do

not

there
is

gythion,'who
the

with

the
a

tory
satisfac-

other

individual

persons,

once

to the
a

between

poet, but

of

son

hero

of sjy for ogy,

of
from the name

exchange
formed

in the

frequentlyoccurs,

Trojan cityamong
*

clearlyin

remarked,^ that Kebriones, the

'

of

of

the

names,

to

still
tion.
tradi-

Priam, called Gor-

else than

Gergithian

patronymicform, (0/Tijy;""sthence Te^yi^imes

or,

easy

so

also,in the form

We

evidentlynothing

mythic practice. Just

name

stance
circum-

connexion

formation

appears

be accounted

ancient
see

of

names

The

race.

is

names

denoted

never

their

owe

Thus,

by

island.

the

and

continent

must

Gortyna, admits

Atymnus, found in Cretan

explanationfrom the

evidently

Atymnius,*

which
origin,
Milyan or Solyman

of the

been

have

and

this to have

often

are

of Greek

Lycian familynot

to

imagine

we

same

son

is connected

the hills.

of

with

the

ancients

Priam, whose

Cebrenia, a

is probably come,
Kej8j;o")js

"

n.,

xvi.,317
II.,

"

II.,viii. 302.

V.

even

way,

bastard

P. 226.
sqq.

and therefore
Togyu^luvn,)
a
city,accordingto the

709.

*
"

n., vii. 221.

See Strabo,xili.

by
697.

287

APPENDIX.
from
epictransposition,
bastard

because the town, which

other

Trojan

not

was

situated

was

all times.

at

things,convince me that Homer

of
fountain
rich,full-streaming

indeed, separatedby centuries from

itself relates
in which

he

held

he is perhaps called

; and
KsjS^vjviiig

depictsa

All

this,

drew

from

and

and

gods
although the

not

yet, through growing adoration,and

heroes

who

Immediatelybehind
whom
and

the

colossal form

all is

saved

from

over

of

that

mythi

that

time,'
then

was

we

demi-gods,

to

like

modified

course

have

may

consider

that the

the

among

mountain,

mythus,

almost

are."

less,
But, neverthe-

marvellous.

if

age,

as

towers

of the

character

tion
tradi-

they now
giganticrace,
"

of traditions,all of

mass

the

according to

and

was,

their

exalted

still more

of Hercules

already strange

immense

an

stands

He

equals;
around
Troy have
from being blended

contended

daemonic
originally
beings,been
yet they are widely different from men

ingly
exceed-

an

wonderful

as

men

with

many

to which

the time

with

and

traditions.

remote

intercourse

the boundary,

at

been
mission
trans-

chief mental

vity;
acti-

possesseda strength of
whieh
form
we
can
no
now
conception; that the ancient
part, (Pelopidse
reigningfamilies still existed for the most
in Ionia, JEacidas
in Epirus ;) that the
in Lesbos, Nelidse
victorious

the

Achseans,

possessionthe
the

that

and

in these
the

Ida, and
these
and

may

Grecian

have

by

natural

to

mass

Many
the

drawn

remnant

of the

of ancient

into

the

it,before this great

war

been

of

lated
re-

Teuorians

Troy

stream

the

of

on

and

all

tradition,

gods

and

men

Homer.

of

suppose

have

things may

inhabitants

been

be sung

the

Iliad,doubtless,lived where

the

regions by

men

long after the war, took into their

which
they had then contended
;

is laid.

with

In

on

of

bard

mingled

could

not

coast

of his poem

scene

of

memory

legends which
that many
'

Comp.

an

Od.

Homer

inherited, it

historical relation

iii. 113.

was

is

de-

APPENDIX.

288

disguisedby a subsequent order of things,while

were
preserved by tradition,but so as that the bard
and connexion.
could
not
perceivetheir true foundation
Like
the people of all the
An
example of both.

faced and
others
himself

other

of

districts

But

besiegingTroy.
AioXsTg, who

Minyan, Cadmean,
the
Catalogue in

and Thracian.

and

dwelling in

the

followingis

an

European

not

great

previously
merely

not

very

credible
war

the

link

of the

Their

knows

the

had

because

Paeonians,^and

by

the

the

to

Europe,

Pseonians

on

result of this,the continued

V.

Comp. Orchom.,

is

descended

Pelagonians

Pelegon

'

the

previous to
over

the

tions
men-

the name
ground, not even
all in common.
comprehended them
become
him
to
entirelylegendary.

hero, Asteropea,

Pelegon;

the

many

historical

which

Pseonians

The

left behind

and

for

Trojans and Pseonians, although he

nothing of
of Teucrians,

crossed

they

the Ciconians,*

is solved

that

Herodotus;

of Teucrians

swarm

Homer

the Axius.*

The

which

them,

riddle

the very

at

from

connects

the

Among

Pasonians

Hellespont,and

which

of

account

kind:

other

great distance

of the

passed through Thrace,

connexion

the

still intervene.

tribes

Trojan

the

form

even

come

Trojans,the

by

us

upon the scene, as

The
called Boeotia.^

often

of

example

Thracians

other

"

been

Nevertheless,

afterwards

country

allies of the

The

come.

amid

have

otherwise

glance strike

first

"

Boiurol

"

the Boeotians, who

the

and

had

not

are

ciently
already elsewhere suffiof the additions of Argive, Rhodian,
taken
notice
Attic rhapsodists but also the Iliad,'boldlyrepresents
I

which

"

do

poet

are

Trojan war,

that district,
which

revolutions, subdue

the

country, they

until after the

did not

in

Boeotians

of the

inhabitants

ancient

the

these

in

assist

BcEotians, also, must

the

Greece,

is

son

immediately

were

of the

branch

great

river

from

of the
Axius.^

ro9.
p. 394

; and

Buttmann

II.,ii. 844 sqq.

Herod., v. 13 ; vii. 20, 75,
Mannert
Geogr, vii. p. 487.
See II.,xxi. 140 ; Comp. ii. 848;

on

xvi. 287.

the

Aleuad., p.

12.

APPENDIX.

The

I'emarkable

most

is called

part

289

of it

is,that

consideration

of the

deities,
indeed,are
in

to

particular
religious
usages,
ascribed

agency

occasions,
defender

existence

its

to

of the tribe.

in

appear

Homer,

correspondingresults.

but

Thus,

without

merely
Athena

foundation

of the

account

on

The

numberless

is,on

the

of

that

to them.

of Uaiii

synonym

name

often invoked

very

worshipswhich

peculiarto families,leads

as

It is clear

Healer.

the
daughter of Axsgsa/isvig,
that this name
into Mythology as
came
the^healinggod, and, therefore, owes
a

false interpretation
of the
decidedly

the wife of Axius

suggester of prudent resolutions, and the

the chief Grecian heroes,and it is tolerably
certain

bards.'
alreadybeen so in ante-Homeric
But just as often heroes are protectedby the gods,because
their tribes and families worship them.
Hera
guides the
she was
friendlyto
Argo through the Planctse,because
the goddess of lolJason, says the Odyssey.^ She was
I have
chus.5
that Apollo
pointedout in another place,*
and
under
Panthoidse
his special
takes the ^Eneadse
tection,
proboth
families worshipped him.
because
Virgil
as
priestof Apollo ; probablyfollowing
representsPanthus
tradition : for Polydamas,
Arctinus, certainlyan ancient
the

son

she

of
for

to
"

had

Panthus,
that

the

knows
"

reason

and

when

slay him, Polydamas escapes

the
for Apollo did not allow
the

among
must

work
does

warriors

in the

here

see

saving him,
1
*

"

of

and

XV.

520.

of

Panthus

For

XII.

the

Panthus,

see

of the

same

72.

"

forwardingthe

II. xviii. 250;

'

II. xiv. 616.

also dies

gee

tries

reason

He

Orchom.,

Comp.

who

It is

slain without

Panthoide

dently
evi-

god :
perish

to

it nowhere.

is afterwards

that another

See above, p. 162.

Dor. i. p. 260.

help

chief

through the body.

connexion, can

that Euphorbus
objection,

the

son,

future

hostile

front."*

Buphorbus,another son
Patroclus
of Apollo,run
not

by

the

and

past

no

Apollo
'

surely

p. 267.

xii. 210.

APPENDIX,

290

of the

plentyof the friends and descendants

their being able to assist them.
If such

"

the

to

have

worship)

been

has

and

"

of

son

is
battle,'"'

to

innocence

in

must

similar

which
objection

an

way
some

has in all

while he
position,
to
pointedout a parallel

made

Nestor

aged

for Poseidon

Poseidon,
in

the

admitted,

were

Antilochus

defends
one

(from the protectionof the gods

conclusion"

gods fall without

this

ignorance
example which

that

Antilochus
prefer to any other. The Nelidse to whom
; and
belonged,had certainlya gentileworship of Poseidon
of this.Homer, mythology, and history,are full. Neleus
is the son
of Poseidon;^ on his son Periclymenus,Poseidon
I

bestowed

Neleus, with

gift of transformation;'

the

Pylians,offers

up,

on

hecatomb

the sea-shore, a

the

don,*
Posei-

to

connected

stood, in later times, the famous

regionwhere
the god Samicon.^
In this family there is also
with
the
service of the SsJs 7u-*/os particular

attention

to

this who

can

in the

temple of

from

After
rearingand managing of horses.'
chus
doubt why it is that the god guards Antiloof the Trojanswhich
arrows
flyaround him

the

the

all sides.

on

The

in which

way

learned

many

try

men

to

extract

all

is

altogetherextraordinary. As if
did not
the
know
Homer
worship of the gods in the
of the word, -gentile
fullest sense
rites,state sacrifices,
sacrifices,and
ablutions,
expiatory sacrifices,purificatory

religionfrom

Homer

"

propheticfamilies,such as the Melampodidse.'His

the
Troy is well providedwith priests
; besides
priestess
of Athena, there are named
priestsof HephsBstus,of Sca-

besides

among

the

oifers up
of

the

of Idsean

and

mander,

people;
sacrifice

on

community.

II.,xiii.

'

Hesiod

Zeus,* who

Hector,

moreover,

the citadel and

That

Homer

Map

of the

'

See

Od., XV.

See

Dor., vol.

Peloponnesusin
226.

"

The
^

n^

Ida

10, 77

so

263.
*

i. p. 640.

y_

gods
king,

in behalf

meations

Qd., xi.

Dorians."

as

of the

son

Mount

in the Eosse.

as

nowhere

564.

honoured

were

See

Od., iii.6.
II.,xxiii. 307.

; vi. 300

; xvi. 604.

APPENDIX.

salutaryan
II.,ix.

institution

499, may

V.

that

as

for blood, (unless

expiation
this,)does not justify
any

of

refer to

even

How

general conclusion.

291

we
differently,

very

to

venture

in this particular,
religion,
appear in his poem,
composed it in Crete, or in the neighbourhoodof
the Pythian temple,which
he only mentions
three times,
although he, nevertheless,speaksof it as a sanctuary already
rich and far renowned
I
Demeter
Why the mystic deities,
and Dionysus, figureso little,
has been already discussed ; '

say, would
if he had

to

it seems,

me

skill,and

the

inborn

was

that in this

feelingfor

on

the

gods as
point. There
mythi,
it

and

see

very

the
He
Good

Hermes.

him

and

servant

commands,

but

this

the

last

later composition,and

'

the

P. 67.

tries

unite

to

knowledge,

being,though

poeticalidea

proper

in his

is

only

formed

in
distinctness,especially

it cannot

but

be

observed

extremely in

Zeus, the

Book

of

constant

the

god

who

bearer

Iliad,which

the

that
Iliad.

of his
was

of

Odyssey ; for the

various
meanings, scarcely
contrary, th" mythi which

throughout

the

which
has
adjectivedt"xTope,^
On
the
conclusion.
a
justifies
find in the Iliad regardingHermes,
we

entirelyas

centuries

of
(eghvmg,) the Giver
strong Argus-slayer (xgarDs'Ajysialso
(gaxog .) Cunning works
are
he is only, properlyspeaking,the
of

messenger
in

of the

in

Bounteous

Powerful

the
^ovrijs,)

bard

of his faith and

still fluctuates

god
the

the

that

names,

formed

was

rest

For

the
(diircai
lawii,)

to

views

variouslysignificant.Sometimes

and

by degrees to

called

ascribed

which

notion

definite

idea of this
is

the

plainlyhow

of

case

god

with

may

many-sided

in his mind

the

of

to

before him,

bards

ceremonies, in

in

district of Greece

some

to conceive

nature
we

idea

him

to

comes

he best

as

here

have

all,we

like the

Homer,

which
fitting

right and

above

artistic

insulated spot of Greece, and

particular
from
to him
they presentedthemselves

the

before, in

that

is

But

in the Greeks.

repeat the remark

stands

what

Homer's

admire

must

we

blessed

the

still representhim
land

with

fertility,

Iliad,xxi. 497.

292

APPENDIX.

which

his

was

which

that
the

more

with

wealth,^

and

that

the

him

tian

than
that

beneficent

detailed

more

god

had

and

mythus,

but which

of heroic

tone

in his

house

of

Phthio-

Herds, and

many

tered
aged Phylas foslocal
quite a significant

"

related,like others, in

is here

lates
re-

the

Riches, whom
Eudaigos,

brought up

which

one^

daijghterof

the

loved

the Possessor
Phylas, lloXv/t,fiXjj,
her

by

that he

says

Rlch-ln-herds,

stance,
originalworship ; for infavoured Phorbas
(Grazier,)
all the Trojans,and
loaded

the

in

attribute

usual

the

mythology.

philosophersof Greece, the

the
stories
about
gods, in
undignifiedand scandalous
Homer, have, times without
number, proved a stumblinghave
block, which many
by interpretations
attempted to remove
that are, to say the truth, just as forced, frigid,
and
is absurd.
the
unsuitable
denial of all significance
as
From

the

I think

that

times

First, It
in

separationof

known

at least

indeed, was
be, that

to

belief in
there

is

out

and

human

the

world

to

followingpointswill

account

from

experience.

life. But

of

The

faith,

systematicdualism,

"

the Themis
so

much

of

But,

Zeus.

contradiction,so

life,that

possiblymaintain

even

itself in

the
its pure

in

much

world

individual
disorder

of

gods

elevation.

More

cases,

and

ease
dis-

could

not

fering,
Hence, suf-

wandering gods perhaps belonged

fighting,
to

hold

gods

good and a bad half, is not

.the worships. Now, the belief,

into

most

Grecian

that

into

also was
it ought
as
very old, that this world
the
the deityordered everything for the best

in actual

times

eon-

"

is to be taken

in nature

sway
a

solution

sets
direction,

one

of the

consideration

tribute to the

earliest

of the

creed of the Greeks.

religious
confusion was
wrought by the conflict

all

at

the

between

the

mystic and
mythic tendencies already spoken of.' The
is to express
its great aim
as
somemystic representation,
'

Iliad,xiv.

490.

Ibid.,xvi. 179.

'

P. 185

sq.

APPENDIX.

thing remote

293

cared very little about

strange to man,
indecent, which, on the contrary, first becomes
very

the

and

strikingin the mythic representation.In the latter,Zeus

was
no
longer,as in the ancient Argive legend,the blessing
of

heaven
a

streaming down
personal,individual

therefore,cannot

describe

without

But, thirdly,the
had

innocent

an

and

so

many

under

comes
so

this remark

child-like

immediate

with

contact

had

man,

be

Moreover, regard must

which

had

had

later

peared
ap-

sion
expres-

descent

the

was

cially
espeof

cause

nished
marriagesfur-

gods,whose

the

subject to
feelingwhich

this

time

have
The

later age.

and

the

favourite

to

tain-top
moun-

olden

must

generationand

by

aflFairsamong

love

many

the

relations

which

raciness

strange and unbecoming

of

the

that

mythic expressionof

nawete

and Homer,

gods ;

passionfor Hera on
of pleasantry.

his

gether
alto-

but

rain-shower,
of the

ruler

slighttone

the

in

whom

poets,among

brought the gods into so

long disappeared.
different light in
to the

different

He,
gods presentedthemselves to Homer.
doubtless,considered to be gods all beingsthat were
ped
worshipsuch : from
the worship antiquityalways inferred
as
the voluptuous worship of the Cyprian
the reality. But
idea
an
Aphrodite could not possiblygive him so dignified
of that deityas that of Zeus, Apollo,or Athena.
Homer
would
scarcely have representedthe love of Ares and
if the mythus had not
Aphrodite in so playfula manner
from
him
to
come
distance, probably from the sacred
a

"

'

Thebes,
The

as

insulated

an

one-sided

influence

on

Why,
and
goddess
a

that

ask,
of

was

is

of view,

Hera,

marriage
her

at

Homer?
character.

narration.

poets,also, who

produced
features

characteristic

in

woman

this

point

the

I would

dissevered

of earlier

treatment

some

and

had
a

The

The

so

of Homer's

was

the

obstructingprinciple. In

and

poet doubtless

impression,as

my

gods.

of Nature

morose

had
to him
come
scarcelyhelp perceiving,
Hercules,in which
mythi and poems regarding

on

determinating

the great mother

Argos,

stood

tive
vindic-

thought
we

through
the

can

the

"Hjasp^oXos
opinion, she had

APPENDIX.

2M

alreadythe
to

the

birth

the

relations

lay

ascendancy

over

the

bottom.

others

where

at

the

benignant,loving,as in
always floated
was

the

representedher
this

stranger

in the

man,

merely

was

as

the

likewise

and

gods

Greeks

dark

add,

heroes
was

smile

gods, which

sometimes

and

Artemis)

that

so

also, by

this

himself

(as

to fasten

much

places,and

thought,were

least,Homer

me,

seems

if

as

of

to him

from

the

contest

in

freer

appears

singular stories

jeston

remarks

an

the

old
the

is, that

which

gods

times
some-

about

the

earlyworld,

between

Hera

legend.
immorality

belongedto
all united

themselves

from

reading Homer
that the mythus,

the

different

into

one

very

by

the
of

originatedin
gious
epochs of reliHow

mass.

this confusion

remark

handled

had

of

out

perplexed condition

things that

consolation, is certainlya

In

means,

complained of,by no means

sprang
of religious
thought, but rather from

in
religion,

saved

it often

no

all this world

extremely combined, intricate,and

different

tendency to
frequently find

we

was

that

the
down

infant state

the Greek

had

certain

as

in

at

me,

handed

of these

sum

Olympus,
of the

to

gaily over

were

and

The

is,

own

logographers
; and
to

stance
circum-

the

imagining,laughed in the end at his

Grecian mythology is full of jestingabout
how
cules
Hades, and HerSisyphus cheated
;
told in a humorous
manner
even
by the

The

Atlas,

and

consciousness

of his

work.

own

Even

termined
de-

which

bride.

coy

sacred

to

it

therefore

and

poet.

things, such
strictly
religiousnations,

among

pression
their im-

Jason;

of

being always complaisant to Zeus

from
earlier religious
legends which

I would

sport with

Hera

not

perhaps,derived
To

legendsgained
appearedfriendly,

Homer

the

gious
reli-

These

prevailingtradition

of

treatment

her

of

the

ferred
re-

here

and

Apollo ;

my thus

before

belief in

here

even

of

combats

and

legends which

the

before, in

character

same

and

duals
indivi-

found

gious
reli-

interesting
inquiry.

has

often forced

the

poet, in many

itself

on

points

APPENDIX.

the

gave
a

gods

certain

sense

the

dfeading
this

readers
reflecting

the

Iliad,in its

of Achilles
Zeiis

still more

important parts to perform,and in

than the poem.
Without
more
was
theological
charge of heresy,I shall say a few words on

subjectto

The

show

to

alone

solitude,can

for the

that

the

reposing hero, who

them.

conquer

of moderation

mingle

with

the

insolence.
the

spiritof

in

divine

to

saved

But
with

forbids.

The

is
glorification

leave

to

sits in
him

the

sorrow,

this

Grecian

deepest anguish

of his

consciousness

That

poet.
know, a glorification

Trojansonly prevailbecause

glorification
entirelyunmixed
.sense

of the
all

connexion, is,we

Zeus

by

wishes

295

the

fame,
will

and

must

punish

of Zeus

his

and

in

the ancient

mythus, a motive for it is assigned

ing
legend. The sea-goddessThetis,who was, accordPhthiotic
mythus, wedded to the mortal Peleus,

the

Zeua

by callingup
Why it was

the

the

calls the

giant Briareus or ^gaeon to

his rescue.
^gffion, is explainedby the fact
that
this was
a
great sea-dsemon, who formed the subject
of fables at Poseidonian
the sea-god
Corinth,' where
even
himself was
called ^gseon ;^ who
was
moreover
worshipped
the
of
seat
Poseidon
in
Eubcea,'
at several places
^gseus ;
whom

and
and

of

most

Theogony

relation with

"

^it is not

would

be

be found

much

difficult even

to

now

the

Iliad that the northern

fables of the

background

to

the

legend

ballad,only that

of the

here

and

it
interpret

It bears

the

There

belief

same

in

Homer,

therefore
a

relation

to

gods, whi,ch serve

Nibelungen, bear to

separationis much

Ai-rian

Schol.

'

See, however, Welcker,

6.

in Eustath.

ApolL, i.

on

1165.

the Iliad,p. 123.

Comp. Schol. II. lb.

Prometh.,

p. 147

sqq.

the
as

our

greater

See p. 212,
Solin.,ii. 16,

4, 7.

Pausan., ii. 1,

it

perfectly

still.
'

why

assistance.

detailed in
"

the

in

sea.

ancient

indicated,

than

more

the

to Jove's

all others

manner.'
satisfactory

German

in

of this story, however, is not

whole

of Poseidon,

Eumelus
especially
genealogists,

the

Titanomachy,* brought into

to
is,therefore,good reason
Thetis called up jEgaeon of
The

son-in-law

APPENDIX.

296

Odyssey it is hinted to ns, in

that the
enigmaticalexpressionspeculiarto that poem,
and beginning of another month,
hero, at the close of one
returned
to Ithaca and punished the sttitors.'
Now, on the
day that he re-appearedas an avenger, there was in Ithaca
a
rightly
great festival of Apollo, Nsomwos, as Philochorns
observed,^who was, togetherwith Pallas, a household god in
several passages

In

the

of Arcesius.

race

of -the

It is

this account

on

that

the

suitors

king,'and the other

nobles of Ithaca in the
Apollo,to
grove of the far-smiting
On
this day, therefore,
whom
they offer up a sacred hecatomb.*
the day of Apollo,the avenging god, the guardian of
the bow,
bis
archers,^Odysseus makes
appearance, grasps
and
A
completes with Apollo^ the work of vengeance.
remarkable
coincidence certainly,
and an
cant
extremelysignifiof
ancient
feature
tradition, in which
nothing was
here Homer
is satisfied
baseless and unmeaning. But even
with statingwhat was
handed
down, and no indication can
assemble

so

be found

that the

earlyin

the house

bard

of the

comprehended the

himself

ingly
exceed-

of the legend; and

grand connexion
although we
should naturally
expect it,there is no indication given that
it is the god of the festival who
completeshis work on that
his own
day.

him

To
of

the

who

mythic

of the

one

think,
whose

would

and

materials

Odysseus,who

may

so

view

his house

in his
voyage

back from

of tales of

learned

from

'

See

xiv. 162

Dor., vol.

XX.

'

Comp.

166,

his wife

an

that

with

bard, to

Ithacan

sea-faringmen.

to it all

he had
But

; xix. 307.

i. p. 310.
260.

xxi. 267.

Comp.

Schol. Arist.
*
"

XX.

hero

Troy longwandered
besiegedby suitors,

greatestconfusion, had tacked

wonder
and
enchantment, which

intercourse

is

might perhaps

matter,
of

Odtsset

in the

manner

the

tradition

about, and, returning,found

and

One

the form

was

the

Homer,

problems.

the

come

what

know

to

before

difficult

most

many
had

ears

desire

Plut.,1127.]

278 ; xxi. 268.

XXII.
7.

the

297

APPENDIX.

more

penetrate into the history of the originof

we

mythi
what

handled

the

in the

poet

with

received

each

Odyssey,
was

the

of

mass

do

more

other, having been

"

that

see

we

the

nected
legendsalreadyconunited
by popular

by earlier bards, in which there is

first inclined
far more
at
of local origin than
we
are
I would
to suppose.
Thus
at
once
assign to the localmythus the aid of Minerva, although in the Odyssey it is
usuallyaccounted for merelyby the generalcharacter of the
goddess. The chief town in Ithaca (or the neighbouring
Astoria)was called' Alalcomenaa, evidentlyfrom the helpsaid to have been a colony
givingAthena ; hence it is even
from the Bceotian cityof that name;
and thus therefore
is
the saving,helpingAthena
of Odysthe household-goddess
seus.^
Among the adventures which befel Odysseus,when
tossed about
the most
in far distant
markable
reregions,certainly
is the questioning
of Tiresias,and the intercourse
with other shades, in the meadow
of Asphodel, behind
the
the position
Cimmerians.
of that people,as Homer
That
givesit,on the Ocean at the north-west of the earth,^behind
the magic isle of Circe, is a thorough invention,and no disfigurement
of any thing real,I take to be tolerably
certain.
form
But we must
quitea different decision in regardto the
rites performed by Odysseus, which were
evidentlycopied
tradition,or

from

even

"

actual ceremonies, and

appear to have been a atfiaxovgla

Boeotians called all sacrifices to the

the
as
blood-sating,
the shades
Dead, by which
world, and prevailedupon
or

allured

were

to

speak and

that such citations of the dead

practisedin

Greece

insulated, and

as

from

at that time

were

nether

It

answer.

local institutions,but

little known

the

is

tain
cer-

already

only in remote,

regions. Now,

there

were

in Greece, at the Pontic Hera"^vxo'to/jiiirei'a

Phigalia,'
perhaps also at Tsenarum, and, lastly,

vtxvo/iavriiix,or

clea,*at
the

at

'
'
"
"

river

Acheron

Orohom., p. 213, 7.
Orchom., p. 276.
Paus., ill. 17, 8.
Herodot.,v.92.

Theocr.,ii. 12

; and

in

the

^
*

Plut.

As

land

even

Cimon.,

Comp.Diogen.

of

the

Thesprotians."

Od., iv. 750-766,shows.

6 de sera

L.i.lOO.

the allusion in the Birds

num.vind.

10.

Paus.,ix.30,3.Schol.
of Aristoph.,
1553.

APPENDIX.

298

that

Only

last-named

The

invention.'

Homeric

lay claim

can

the

having occasioned

to

is

Heraclean

too

the

young,

tance
disfrom
a
to be drawn
Peloponnesian too insignificant,
The
Avernian, (to
into the mythic cycleof Ithaca.
so
to Heyne,)^ if it existed
this also,in opposition
remark
in Greece, properlyso called,
early,could scarcelybe known
obscure

by

even

the

of

walls

the

the

through

flows

stream

But

report.

the

on

ancient

and

lake,

Acherusian

afterwards

Ephyra,

this

where

Acheron,

passing
Oichyrus,

region which is correctlydescribed,

particularly
by Thucydides' and Pausanias,^ and on which
clearer light,names
a
Pouqueville has recently thrown
falls into

the

legends of

and

in

sea,

the

infernal

earlyperiod,and
partly through the

from

an

and

rotes

the

migrated earlyto Italy,

the Epibetween
connexion

ancient

that

so

now

partly through colonies from

almost
everythingthat Epirus

presents itself again in

possessed
on

the Acheron

In

like

in

that

CEnotria, and

too, the Acheron

manner

from

domiciled

were

thence

Italians,and

Proper :

Greece

deities

country,

the

Aornus

of

Homer,

Pandosia

as

in

Campania.

which

receives

itself the

Periphlegethonand Oocytus, is certainlynot

a mere
poeticalinvention ; and even if a reference to sorrow
should be concealed in the name
although this has in the
language so little analogy in its favour, as in 'Aj^sXwoj it is
into

"

"

at all events
as

too

dark

and

faded for the

garded
appellationto be recertainly
poplars also were

allegorical.White

A^eiaidss,because they grew beside the real Thesof Homer

the circumstance
protian Acheron
putting
; and
poplarslikewise in the groves of Persephone,^ shows again
scription.
that the Epiroticlocality
glimmers through,the poeticaldecalled

'

in order

But

step farther

in the

Odyssey, we must
first placeagain take
so

often

Coiup. Paus.,

I. 46.

i.

up

the

the

mythic

question:

Homer?

17, 2.
'

be .able to

may

advance

I. 17. 5.

of

foundation

tarry longer at Ephyra, and

in

occurs

'

we

discoveryof

the

that

that

in

the

Ephyra is it
begin with Odyssey,

Ad

What

JEn., vi.
od., X. 510.

Exc,

2.

APPENDIX.
i. 259.
his

The

form,)

Taphian prince Mentes, (or rather

relates

from

return

Ilus the

how

Mermeride,

gods. Now,

if

would, Odysseus
least of all the
which

The

Taphus

to

man-killingpoison for

his

here
could

from

him,

to

think
not

Echinades

islands

on

his
from
; but

the

eternal

of

Ephyra in Elis, as some

properly touch any islands,
mouth

the

at

of

dread

in

on

obtain
arrows

of the

separates entirelyfrom

Homer

islands.

gone

give it
we

had

he

Athena

his father

visited

Odysseus
whither

Bphyra,

that Ilus did not

but

299

the

contrary which

Achelous,

the

'

Taphian
stand

can

for

and
Taphise,lie (accordingto the newest
best
of Barbi^-du-Bocage for
for example that
maps,
from
Pouqueville) northward, or a little north-westward
and

the

Ithaca, (they are

and

Meganisi, Arcondi, Calama,

Gastus.)

Odysseus might very well sail thither when returningfrom

if he got his shipdrawn
Ephyra, especially
Thesprotian
across
the

isthmus

he

may

of the

have

whither, in

the

from'this

poison,is

passage*where

another

brings home

excellent

an

the

will haps
perAdd
to this

prince of Dulichium
from
Ephyra on the

the

Phyleus

voyage

Ephyra' also,

Thesprotian.

coat-of-mail

artisans ;
citynotedforskilful

of

an

him.

presentedto

the/at land

the

course

ally,Euphetes,the princeof men, had

This makes
it probablethat that Ephyra

Selleeis,which

river

that

which

opinionof the suitors, Telemachus

go to obtain

was

peninsulaof Leucas,^
for preferringto
reasons

had

It is clear

round.

then

then

and

again the explanation

thereby determined, where Hercules

Selleeis,
Astyochia from Ephyra on the stream
cities of god-nourished men.
laid waste
many
well that a distinguishedcritic of antiquity,

of II. ii. 659, is

carries away
after he
I know

had

very

of

Demetrius

the Elean

^
Scepsis,

Ephyra;

down

from

it

four

but his main

by the former, flows

that
is highly probable

not
the latter,

For

in all these

reason,

II.,ii. 62.5.

II.,XV.

631.

'

that

cannot
Selleeis,

the

stood
under-

only by
ted.
be admit-

Acheron, which flowed

the country of the Dodonsean

'

passages,

Selleeis,was

'
Od., ii.328.
Thuc, iii. 81.
338".
In Strabo, 339'".,

called

APPENDIX.

SOO

the

Selleeis

the

marsh

great

far better

it

flowed

river

could

Seller,' especiallybefore

or

than

land-mark

as

serve

considerable

this

and

then

streamlet.^

Elean

an

inta

Apollodorus therefore did certainlyright in departinghere

to have
from the opinionof Demetrius, which seems
passed
the Schol. Ven.
from
Crates
to him, (as I gather from
over
II.

to

xi., 740,)

Elean

that

reason,

that

part

of the

Ephyra stood, is rather dry and sandy,

Apollocountry could then scarcelybe calledya^. dorus

also

TriXc^ivin reference

Homer

in

somewhere

read

But

Strabo.'

Ephyra, accordingto

to

this

where

coast

the

and

for

even

at the

time,

same

deny that other Ephyrse are to be found in Homer.

Thus the Ephyrians in the battle with the Phlegyans, in all
*
and Ephyra in the hillthose of Cranonia
were
probability
;
enclosed
valleyof Argos, the cityof Sisyphus,'is rightly
do

not

taken

Corinth, although KSgivhosalso

to be

with

in

Horner^

meniscus'
The

understood

difficult

merely by

accident

connexion

it does

not

legend

with

sometimes

from

existed

Now,

existence

had

of name,

as

the

the

of
places-

that

to

legend
the

really
and

name,

the

with

shown
distinctly

same

Larissa,

often

same

foundation

same

be

can

but

the

dence
coinci-

in many

cases.

as

Hesiod

here

and

with

This
631.

XV.

at

referred

regardsEphyra, the legendof Medea, the sorceress,

grand-daughter of the Sun, a divine being accordingto

and

'

earlytimes

which

period. For
a
wavering

been

to have

not

reallyhad

remote

sometimes

Athense,

or

at

did

towns

but

name,

another

one

Par-

considerably

that these

same

this and

to

(Echalia, Pylus
their

bear the

met

there

even

rendered

subject is

by any means
appear
interpretationof mythi

the

in

this

and

be

to

in Elis.

town

the circumstance

by

certain

occasions,

the

of

treatment

more

other

on

is

Alcman,
her

murdered

explanationis
2

See

my

II.

"

II. ii. 670. xiii. 664.

'

Steph. B/'Efu^a.

301.
xiii.,

localised

was

also

children

given

in the

Map, Dor., vol.

Corinth.

at

mystic worship.*
iSchol. Ven.
ii.

Comp. Orchom.,

p. 193.
the Ven. Schol.

Comp.
"

See

She

Orchom.

268

Now

to Cat. 166.

'

VIII.

jj^
sq.

had

yi

p. 339 ".
152.

II.

APPENDIX.
the statement
with

that

Augeas
'

Crates

Medea

SOI

the

(the Shining One)

I must

daughter of Augeas knew

earth bears,is a fragment of
allow myself to enter
not

allusions,I

turn

at

who

reignedthere.

with

the

He
view
a

of

the

likewise,one
grave

who

Medea,

this

Homeric

stood

occurred

in the

of her murdered

form

Asi/ji,a,. The

of

son

of

ancient

that

the dead

authorityof
of

son

in

in

Pheres,

tia.
Thespro-

support of his

all events

Msg/iigogwas

familyof Medea, for,in

was

so

the

exposition.

Ephyra

passage

may,

Mermerus,

the

on

to

children

these

M"j/isg/3))j,

above

was

At

passage.

Ilus

cityof
the

went

probably employed

which

name

in the

mentions,^ doubtless

and

and

deeply into

more

confirms

also

Sun,

as the
(pdgf/juxa
mythic cyole.^ As

this

tradition,that this Mermerus

of Jason

son

this

ApoUodorus

local

king

the

many

greatest truth, be called the

Destroyer; and
But

The

as

Ephyra

of

son

Thesprotiaand

to

once

Elean

local tradition

from

certainlyborrowed

the eldest
broad

at the

also dwelt

Corinth

whose
called,*
on

perhaps a Gorgoneion, called

Naupactia relates that Jason,

terror,
epopee

in

called Mermreus,
Corcyra, begat a son
who
when
therefore
hunting on the opposite continent
near
Ephyra was torn in piecesby a lioness.' We might
first came
to
fancy from this that the legend of Mermerus
of the transplantation
of the
Thesprotia, in consequence
the 5th Olympiad.^
to Corcyra, about
mythus of Medea
in the
The passage
Odyssey, however, is certainlyolder,
therefore have been in
must
and the mythus of Mermerus
when

he

dwelt

"

"

Ephyrae before.
having been buried at
Thesprotian as well as

But

both

Now, then, if

that here therefore

and

that

'

*
'

the

the sun,

and

of

Buthrotum'

it is made

grand-daughterof

Aidoneus,

the

the
were

of

be derived

can

Medea
from

the

Corcyrseanlegend.
out

that

was

originally
also,
Thresprotian

cityof

the

fable of

the

Medea, the

children

the
perfectly

^
II. xi. 741.
II.,xi. 740.
Paus., ii. 3, 6.
ApoU. i. 9, 28.
See above, p. 77.

Schol.

circumstance

^
'
'

same,

of the sun,
I think

that

Frgm., p. 429. Heyne.

Paus.,ii. 3, 7.
Solin,2,

30.

APPENDIX.

302

How

Odysseyis sohed.

great enigma in the Homeric

it in all the world, it must

be

in

that

asked,

comes

Circe,

Homer,

took her name

daughter of the Sun, (who probablyeven
from
the circling
planet,)has her abode so near the regions
of eternal Night and Death, and that the island of Trinacria,

the

to be

also,is conceived
rational

other

no

Shade

the

herds

and

of

It is the

legend.

of

Sun,
in

same

Geryoneus

although

than

ground,

realm

the

and

the

near

and

that

the

does

graze

not

of Helius,

could

cup

the

yet, the

the

to

the

both,

have

can

of

realm

in the
closelyconnected
Herculean
mythus, where

were

these cattle to be those

hardly give

This

graze

Hades

Stesichorus

isle of Circe,''on

^Esean

cattle of Helius

sheep and

the

which

so

in

as

hero

that

taken

the

case

be

to

have

to

appear

island ;^

one

upon

carried

god
over,

of

ApoUodorus,^ that the cattle of Helius

grazed in Erythea,is to be recognisedas ancient tradition,
The
herds of the
preciselyon account of that connexion.
Sun in the Odyssey, likewise, are, of course,
no
arbitrary
statement

but
fiction,

fabled after actual

were

accordingto the
also

hymn

Nay,

Dead
it

and

appears

to

that

the

and

elsewhere.*

Now,

he

could

heard

where

grazed the

that

same

that
near

Od., xii. 166, 201,

I. 6, 1, 4.

Arrian.

at

stated

by

was

as

Sun-herds

Polemon

Emp. Al., ii. 16.

of

must

in

certainly,

tradition

I think
on

this,

which

on

I have
the

most

Acrocethe

place

Apollonia.'

Apollod.,ii. 5, 10.
Soph. CEd. Col., 100.
i.
Dor,, 436.

in Schol.
"

stolen

were

Oricus, preciselymarks

261.
*

he

Scylax Erythea,

ancient

received

Ambracia;'

region a

way,

nished
be fur-

must

horned-cattle

subtilized,but

build,in the
mountains,

it

Odysseus'
burning

the

Helius

know

we

of

at

foundation

district of

from

clearlypointedout,
raunian

the

in

have

may

however, have

water

which
nTjpaX/o;Sutf/a/,

by Hercules, ruled
indeed,

the account

of

mythic

oxen,

in

even

HecatsBus, that Geryoneus, whose

he

god^
have

must

libations

companions making

Athens

the

as

the

to

me,

sacrifice of Helius'

for

such

Pythian Apollo,
Teenarum, another placewhere the worship
the worship of the Sun are found
together*

possessedat

of the

herds,

APPENDIX.

1 think
the

it is clear that

herds

of the

legend of Epirus.
circumstance.
the

to

leads

The
of

JEa,
from

on

the

brother

her

Greece

in

prooflies

the

the

the

following

jEetes, according to

through

and

from

JE,ma, of Circe, as

the

to

the Sun

emanated

Odyssey

collateral
way

daughterof

the

even

in

Sun

SOS

well

as

Homer,

jostlingrocks,between

swift-wingeddoves
that bring Ambrosia
to father Zeus, for the rock
always
crushes one
of them
the father
to death, in placeof which
remain
creates
another, that the number
complete.'
may
which

no

bird flies

Now,

it

gatheredfrom

be

may

through, not

in Herodotus,^
priestesses

that there

the founders

of the

much

it may

legend about

oracle;

of nourishment

the relation of the

however

at Dodona

was

the

even

doves

now

Dodonsean

be

doves

historised,

having

times

in ancient

were

been

fore,
scarcelydoubt, therethe
that these doves were
identical with the Hyades
This
nourishingnymphs who were
worshipped at Dodona.
is also confirmed
by the circumstance that Pherecydes calls
in Homer
of these Ambrosia;^
all are ambrosia-bringone
ing
Now
these
doves.
zeii
Rain-nymphs who attended
Na/os might be perhapsrepresentedin the Dodonsean
legend
in
drivingclouds, a gracefulimage
as
coming over the sea
bard of the Odyssey along
handed
down
to the
which
was
of other Epiroticlegends.*
with the mass

symbols

; and

we

can

"

"

the

legendsregardingthe

Phaeacia

the

to whom

"

Odysseus presents
rumours

this western

and
doubt
Greeks

border
been

whether

fortunate

and

up also at Ithaca
skilful mariners

much-suffering and

signal contrast-

"

world, which

of Greece

by

and

through

the Phoenicians

various

might

Odi, xii. 61 sq.

II. 55.

'

Sturz, p. 109.
Comp. the similar

Comp. Paus.j x.

12.

treatment

on

vague

reached

Taphian navigation,
Grecian
legend. 1

the

Hesych.
of this

have

of

means

of

ship-wrecked

incorporatedwith the
anything in those sea-tales

'

sqq.

western

83

the

from

traditions grew

those

Now, togetherwith

came

to

the

contrary, I think

IliXeiai.

legendin Volcker,it.

p.

APPENDIX.

304

of

the

the

Pelasgo-Tyrrheniansin

the

tions
expediof

case

Ino-

come
bedaughter of Cadmus
carried
at Thebes, a citythat never
a saving sea-deity
faring
navigation,otherwise than that she belonged to a seaI but how
so
through
race
naturallydid she become
they left Thebes,
Pelasgo-Tyrrhenians,who, when
could

how

For

Leucothea.

on

the naval

of

influence

the

clearlypoint out

can

the

speedilyconverted
guardians of navigation.

their

have

must

daemons

native

into

HESIOD.

come
Regarding the Theogony of Hesiod, which has latelybethe subjectof important mythological controversies,
of oflering
I take the liberty
will, perhaps,
a theory which
be borne
out, partlyby the connexion, and partly by the
elucidation
of some
as
particular
points. So soon
legends
concerning the gods existed, and they co-existed with the
worship of the gods,there were also theogonies.The essence

of the

an

and

action
thus

and

time,

just in this,that it makes of everything

all things take place in
event, makes

consists

mythus

likewise

the

transforms

relations

of

the

To imagine the gods as without

temporal events.
idea that
could
an
was
beginning and everlasting,
for this reason,
that they were
conceived
not prevail;
too
as
the existingstate
with
of things,and
closelyinterwoven
therefore too relative : hence
knew
Greece, perhaps,never

gods

the

into

worship

These

local

god without
theogoniescould
of

else than
connected

were
so

that

born

can

ideas

in

the idea

of the

the

of the

realitybe

parents.

to

not

said

Ancient

originaldeity.

be fashioned
creeds

they presentedthese

their

begat
with

it

the

beginning,an

with

in

an

that

bards

which

they

historical form

here

and

of anything

out

the

children

prophets, filled

bright and

Apollo,
pure god, Phoebus
into light,
world, springingout of darkness

called the Greatest

of

Gods, the God

A^Tfi, his parents, and

gave

and Concealment,
xar'l^o;^?)!',
to

the

latter,again, a

305

APPENDIX.

that

mother, Brightness, 4"o/i3^. It appears

had

their home

worshipsof

in the Delian

the various

Amphictyonic
ancient

schools

establish

gods

of bards,

confederation

now

national

and

sacra

and

more

of

these

beings
Delphinianlegend.' The
into

came

closer

sanctuaries

were

contact.

formed

allj contributed

than

gods, in which, indeed^

to

many

a
cast into the shade, and many
worship was
highly-honoureddeity was
brought down to a lower ranki
had been aU
the theogoniclegends,which
Thus, also,were
ready formed in different districts,
gatheredinto one mass ;
and
the mythusj generally inspired with
belief in the
ever
believed, united and reconciled whatrealityof what was
an

earlier

admitted

of union

and

The

reconciliation.

union

was,

at the
always influenced by the ideas prevailing
with the materials handed
down, specu; and, at length,
lations
the world and deity,
on
arisingindependentlythereof,
conjoined. Many a poet may have tried his skill on

of course,
time

were

these

materials
who

ore,

formed

in

the

Boeotian

of bards, the

school

generaltheogonicsystem, comprehending,
and
same
time, a history
genealogyof the
gods the Hesiodic Theogony.
The
Hesiodic
Theogony shows through what births and
revolutions
the race
of gods that then ruled the world arose
man

arose

at the

"

out

of

an

earlier one, that

of the Titans ; and

how

these

were

It interweaves'
primary elements of nature.
the thoroughVg-personal
and
man-resemblingworld of
gods with the most universal powers of external life. The
visible world is conceived
as
livingfrom the beginning;and
the reignthe Titans are, as it were^ the generalexpressions,
ing
gods,the individual productsof its universal life. Now
this fundamental
now
notion, expressedas we would
haps
perexpress it, is completelycarried out by the bard in
the
The
mythic materials.
leading idea is that of the

from

sprung

Titans; and
some

the
when

the

it

much

were

to

be wished

that

we

could

in

This much
is clear,
that
historically.
of explanationis greatly in error
pragmatic method
it takes the Beings described as Titanic to have been

way

arrive

at it

"

Comp. iEschyl.Eumen.

7.
X

APPENDIX.

306

actuallycalled,
worshipped ewrlier, because
they are once
earlier gods." On the
modern
though in a more
passage,
in
one
hand, all traces of divine worship are wanting, even
regard to those that cannot be regarded as expelled: for
"

that
be distinctlyseen
again, it can
developed from the worship of actual gods, as
they were
from
Themis
the Delphian worship of Zeus
probably was
and Apollo ; lastly,
akin to allegory,
they are almost all more

instance, Oceanus

thereby show

and

themselves

be

the

than

Olymbut
in realityelder gods,
pians.^ The so-called younger,
for this reason
of itself,
that they were
objectsof worship
from
the earliest ages, became
more
personal,and their
should

the

Earth-mother,

the

Earth,

younger

thereby did

obscure, and

more
significance
arise,that they

But

to

the

their" rank

preserve

become
Art/iTirri^,

possibility

princes,and
grand-daughter of

the

as

VaTa?

before

proceed further, we must take care not to

create
confusion,by mixing together two entirelydifferent
things, ^the questionas to the originalidea of the Titans,
we

"

thie

and

Titans

as
investigation

in

Hesiod

opinion,be

doubt

been,

the

how

that,

in many

would

be

from

if
'AXx/ia/wif,

says

that

we

the

we

earth

confine
strictly
which

poesy

will

view
sea

have

of

fresh

are

Tartarus, sit the

indeed, but
'

See

found

result

Far

above, p.

the
in

Zeus

or

has

the Earth

faith

in

called

Homer,

surrounded

Infernal
thrust

that

so
'

AXk/imv

of

the

who

But

Tirala.
a

if

Titanic

following
earth

and

lightand no breath
by the deeps of
gods, Japetus
them

and

down, inactive

dreadful,and therefore witnesses

60.

than

Diodorus,

fragments

no

Titans

like

beneath, where

ends, where

Titanic

whom

still

penetrate,

can

Chronos, with

to

be

to

any

my

might perhaps

liTaimti

somewhere

was

their utmost
air

put

the

conceived

name

of

from

ourselves

the

be

to

are

The

figure as

scarcely,in

can

points,otherwise

contracted

that

earlier times,

in

they are representedby Hesiod.

signifynothing else than Children
Tirant

beings

originated. There

any

have

must

to

Comp.

of invio-

p. 227.

APPENDIX.

lable oaths among

are
a

subterranean,
gods.' They are, accordingly,
dark powers, who
formerly acted also on earth, but
to be seen.
no
more
They still serve, however, as

now

the

foundation

and

support

and

Heaven.

to the

Oceanus
not

except beingswho

would

of

so

evidently introduced.
Brightness,"s/a, of
Justice,

Befiig, of

Oceanus

and

we

not

are

then

the

deities.

He

Pierian

the

great

cooperationof
twelve

with

the

reconcile

can

with

an

dividual
inare

idea

of

Homeric

as

having

been

hurled

super-

than

subter-ranean

these

Muses,

these
"

and

was

evidentlywished

merely

to

present
re-

natii/re,which

depends on

names,

"

in the

Heaven,

I think

down,

it

of

ceconomy

if

picture; and

that

still more

Earth

regard to

Homeric
of the

the battle of the

indications,it

whole

of the

the dominion

was

Zeus

battle between

latter, therefore,the
For

but

sacred

the
of

number

persons.

Now,
those

who

invented

of the

son

Titans,

High- wanderer, 'Tir^lm,of eternal

of the Life-givers,
Memory, Muri/iogivri,

were

who

of nature,

also lies at

idea

battle of the

can,

the

consider

Titans

This

powers.

For

Tethys,
to

general,none

of the
prevailsin the appellations
that here heterogeneous materials

one

Titans:

In

Hyperion-

as

destroythe existingorder

the Hesiodic

entirelydifferent

well

as

them.*

belongto

dark, sullen,subterranean

the foundation

to Earth

whole, as Tartarus

Tethys,

and

do
Helius, clearly

"

307

and

Titans, accordingto

sequel to, and

sion
expan-

Chronos

on

Theogony

and

the

properly depends.

Olympian gods

is

explained only
in bringingthe
by this combat ; and if we could succeed
relation to the primary elements
Titans into the same
an
lation
objectwhich the ancient poeticalfancy of Uranus' emascu"

had
That

historyof the gods wouldbe

point, however, scarcely emanated

in view

main

"

the

of a bard, for
itiiagination
inventions

the

historyof

mythus,
"
2

and

the

the

and

he

even

savingof
Parnassian

could

not

Hesiod
young

Zeus

venture

tells

in Crete

II.,viii. 478-481 ; xiv. 203, 274, 278

According to II.,viii. 480 ; xiv. 202.

; xv.

from
on

himself

'OiupaXhi,taken

complete.

was

so

us
a

the
portant
im-

that
local

in connexion
226.

308

APPENDIX.

with

the

had

that

'ridiov in Crete, proves

'O/tpaX/ov

through

introduced

alreadybeen

the

ancient

the

legend

connexion

the
I coincide,therefore, with
Pytho.
that
latest treatment
of this legend,^ at least in the position
Hesiod
made
has here
legends belonging to the natureworship of Crete the foundation of his poetry.
What, for example,the swallowingof children by Chronos
in Crete, I must
but what
here leave unexamined
signified
;

between

the

Crete

and

theogonicpoet

this,that
where
have

the

been

in the

Athena

image

same

Zeus

fancied

under

occurs

swallows

Metis.

first devised

by

closest

from

Metis

once

This

ancient

with

manner

be

it,may

the

gathered from
the Theogony,

againin
swallowing

bards,

birth

of

to

seems

for it is connected

and

Athena;

the

being,a
thoroughlypoetical
of intellect : it is probablethat here the figure
personification
of swallowingis employed in imitation
of stillolder legends,
those of Crete.
Now, as swallowinghere denotes a
especially
sprung

union

with

in his

body, now

bard

one's

in that

Chronos

knows

wishes

for Zeus

by placingMetis
evil : so the theogonic

substance;

own

other

is

both

passage
check

to

good and
it thus :
undoubtedly understood
all further
development of the

livingworld, by unitingthe newly-born

with

himself;

these,however,

from

him,

It is

themselves

tear

the

time,

new

obvious, that

materials

in the

the poet
occasionally

repugnant

in

their

and

troduce
in-

present.
Hesiodic

worked

are

asunder

but

has

nature

ferent
Theogony widelj'dif-

togetherinto
succeeded

not

into

in

whole,

and

that

bringing things

complete agreement.

He

all the beings

evidentlydesigned to embody in his poem
that held
a
prominent place in the religious
worship,and

celebrated in song

were

and
are

Beings
here

of Terror

to be found

conclusion

of the

thus, for example,all the

of the ancient

Heracleas

and

monsters

Perseids

in

connexion
the
genealogical
; and, from
finds a place
legend of Hercules, Hebe even

among

the far

of this

strivingafter

individual

more

incongruous are

often
1

Olympians. By means,
then,
comprehensiveness,things exttemely
brought together; thus, for instance,

Hoeck's

Creta,p.

163

sqq.

APPENDIX.

Harmonia,
looks
and

daughter of

as

Terror.

this could

Now,

scarcelyventure

On

contrary, I

the

which

this

old Thebaic

in the

Ares

thus,

my

brothers, Fear
strange beside her thoroughly poetical

I would

the

309

otherwise

the

join in

to

and

that account.

on

be disinclined

would

Theogony, (Heyne

be

well
Hesiod

to blame

often

we

not

cusations
ac-

brought againstthe Bard of

most
severityin
perhaps shown
ments
nothing but raked togetherfrag-

hear

has

way,) for having done

of totallydifferent kinds,

and

for

even

understood
mis-

having

everything that he brings forward, from his

ignorance of allegory,treatingit all as personalhistory.
This last reproachis partlygrounded on the theory of the
relates
mythus above contended against.^ Hesiod certainly
what

he

does

relate

as

first creators

of these

invention.

But,

him

of later

in reference

real, and

relations,and
the

at

pragmatism ;
to the

ideal ; but

not

that is the
there

time,

same

he does not

and

law
is

of

the

mythin

nothing

think, for instance,

Heaven,
earth-encircling
he

did

so

on

human

sonality,
per-

the
; on
though
contrary, he always knows right well how to keep within
would
become
the boundary beyond whjch personification
true.
unbe answered, that,if we
To the other objection
it may
only avoid everywhere introducing ideas of our own time, and
those of the ancient
seek to discover
bard, there will really
be found to prevailthroughout the poem
a
consistencyand
even

connexion
mean

which

the

Let

artist.

first sixteen
skeleton

surface

of

the

the ancient

boundary

of

least

In

That

dark

and

once

the

the

what

may

middle,

it, Tartarus

'

P.

50.

the

of

poet,
be

makes

with
the

above,

it, rests

always continues to
;^ from it proceedswhat,
2

V.

814.

of
the

definite
is Chaos

exist
to

the

out
on

brightand
Therefore

undefined.

in the

termed

latter first arises

the

no

great broad

; and

Prime, which

of appearance

the work

how

co-existed

creation,which

the

at

up

beneath

Tartarus

to be

seems

only consider

world.

Heaven.

earth, whilst

spring from

at

here

us

of the earth

generallaw

me

lines, builds

wide-expanded
the

to

speaks of its emasculation

the

as

the

sense

310

APPENDIX.

sight constantlydestroys appearance, upper and nether

these two again bloom
Night, which is called "EjsjSos.From

of

forth,in

Day

first

be the

to

seems

operationof

All-subduer

Eros, whom

itself of the

first

Love, produces from

Pontus
here

of

whereat

bring

forth

the

sea,

waters.

But

therefore

begottenwithout

Pontus

from

:) hence

be

the

as

Uranus

and

the

seems

the

and

billowy
could

the Earth

how

has

and

of

that

salt sea,

in

part

no

imagines
Earth, (Homer
its generation;

of the Fresh-

it bubbling
wise
otheron

water, from

all nourishment

the

whom

comes,

must

Earth, begotten through Love.

ORPHICI.

something

these

the unfruitful;

Hesiod

of the

springs,and

proper

influence

without

Earth,

she

Eros.

THE

It

mountains

the
signifies

fountains

child of Heaven

the

hand,

wondered

contrary, Otfeanus,the father

all streams

the true

junction
only afterwards, by conHeaven, gives birth to Oceanus, the god of

with

up

poesy,

other

have

gods, the
probablyavailing

worship, regardsas

herself the

some

narration,

the

fairest of

the

ancient

dawnings
principle.On the

mundane

sequel of

the

this, judging from

and

and

law. Ether

fundamental

that

with

accordance

men

should

the

on

be said

regarding

religiousculture

and

of Grecian

the popular views which

as
antiquity,
the
the
on
Antis^mbolik" lays down
subject,and the
'*
will next
MythologischeForschungen'''
perhaps carry out,
certainlychallengeevery theory which does not agree with

Mythology
"

them

self-examination

to

Herodotus, who

wrote

and

proof.

about

ponnesian war, states that there

i.e. religious
ceremonies, which

the

then

those who
be

buried

these
took

Egyptian

orgies/igo/xdyo" were

part in them

in woollen

'

not

must

garments

existed

'

11. 81.

certain

called r"

were

Bax^ixSi,but in his opinion were

In

beginning[ofthe

enter

the

ojy/a,

'O^pxdi,and

and

handed

Pelo-

rean.
Pythagodown,

and

temple,nor

Se raDra
i/ioXoyituai

(this

APPENDIX.

with)

agrees

311

soDff/31
OgfixoTgixaXio/isvoieixal Bax,y(ixoTgi,

roTiSt

AiywjfrioKfi(these five words

in

wanting

are

manuscripts,but perhaps merely

of the

account

on

of

family

one

o/j,oioTi-

(all neuters : for the Orphici, as

Tl\ihayogikiei
were
certainlynot Egyptian) ohSi y"g rohroiv ruv

Xsurow)xal
persons,

i^yluii
fiere^ovTK

x.

who
Euripides,
character

of

X.

r.
was

Theseus, representsthe chaste

lytus as a man
Orpheus as

who

empty

vapour

of many

evident

that

ancient

The

transfers

times,

in the

ascribe

to

even

Bacchian

He

has

rich

also,in his
to the

In the time
of

instead

Deisidsemon
and

nurse

the

it

he

does

pictures(Parrhasii

it is clear
at

that

way

the

that

time

there

was

of

Euripides,
monies
Orphean cere-

of Crete,'

Curetes
which

immediately followed that of Euripides,

with whom
the
Orphiciwe hear of Orpheotelestse,
of Theophrastus* got himself,with his wife or

child,initiated
class of

same

make

tions
contemporaneous rela-

Cretans," transferred

"

Hippo-

ing
food,and, follow-

last words

obscene

Orphean, literature

noble

in the

life,
honouring the

same

libidines)to earlyantiquity.^But

already a

and

animal

books.^

Euripideshere

hesitate

from

abstained

his chief,led

to those
not

contemporary of Herodotus,

month

every

and

this is

evidently

peoplewho, accordingto Plato,*went

as

of

the rich,and promised

dyugraiand /tdvTiifto the doors
those of their forefathers,
from
to purifythem
all sins,even
by sacrifices and propitiatoryhymns; for which purpose
they exhibited a bundle of books (J^i^Xwoj/ta^Jj)
by Mus?eus
of Selene
and
and Orpheus, the sons
the Muses, as they

said, accordingto which

and

who

was

mother
clear

The

riXeral.^

condemned

to

of ^schines,

they performedthe

of atonement

also, into which

sacra

Ninos,^

death, and

afterher Glaucothea,the

initiated,were

Orpheo-Bacchie,as

from

but
Harpocrates, {dfo/idrruii,)

Comp.

'

V.

965,

V.

1019.

Charact.,16.

Comp. Protag.,316,
Schol. August ad Demosth., T.

'

rites

Valokenser

ad

g^ate

II. p. 167,

richlyset

were

Hippol.,p, 206.
3
Fragm. N.

is

3.

IT, p. 364.

APPENDIX.

312

with

Phrygian

which

mentioned

chides,the
name

if that

Now,

into
former

had

existed
it

the

on

other

before for

could

what
the

rites

of

pretty old

even

by

means

hand

probable that

the

for

this

time

the

have

produced

Attic

tragedian

scarcely otherwise

any

that

and

in

to

at the
to be

himself
.ffischylus
Orpheus taught us

in
"

to

time
so

of

then

expressionof

present, or
In

period.

any

he

common,
a

time

oppositionto

antiquity,stands Herodotus, who

said of a thing currentlybelieved
earliest times, that

However,

without

the

we

it

was

must

that

to

in fact

also

testimony of

Comp. Lobeck,

P. 215.

Hutten.

in his derivation

De

who

out
would, with-

not,

have

down

come

Egyptian

Herodotus.

Diss. JI.
Myster.prii".
3
1032.
T^ioga,

something
might,

Orphean orgies
not frequently

were

that

"

from

gorean.
Pytha-

or

We

the

from

to hoar

surely,have

bring forward

that
inquiry,assume
from Egypt, if Herodotus

very credulous

that in

says,

Orphic union

could

further

borrowed

is

manifestlytransfers the
not long past, to a very

all those

valid evidence, carry back

oppositionto

this

however,

Plato*

When

taken.

was
Xiyij/.tmS'loi)

remote

^schylus

was

the

some

the

institution

that that

conclude

gods only received bloodless ofierings,

an
nisg
measure
Orphean life ('Ogp/xo/

the primitiveages

so

beggingpriestscame

considerable

after

soon

of

and
initiation, ("riT'jrcei,)

be forced

should

^we

were

out

"

the

in

Leoty-

keep our hands

slaughter" words which
manifestlyrefer merely to
fleshless diet of the Orpheans, and not to the prohibition
of anthropophagy,as those who came
after imagined,^

from

the

died

sect

quantity of books spoken of by

to read
we
philosopher. Were
Aristophanes'makes him say,

and

not

Orphean

degeneraterace

it is

that

reason

"

this

its room,

of

contemporary

Demaratus, a later Spartan of that

confounded^ith the ancient king.

ancient

and

Herodotus,

mendicant

of

follower

perhaps be

may

as

in

Plutarch's

flourished ; and if,in

OrpheotelestaB
of Laconic
apothegms,^ Philippus,a

is
Orpheotelestes,

time

evidentlythe

was

these

collection

the

This

sabazia.^

source

it will

Laws, vi. p. 782,

APPENDIX.

313

be well to

But
also.
that
suspend our belief in this case
the other root, is, for
the Pythagorean league constitutes
chronologicalreasons, a very hazardous
assumption. The
of Pythagoras
confederation
which
had, in
great political
resemblance
to the system of the
reality,
only an outward
not
Orphici was
overturned, and its members
dispersed,
"

"

till about

the 69th

intervals,crossed

at

be

can

inferior
for

but

and

founded

the

to

over

imagined that, in

reunited,

These

Olympiad.
the

afterwards,singlyand

mother
of

course

associations

it

Now,

country.

time, they became

from

which

then, in

degree,the Orphean conventicles may

the accomplishment of these things we

have

an

arisen

must,

at

computation,assign the space of half a century,

the 81st Olympiad;) and whence, then, the great num^
(till
the belief of a
her of books at the time of Euripides,and
moderate

antiquity! Could this tragedian,and

derive from
Orpheus what was only formed

phanes,
Aristo-

considerable

life-time 2

own

Add

First

this,that what

to

be

cannot
we

deduced

know,

from
the

on

the

best

principleof

their

devoted
most
Pythagoreans were
seemed
objectionable.^Now,
j(i{iu]i

but

from

sprung

there

the

whole

theory seem

not, indeed,

origin.
1

the

to

that

of

When

Phintys

the

^ax^svm
different

quite a

sides,
Be-

that to which

to them

inconceivable

form

how,

^ax~

of

union

so

much

worthy

the

sense

if this sect

the corner-stone, the

circumstances

me

ancient

existed.

was

and

orgiesexpressedquite the

consideration of these

its

here

could

Bacchian

in

the

confederation,the worship which

that

contemned,

point of

taken

it remains

still,however,

were

and

is to be

union

the Muses

Orphici

Pythagoreans.
an
exclusively

that

evidence,

the

Orphici,indeed,

old

genuine

the

peculiarto

most

was

by no means
vegetablediet was
Pythagoreans at the time when
the worship of Apollo and

in their

was
tral
cen-

so, that
same

Orphean
thing. The

has the effect of

of recommendation,

making

which

is

Herodotus, but which, however, explains

the

in

Pythagoreans

saw

their

Stobseus,Serin. 72, pp. 444,

445.

confedera-

APPENDIX.

314

tion

in

Italy dissolved, and

Lower

yet

felt in

themselves

is so
associations which
deeply
propensity to form
rooted
in man,
they laid hold of the Orphean orgies,which
time
at that
already existed in Greece, and approximated
To
able.
much
and
conformed
to them
as
as
they were
Herodotus, the Orphica themselves
thagorean
might then appear Py-

that

it is also

contributed

times.

the

It

that

much

have

must

by degreesthe stern philosophers

Pythagoreism into the Pythagorists of after
in this unitingof
appears that an important part
to

of ancient

how

evident

transform

played by Cercops,who, according

in Cicero,^ composed some
Orphic poem, (the
;)
Orphicum carmen
appears to lurk in et hoc
phic
Epigenes,a very learned inquirerinto the Or-

Pythagoreans, was
Aristotle

to

Greek
and

name

whom

named

system,

the

as

well

as
twenty-fourrhapsodies,

which

Perinthian,

Samian,
the

attributed

others

Pythagorean

and
pugixA,'^

the

others

of

work

poem

the

was

the

xard^agis,
either

was

reconcilers

of

called

which
xal dlxrvov,^
iriir'Kos

the

Crater,^ regarded
of

the

as

city,if

native

itself that

he

it

could

before the 60th

lived

scarcelyhave

To

Heraclea, shows

Pontic

who

Heraclean,' whose

the

Zopyrus

"A/3ou

"

with
generally,together

was

8/5

Ugli Xiyoi? in

might also, perhaps,belong,

the Orphic
Epigenes ascribed

whom

to

Prodicus,

to

Brontinus

systems,

two

of the

as

Phocsean.^

or

the

of

author

Olympiad.
if the Orphean fraternitycannot
But
have
first risen
from the ruins of the Pythagorean, the door again seems
tence
opened to those who are disposed to carry back the exisof such a sect to early Thracian
antiquity. In opposition
to

this, let

only take

us

and

oldest witnesses, Plato

Waiving

doctrines.
adduce

here
"/

the

all

into

The

'

Eschenbach, Epiff.,p.

"

1. 38.

96, who

Clem.

as

of Orpheus,
disciples

was

confined

in the

N.

body

Clem., Strom, p. 333. Sylb. Suidas.

187. Comp. Orchom., p. 18 ; also Diodor,

refers to this poem.

^

the

Orphic
I shall only
lengthenedexposition,

leadingpoints.

"

1. 92.

what

Aristotle,lay down

'Ofpla,taught that the soul

"/j,fl
D.

consideration

Suid.

"

Clem.

'

Suid.

315

APPENDIX.
in

as

gration
prison-house.^They also doubtless taught a miof souls through diflferent bodies and natures, to

which

doctrine

this

Orpheus refers :
^

xarairaiigars

ycn^

of

verse

Of

do;3^s.
x6"!//,ov

higher degree Orpheus said, that

their

portion."^

said that the

the

by

"

rus'

There, too, the

informs

likened

to

evidentlytaken

xisttXos xa)

poem,

the

into

gradual growth

was

is

which

passage

Brontinus'

or

womb

it

poems

the whole

from

drawn

was

to

ripeness of joy

Orphic

so-called

the

in the mother's

net,5

soul

winds.*

embryo
of

In

exalted

men

the

"

hrri S'Jk

"

the

was

body
the

of

knitting

from

and
ilxruov,^

is

Zopy-

therefore

chiefly physiological.
begotten
theologerswho taught that all things were
mogonies,
Night,'appear to have been authors of Orphic Cos(such as that received into his collection by En-

The
from

that

us

its contents

were

by Damascius) ; * for, in Hesiod,

from Night itself are onlyderived Day and Light,and all sorts
of abstractions. Then
from the Metaphysics,'that
see
we
demus,

these

handed

and

down

with
theologers,

Hesiod, (0/{ih ingi'Htf/oSov tmI irdwii

notions
followed the ordinarypoetical
regarding
SsoX^yo/),
with
the life of the gods,and connected their eternal duration
the enjoyment of nectar and ambrosia.
By the o-a/iwaXa/oi
and
who
called Oceanus
Tethys rng yi/ideuf
^coXoyfigaiiTis,^''
oaoi

irarigisand

merely

Styx,

Orpheus.
in which
time

For

3
'

"

Homer

who

Plato"

Metaph., xii.

quotes
well

as

of the book

De

Be

Prim.,

10,
or

the
are

Mundo

very wide

Arist. De

'

Suid.

idea,

of
philosophers

comprehended.
7.,derives from

phileb.,p. 66.
Anima,

of

name

i. 6, 84.

Brandis.
'

p. 256.

Metaph,, i. 3, p.
Metaph., xiv. 4,

the

under

as

^^
deity,

speculatedon

least Hesiod

passage

is to Aristotle

Hesiod,

6 ; xi. p. 246.

gods, at

to
points more
found, probably,however,

be

to

theologers
and

the

Plato, Cratyl.,p. 400.

Laws, ii. p. 669.
De Gener. Anim., ii. 1.

8
10

"

author

'

12

are

which

verses

Lastly, the
1

both

whom

in

also to the

his

be understood

cannot

Homer,

of the

oath

the

Br.
xiii. p. 309.

"

III. 4. ii. p. 53.

Cratyl.402.
Comp. App.

to vol. ii. p. 232.

APPENDIX.

316

the

'Oipixdthe

all,which

celebrated

evidentlyflowed

have

Zeue, the god of

about

verses

from

the

same

with

source

Zeus
is the
is the beginning,Zeus
quoted one,
end," which
middle, by Zeus are all things brought to an
Plutarch,! with sagacious criticism,ascribes to the theolo-

this often

"

poets who

and

gers

calls

'ToKaihg

and

preceded Thales,

which

Plato,^

"Koyoi.

I
proceed in a somewhat
manner,
summary
the followingconclusions
:
gather from this simplestatement
of the elder Orphic poems
The
substance
was
partly mythic,

Obliged

to

"

in the

Now,
partlyspeculative.
hierologioal,
they evidentlyrested on existingmaterials
or

of Aristotle

passages

referred to, inform

false authorities,has
it

deviated

strange cosmogonies,either

and

what

"

the

even

jecting
Zoega, re-

successfully
proved that
poets of the Orphici that
mythology, and introduced

most

"

only the neo-Platonic

from elder
considerably

was

us

mythic,

from

borrowed

or

new,

the

East.

the union
of which
with the mythus
on
speculation,
of dogmatism, was
founded
a regularsytem
was
evidently
this
and
the
introduced
sect ;
by
although
epicpoems, in
But

which
the

it is

unfolded,

all date

perhaps only from

the

60th

to

70th

have been required

Olympiad, yet centuries must
for its developinent,
lead us
to
as
particularindications
a
conjecturethat it was
consistently
very profound and
carried out system.
But
the positionthat these speculations
down
came
by tradition from the mythic times to the
60th
to
me
untenable, on this general
Olympiad, seems

principle,to
primitiveages

which
did

I would
transmit

not

just for this reason,

not

have

They

may

been

which

period,
"

was

indications

gave

De

"''

See

of

mode

perhaps,with

fruits of that
"

most

the
of the

Def. Orac, c. 48.

above, pp. 19, 195.

any

that

that the
firmly cling,^
trine,
directlyexpresseddoc-

otherwise

the

could

mythus

expressionso universallyemployed.
be regarded as
most
probability,

.from

the

most

fertile in

Highest, as

40th

to

the

60th

piad,
Olym-

profound ideas,and

it were,

in the germ,

iv. p, 716

Laws,

and

".

817

APPENDIX.

priestlyand enthusiastic sages.

To such a periodpointseven
the figurative
language of the
and mixing (xgaHg)
Orphici, in which weaving (irl^rXos)
hand, a less
evince, on the one
prevail;expressionswhich
which, besides,was

so

rich in

simple feelingfor nature,

than

and

the other,

on

ness
conscious-

more

genuine mythic procreation* At this time^

therefore, those who
longed for inward
spiritualcomfortj
and
united
a
speculativetendency with belief in mythic
tradition,appear to have assembled togetherat these orgies.
But

the

evident

the

why they chose Orpheus as their

of Orpheus was
this : The
name

reason

from

transmitted

cians

from

sacrificed

the

ante-historical

times,

head

seems

doubtless

when

the Thra-

and in
gods, and sang on Helicon
Pieria; for the mythus regarding him
is, in its genuine
form, entirelylocal in these regions: the migrationof the
Pierians to mount
Pangaeum,^ appears, I now think, to have
borne it farther north
Nciw, this mythic name
was
partly
connected
with the worship of the Muses, to which
refer all
the legends regarding the marvellous
efiects of Orphean
be
in any event
music, although these, however, cannot
ascribed
to the
f
industry of that religiousbrotherhood
tion
partlywith the worship of Bacchus : and it was in this relathat the Orphiciadopted it.
For it cannot
at all be
to

their

imagined

that

the

rites

same

could

be

called

and
'OgtpiKA

acter
Bax^ixA, unless Orpheus had been before an important charin Bacchian
I hate already
fable,(in reference to which

interpretedelsewhere the legend of Orpheus being

which
is mentioned
in the
in pieces,
torn
by -ffischylus,
Bassarides, and Plato in his Symposium^') and unless there
also, perhapsin Pieria or on Helicon, Dionysian rites,
were
most
the legends of Orpheus were
with which
nected.
closelyconthat the

But

of this

Bacchus

religiousbrotherhood,

part of what

we

See

above, p.

See

JEschyl.

1221.

worship of

Med.

642.

know

about

is

formed

by

the central

far the

it ; inasmuch

as

most

it is

point

important
clear,from

160.

Agam.
Alcest.

1629.
364.

Eurip.

Bacch.

Plato,Laws,

562.

viii. 829.

Iphig.Aul.

APPENDIX,

318

this fact of
from

the

and

found

serve

as

gained a speculativeside precisely

of the Baxj^e/ofand

ceremonies

and

Auir/os

6ehs,

feelingstherein expressed well calculated to

of a peculiarphilosophy of religion.
foundation

the

lays down as a tradition from the remotest

doctrine
of Dionysus as
the through-leading
god

the

"

evidentlyfamiliar
can

that

Hades

is

in the

taken

of

Zagreus, whom

the

"

Alcsemonis

called the most

manner,

them

the

important position
a
positionwhich is not to be
Theocrasia.
(Both gods meet

later

from

Orphici; and

derived

Dionysus^

sense

those

to

have

Heraclitus

only

in

it

Creuzer

was

"

mythi
the

What

ages

itself,that

had

exalted

of

able
already,in a remarkthe gods,and named

indications thereof
togetherwith the sacred Earth.)^ What
they may have found, perhaps in ancient Boeotian mythi of
Dionysus, is a curious but not an easy inquiry: that they
had no hesitation
to unite Phrygian with
Dionysian legends
the bard
of the Europea (about
is easy to believe,as
even
the Cadmean
the 20th Olympiad) made
god go to school ^
to
Cybele, and the *giiy/a mlrigii of the so-called Thy-

antiquelanguage and character,* may also

dom
perhaps date from that time. The legendsalso about the wisof Silenus probablyderived their originfrom Phrygia, as
moetes, written

the

in

Phrygian king
disseminated

were

Midas

by

the

always plays a part in them, and

Orphici through Greece, where

Bacchylides alreadymentions
the

nether

world,

Heraclitus,

the

is bound

to

were

Orpheus
But,

even

*
'

evident
to

even

that

and

that

Queen

of

passage

in

she

in

was,

"

honour

not
in
as

the

friends

already made

the
it

establishment

is,we

are

of

of

led

of
the
the

to

the

if

even

part

Athenian

tion
men-

taken

by
mysteries.

conclusion

that

the

system.

To

the Eleusinian

deities into their

624.

3
Etym.
Zayj.
See Dionysins tJie Cyclographer in

Hephsest.

Orpheus,"

there'

Gud.

Ptolem.

from

Dionysus ;

Schleiermacher, Fragm. 70, p.

In

the

Now,

fer
worshipped in the Orphean orgieswe could inThe subterranean
bride
tragedy of Rhesus : *

Orphicidrew
2

wedded

was

like manner,

from

is

as

them.^

"

V.

Schol.
Diod.

969.

II.,vi.

130.

iii. 67.
'

V.

946.

APPENDIX.

319

it appears
certain,that Pindar's Persephone,who
from souls,iro/vAn -xaXam
is sprung from
fsvisot,^

me

ceives
re-

phean
Or-

doctrines.
The

these

in which

way

Orphici went to
observed
distinctly

work

with

cient
an-

in the mythus
mythi, can be most
about the tearingasunder of BoiCchm, which, at all events,
of Diopassed throughthe hands of Onomacritus, a eutSirris
phean
nysian orgies,according to Pausanias,^ an author of Or-

Oran
therefore,in all probability,

also,and

poems

it emanated
from his hands,
phicus. But as to whether
(as Lobeck, in his learned treatise De Morte Bacchi seems
is not necesto maintain,)I shall,leaving aside whatever
sary,
what
to me
seems
lay down, in the simplestmanner,
probable. Nonnus and Clemens,' as we know, are the firstto
of this transfurnish (from a rsXsr;)O^pEws)
action,
account
a detailed

accordingto which
Dionysus Zagreus, the son of
of the Curetes,was,
Persephone,when under the guardianship
of Hera, attacked, while engaged in childish
at the instigation
nus,
sport,and torn in piecesby the Titans, who, accordingto Noncoloured and disguisedthemselves
with gypsum
; they
tore

limbs

his

threw

from

murder

them

into

three-footed

caldron,

still

bleedingheart ;
the Titans, and Apollo buried
Parnassus.
Now, one
might

on
on

the

Zeus
the

but

Pallas

avenged his
collected fragments
that

suppose

this

first fabled in the times of neo-PIatonic

mysticism ;
but it is evident
some
fragmentsof Euphorion and Callimachus, that the Alexandrians, on whom, perhaps,Hygiit pretty nearly in the same
also draws,* alreadyknew
nus
form.
According to Callimachus,^also, Persephone begat
Dionysus Zagreus,the Titans tore his limbs asunder, threw
into a caldron, and
pod,*
them
placedit beside the Delphic trito Apollo. But
an
as
ofiering
Euphorion knew of the
of Hera
wrath
against the ox-headed
Dionysus Hyes ; '
story was

from

and

also described

Now,

his limbs.*
1

Thren.

the

Fragm.

Fb., 166. 167.

"

Tzetz.

'

Fragm.

ad

beforethese two,

4.

208.

Meineke.

there is

VIII., 37, 3.
^

Lye,

14.

attempt of the Titans

In

the

to boil
no

one

Protr.,p.

11

or

roast

in antisq.

Etymol. Zay^tut.
M.
sec.
v.
Comp. Etymol.
AiK"pol.
*

Fr. 16.

Sylb.

APPENDIX.

320

having treated the fable,except Onomait is therefore

critus alone, in his Dionysian Orgies ; and
probablethat Callimachus and Euphorion drew from him,
features.
its main
and that he alreadyfurnished
During
to Orphean
was
generallymade
antiquity,also, reference
quity mentioned

for

poems
that
of

^
strange legend.

this

there
the

as

were

themselves

gather

us

it in the

things bearingupon

many

Orphici

lets

Diodorus

riXirotl

too, whom

Glaucothea,

we

of the Orpheoalreadymentioned, a sister,by her office,

telestsB,
practisedceremonies^ for the explanationof whichj
of the murder
circumstances
quoted : so
by the Titans were
that all this brings us
back to the Orgies of Onomacritus.

have

(ibid.)also plainlystates that he first

made
the Titans persecutors of Dionysus, so we
are
perhaps
entitled to placealso to his account
the rest of that mixing
which
vails
preup of heterogeneousworships and mythic cycles
in that story. He then gave the Ctiretes to Dionysus
Now,

as

his

god
also
of

as

had

Pausanias

guardians,from

the Cretan

mythology,

the

friends and

foes

now

introduced

same

the

Athenian

between
similarityof sound
xagSia; nay, we might assert that
Zagreus the son of Persephone, in
to

unite

him

with

the

Zeus

young

goddess,perhaps

the

able

as

Attic

he

on

and

JlaXK"s

first called

order

lacchus,

that
if it

the

that

so

he

he

account

-ffaXKoiiAvr]

Dionysus
might be
not

were

tremely
ex-

probablethat the Orphici had already done this by

blendingtogetherthe worships of Dionysus and Demeter.
But
still more
than
what
to
impute to Onomacritus
have
dation
founset down,
to me
to be quite without
seems
we
and
if it has
been
the
supposed that he was
;
inventor

asserts, I

of the
must

entire

fable^which

confess that

I cannot

Pausanias

by no means
bring myself to think

of the ancients
it must
According to the notions
have
who
been an
could, from
unholy, an accursed
man,
mere
a
caprice of his own,
represent the ever-young
Dionysus, the god of joy, as having been torn in piecesby

so.

the

Titans.

'

And,

See the passages

supposing
in Loteck.

that

Onomacritus

'

III. 62.

were

v.

TS.

so

APPENDIX.

wicked

and

reckless,he

fools if he

fancied

religion
an

of

event

could

previouslyunknown
the Delphians have
would
of Dionysus in
a
grave

them

known

having
that
at

they, in

for

the

the

of
glorification

said, if
their

theless,
never-

he

And

fabled to

had

Or

can

their
think

we

Orpheans, or ready
of that

inventions

soil,merely for that

their

and

mythology

land, without

deceitful

of the

avail themselves

to

once

foolisli of

all the Greeks.

to

of it before I

anything
leaguewith

most

importance,and which,

was

what

into

smuggle

much

so

been the

have

must

he

321

sect

reason

they actually did, a grave of

Dionysus ! In the adytum of the Pythian temple,where
of the
mound
stood
the golden statue
a
god,' there was
which was
called in an
obscure legend,not known
to all,
I can
the grave of Dionysus.^ I think
clearlysee the
showed

to

strangers, as

macritus

the

That,

was

former
far

so

the

mentioned

the

was

as

is

no

of Ono-

poem

whatever
objection
which
one
might
dvS^^tircv,
for

awe

tive.
deriva-

Onomacritus

poet before

no

yet scrupleto touch, from

and

the

the latter the

source,

know,

we

mythus,

^giHudesand

local tradition and

this

relation between

the

the

well

thing
know,

sacred

and

Delphi,too, the "Osmi alone,five priestsof an

ceremonies
in reference
ancient race, performed some
secret
the Thyiadse,asto the death of Dionysus,at the time when
sembled
In

mystical.

there

god' in

the

the

also
manifestly

were

the

in

at the triennial

clear

hidden

from

riotous

this,that

the

at

as

cave

it were,

the other
; but

Parnassus

ox

of Bacchus

Delphinius.^ It is
belonged to the triside of the publicand
that festival,
together

of

ceremonies

these

on
processions

perhaps,be

and

sacrifices of the

the secret

these

of the district,
we
should,
Dionysian religion
right in derivingfrom the Daulidian
perfectly

the entire

with

'

up, in the procession,

and
winnowing-sieve,(oX/xwVjjs;)*

corners

eteric,and formed,

held
festival,

Comp. Paus., x. 24, 4.

the older

I know

poet Dinarchus

through Lobeck,

'

Hut.

"

Lycoph.,206.

ib.

in

p. 16.

See

Philochorus,p. 21., Lenz,

adv. Jul. 10, p. 341, whom

Cyrill.,
Comp. Plutarcti,Isis,36.
Commotis
Mn., iv. 301.
sacris,
Virg-.

APPENDIX.

322

Thracians.
of the

He

find

the

torn

god

took

the

form

who
{^Aygitimi,
with

and

what

in

flesh

after it

animals

into

cut

was

in

exhibited

that

is to be found

onia

the Boeotio-Achsean

Tenedos,

and
the

that

to be

in Homer

'

and

expansion,I
ready

to

can

well

his hand.

it

believe

What

This
which
1
3
*

to

is the

was

later writers

prevailsin

to

confusion
the

AgriLesbos

islands

the

what

can

But

even

found

be

be called
in

this

things

many

brought

the Idsean

call the

Cretans

ture
fea-

natural, considering
Delphi and Crete, than that
to that

over

mythology 2 Thus,

introduced,who
of

main

more

should

with

the Curetes

same

have

also,
certainly,

was

he

that

between

island,and there blended

occasion

the

Dionysus.*

legend of Zagreus' death

perhaps,were

emigrationwhich crossed over to

brought preciselyto those two

the close connexion

the

and

the

with

legend closelyconnected

can

we

civilisation.

of

mythus from local tradition :

merely expansion and detail.

was

riotous

stags, goats,

usages,

new

of the

his

of

young

the

at

therefore,undoubtedly took

Onomacritus,

tical
iden-

name,

mythic representation.But

sacrifices of

human

of the

berment
legendof Dionysus' dismem-

however, take these rites

scarcely,
offspringof a post-Homeric state
shown,

the

and
pieces,

the

all this the

"

sombre

Zagreus) ; and what further,at the

deity,appeared as w/topay/a,eating

as
tearing asunder
processions,

other

religiousrites

the

probably,also,from

to the

also

early

an

er,
the HuntDevourer, (Aa^itfr/os,)^

or

the Parnassian

raw

festive,but

dead

as

sacrifices to the Raw-eater,

of human

is

sacrifice of animals

even

Dionysus belongs,
this god of blooming

that

gay

the Pursuer
('ii/i")(fr;i5,)'

and

of

of ecstatic

periodhad not merely

For
and bloody side.

the

worship

natural

it very

circuit,the forms

wider

pleasure,was conceived
the worship from
asunder, especially
as

this

Nature,

gods

in

surveys,

which

orgiasm to

will likewise

and

who

entire

have

often

mythus

given

Cretan.

Dionysianand Cretan mythi

of Euripides,and was
of so

Creuzer, iii.,
p. 334.
Gottingen Review, 1826, March.
Clem.
Protr.,p. 27'' ; Porphyr.

On
De

Orchom.,

Voss's

p. 173.

Antisymbolik.

Abst.,ii. 66.

APPENDIX.

and

easy

frequent

desire

any

much

by

with

traditions;

terrified

possibility
in
to

the

song

that
and
but

the

ancient

main

subject

term

to

right,

can

death

and
that

although

antique

and

well

greatest

imagine

fearful

the
in

the

god,
should

irdki

the

legend

with

Pausan.j

x.

poets
caution

1,

5.

local

be

that

true

Dionysus

of

tradition

not,

passed

only
and

really

Lycurgus^
of

is

the

been

from

it

account

Dionysus,

certainly

history
was

the

that

have

flight

there
of

resurrection
this

can

that

is

tragic

about
to

must

sage
pas-

the

on

choruses

it

to

other

or

know

we

probable

the

applied

expedition
once

Now

that

Adrastus

vdha.

them.

be

even

some

when

of

the

Cleisthene,

tragic

becomes

consider

clear

therefore,

Aioviaou

rk

is

praised

these

restored

Olympiad,
his

only

when,

and

it

the

celebrated
this

even

tacked
at-

admitted
had

more

For

67.

Sicyonians

the

sufferings;

his

45th

the

of

the

probable

v.

above

However,

of

Olympiad,

Onomacritus

Dionysus.

less

and

Herod.,

choruses

as

of

explained

appearance

75th

have

the

certainly

was

times

the

the
I

before

poet

all

with

before

even

Even

orgies
at

and

Thessalians.^

no

death

less

me

in

of

that

Bacchian

coloured,

without

ancients,

deceive.

or

probably

and

Phoceans,

the

the

at

so

500

disguise

to

practice,

the

among

gypsum

older

Bacchi,

occurrence

whatever

colouring

323

touched

holy

think,
over,

on

dread-

APPENDIX.

324

ORION.*

mistrust the system

proper

in favour

much

so

not

very

long

that of Greece,
interpretingmythology, especially
of explainthe Constellations.
In Dupuis, this mode
ing
the ancient religious
a
revolutionaryattack
mythi was
of

ago,
from

the

on

present day, regatd with

the

Inquirersinto antiquityat

positivereligion
;

Christian

faith should

to

also

no

value

from

the

that

intended

he
of

appear

reduced

were
religions

and

this,that all

representedin figures.

calendar

mythologists cannot be reproachedwith such

designs. To them the legendary world seemed to gain in
dignityand sublimityby its relation to the starry heavens ;
but they did not reflect how often their mistaken
ingenuity
an
discovered, instead of true and natural feelings,
empty
allusions
and
frigidabstractions as the
sport with remote
of deeply significant
foundation
time,
mythi. At the same
this department of mythology is that, perhaps, in which
Our

German

of the

that
the

carried

been

Ax^ieia has

farthest.

acquaintanceof
its twelve

and

Zodiac

Suppositions

Greeks

the ante-Homeric

the

and

nature,

which

bestow

Mythi,

gang,

are

From

again

separate from

drawn

presentedto
some

of the

from
from

ideas, sprung

yet, to the author

And
to

consequences

fruitful

and

cannot

we

us

by

leave

must

often

tions
supposi-

them, the penetrating

a

the

on

with

would

such

vivid

the

intuition

of

mythology.

same

following
essay

consideration

as

large portions of

signs,render

who
distasteful to him
mythological works
History in possessionof its rights; and we

cordiallyregret that

such

it

seems

time

Astjionomicae

he can
to the imagibring nearer
nation
try whether
of his readers,in their originand signification,
those

and

the

Bonn,

Rheinisches

1834.

Museum

fiir

Zweiter
Philologie,

Jahr-

APPENDIX.

legends whose
with

reference

certaintyand

325

the

to

stars

distinctness.

be

can

pointed out

revive the

To

naive

and

mated
early Greece conceived and aninature, and
thereby bring to lightthose parts of
mythology which lie deepest the oldest encampments,

earnest

poesy

Grecian

with

which

"

it were,

as

which

covered

most

were

up and

rendered

recogniseby subsequent defeats ^has always

of the finest problems of our
German
one
appeared to me
although,of late years, instead of advancingin it,
philology,
have rather retrograded. Astronomical
we
mythi form a
the phenomena by
introduction
to this inquiry. As
fitting
still
which
these creations of fancy were
called forth, are
difficult to

"

entirelythe same, and can also be observed in our climate,

they furnish a useful preparatory exercise to the restoration
itself with mere
local
connects
of tliat mythic poesy which
and
peculiarities
In my
I gave

"

transient

Introduction
sketch

of my

to

of nature.

conditions
a

Scientific

views

on

Mythology,"
Astronomical
Mythi

System

the

of

I especially
insisted on
in which
a
antiquity,
of those legendsto which the aspect of the
separation

of Grecian
strict

given rise,from

had

stars

school,which

the

consisted

catasterisms

of the

merely in seekingout

drian
Alexanfor

some

fable or other story,

figurealreadytraced on the sky, some
and
mythological
by which an interestinginterpretation
reference was
assignedto it. With
regard to this process
is clearlyseen
from the descrip^the operationof which
tion
of the
sphere of Eudoxus, which
given by Aratus
lar
mythological simicontained, however, but little that was
in his excellent
have been expressedby Buttmann
views
On the Origin of the Constellations on the Grecian
treatise
he read before the Academy
of Sciences at
which
Sphere,"
which I
The
principles
Berlin, on the 8th of June, 1826.
have been confirmed by continued attention
then laid down
"

"

"

to the

only,at
subject,

the

same

time, the circle

of

really

mythi has, in some

regions,widened
stands more
around me ; in others, the originalconception
I will begin by unfolding,in
distinctlybefore my view.

ancient

the

astronomical

legendsregardingOrion,

all that

belongsto

the Cout

APPENDIX,*

326

stellation
of

mythi

all the

of any
be found

the

the

and

Htades,

of

poesy

to

that

later times

take for their

Bear, which
that
the
from

and

of these

the

terials
ma-

Greece, are

which

to

lies to the

larger space
There

Pleiades, have

SiRius,

their

position
degrees

only are a few

distant from the Ecliptic
to the North.
Among the Northern
Stars, indeed, the Bear
Wain, togetherwith Bootes,
or
having chieflyserved as
early under those names,
appear
guidesto the Greeks on their voyages ; for it was only in
a

line

the

the

way

furnished

have

path, not in the much

Eclipticto the Pole.

Sun's

extending from

mythic

same

Hyades.

of the heavens

that division

in

nearlyin

to the

the

which

constellations

amount

of the

Orion,

also in the

treat

to

the Pleiades, and

Siritis,

Almost

south

I intend

and

they learned
guidance the

lies nearer

the

Pleiades

from

the

Phoenician
of the

constellation

Pole.

there is

But

mariners

no

Lesser
evidence

designationshad any considerable influence in

The constellations known
to us
of mythi.
formation
Mythology, which, beginningfrom the sign of Taurus,
passing the Pole, proceed along the milky way, viz.,
these

Perseus,

Cassiopeia, Andromeda,

and

have

Cepheus,

this peculiarity,
that they do not first appear, like
certainly
the Horse, Engonasis,Ophiuchus, and others,under
names
find
which
as
we
merely denote the figure; but, so soon
them
mentioned, already bear these mythological
names,

which,

royalfamily.

same

not

and

all taken

are

moreover,

known
no

their

Greek

appearance

on

To

it

and

me

can

the
seems

heroines, who

relation to the

fable

and
persons of one
Nevertheless,these constellations

the

were

be

pointedout until they make

described by
sphere of Eudoxus
of
that by these names
probable,
had a certain though only apparent

East, it was

which
appellations
may
in Oriental
mythology.
and

the

poetry before the time of Alexander,

of them

trace

Aratus.

heroes

to

from

characters

meant

be
But

to

translate

borrowed
that

connected

from
Perseus

with

them

dean
Chalsimilar

and
in

dromeda,
Anthe

327

APPENDIX.

Greek
a

legend,were

point that

this

requiresto

be

with

be at all rendered

cannot

nothing in

sidereal beings,is
originally

themselves

mythic cyclewhich
interpretedby means
the remark

regard to

that the constellations

is

probable. There

clearlyand distinctly
of Astrognosy. But

the outset, the circumstance

at

mythologicalimportancelie
south of the Ecliptic,
is perhaps sufficiently
explainedby
this,that they are not seen in the sky throughout the whole
year, but
became

are

of most

times

at

their

invisible,
whereby

appearance

doubly remarkable,and

of combinations.

gave occasion to all manner

regardsthe signsof the Zodiac, even

As

thisisnotsomuohthe

case;

theywouldbevisiblealmost every
from sunrise to sunset ;
prevailed

night if completedarkness
but twilight,
which comes
before the one, and after the
on
other,always prevents those Zodiacal constellations nearest
the

from

sun

space

of time

stated

by

being

for

seen

for the Pleiades

Hesiod

considerable
in the

period.
of the

neck

This

Bull, is

Northern
fortydays. But the more
which are every night for a longeror shorter
constellations,
in the sky, like
to be seen
time, or even
constantly,
thing
everywhich we
and could not
see
daily,appear less striking,
be so easily
placedin relation to natural events, and thereby
with the
set in motion, and brought into action, But together
let us also note the very remarkable
figureof that
position,
constellation,with its three stars of the second magnitude
lyingnear each other,and formingthe belt,and the six other
to be

to mark

serve
brightstars,which chiefly
and legs,and unite with
arms
of gigantic
size ;
form of a man

sought

to

connect

shines all the other

others

wherewith

Sirius,which

must

in

the

is not far

in the firmament

suns

consider all this,we

we

the

the direction

not wonder

of

completingthe
also
imagination

distant,and

'

Besides

this view

that such

was

very

then

the spur

to

out"

when

tion
constella-

legendsand

stories does not

seem

there was
indeed another,
conBtellation,
quite unmythological,but certainlyof a

of the

and
poetical,
character.
genuine popular
figureof a giganticcock's
not

in these

and

night;

should, above all others,have given rise

popularstories.^ Everything

of the

It united
foot

of the cock.

the

stars

in Orion

into

The girdleof
d^Exrgoffo"on.

the

Orion

APPENDIX.

328

to

authors

interpreted. Those
yet correctly

to be

me

who

tings
mythologicalheroes to risingsand setthose whose
of stars and calendar-epochs,
are
precisely
minds
least opened to a perceptionof the naive,
have been
shall
We
half-serious,half-jocular
spiritof these fables.
endeavour, by an accurate
comparison of the appearances of
the constellation in the Grecian
able
sky with the mythi referclear and precisean interpretato Orion, to obtain
as
tion
of the latter as possible,
and in this way to present the
in the
formed
yearly-renewedhistory of Orion as it was

tried

all

reduce

to

fancy of the Grecian

We
begin with
of Orion

RISING

Hesiod

iZr

above

So

be

has

the

as

to

the

and

in

its

revolution,

Gemini,

this

stellation
con-

part of the night. When

in any

seen

'n^iavoe,

Sun,

Taurus

in

firstbecomes

heliacal

or

"

long

advanced

of Orion

appearance,

favfiaShog
-ffguTci,

at/

Orion,

cannot
sun

first

summer,

says.'

continues

the

the

in

"

as

people.

extremity of Gemini,

visible,at

tion
por-

the close of the

night,
which
beneath
the Zodiacal
stars
precede its rising,and
before the lightof day renders it impossible
with
to perceive
the naked eye the stars then above the horizon.
According
the
Orion
to Eudoxus
Cnidian, (350 b.c.,)
began to be
the
Sun
the 24th day in Gemini
visible when
was
; on
der
day,accordingto Euctemon, (430 B.C.,)the shoulof Orion
was
seen
advancing, i.e.,the rightor West
shoulder, with the star Bellatrix.^ According to Democritus
(420 B.C.)this risingdid not take placetill the 29th day of

the

same

Gemini.

For

appearance

of Orion

Julian

Calendar.'

Cancer, the
horizon

the

of

Hesiod, (800 b.c.,)the first

is calculated
But

time

the
does

to

farther
Orion

the 9th of
the

gain
day-break. According to

more

before

time

to

Sun

July by
advances

ascend

Eudoxus*

above

the
in

the

his entire

'

Works

Geminus, Eisagoge, p. 266, ed. Altorph.

Chronologie,i.247.
Comp.Lehrbuch,p,102.
Ideler,Handbuchder
246.
Geminus, Eisag.,p.

'
*

and

Days, p. 598, Gottl.

APPENDIX.

figurewas
day

to

into

the

the

station
about

seen

risingof

night:
in

so

But

the

that

on

who

is

would

not

notion

unfolded

allow

risingDawn,

attained

considers

the

among

off

natural

Orion, and

the

ascend

Grecian

from

day

further

of the

Sun's

September,it rises
culminatingpoint,
elevation

as

in

of the

appearance
appear

the

and

end

this

the

close in

it to

carried

of ancient

of

singlenight,it may

the

middle

retreats

now

alreadyat its
its splendour.

has

speak,followed

to

of Cancer

nearly about
the

Orion

to him

day

constellation

robs it of

before

heavens,

Uth

Leo, towards

the Sun

loved

the

midnight, and

when

so

on

329

if the

footstepsof Orion, and

sky: and thus was the
people,that
Eos, the
"

mythi, a love-storywas
him

stellation
con-

Dawn,

Orion," from which, after the

carried

the

away

to

ner
man-

formed.

be her

Eos

spouse,

said

the

simple popular legend. The fact that Orion rises

higher every day, and sinks later into the embraces of Eos,
it is merely founded
is disregardedby the fiction,because
the appearance
of singledays. Homer
makes
on
Calypso
the daughter of Atlas
in
complain, the following
manner,
also deprivedher of the man
of the crueltyof the gods, who
she loved

"

"flS /tsK St'

Tif^a
"Ewf

01

iXiTO ^oSoddxTuXog
'Hiig,
'ilgiuv
ffydaak hoi ^iibi
^wovns,

fiiivh

'Ogruylf!
^ug66^ovos"A^n/iieayvfi
OJs ayavoTg^ikheeiv s-x^oi^o/ihri
xaTiveipvsv.

Now, however
Orion

in

evident

other

it may

here be that Eos

than

by causinghim
still the fiction of the death of Orion by means
which was
linked to this,cannot
be brought
nal

no

connexion

way

with

it.

If

we

even

to

carries off

disappear,^
of Artemis,

into

ventured

an

to

inter-,

regard

Odyssey, v. 121.
and the Scholia,in
The aXKryyo^ioi
of the mythus in Eustathius
natural
does not
above
and
the
with
simple
explanation,
comparison
deserve consideration.
Accordingto it the dead bodies of fair youths
before
buried
were
day-break, as if the Sun should not see the
said that Orion was
ried
carmelancholy spectacle
; and therefore it was
Eos.
by
away
2

APPENDIX.

330

Homer's
thus

Artemis

as

th"

the

as

increases,yet this could

moon

whose

killingof Orion,

the

while

this

natural

way

it would

and

be

heavens, between

through

Artemis.

soil,and
but

bore

the

the

rape
It will therefore

the existence

assume

of

of

reference

no

to

the

point

be

the

and

by Eos,
here

the

death
to

necessary
on

grew

in

out

in

appearances

fable which

imagined
visible all

remain

less difficult to

no

connexion

sidereal

well be

not

darker

and

darker

chief stars

the my-

make

to

the stars become

refer to it,because

as

tried

and

moon,

different
of

constellation

Orion,

which

epicpoesy interwove with that sidereal legend ;

thus
seemed
which
to unfold
forming a singlenarration
itself naturally,
and
be quite well accounted
for by the ordinary
inclinations

and

passionsof

the

gods.
a matter
surprisethat Homer
should relate a fiction which so clearly
refers to the vanishing
other examples
of the constellation
at the dawn, among
of unhappy marriages between
goddesses and mortals, so
which
completely with the air of recording an^ event
be explained
This may
actuallyoccurred in earlier times.
Either
the
in two ways
:
thoughts of the bards at that
periodwere
reallyso much diverted from the phenomena of
It is indeed

the

of reasonable

starry heavens

imagery
of the

to

earlier
of

and

nature,

times"

Orion

"

that

by Eos,

fertile

so

"

they

could

of

source

repeat the- story

without

that
the
reflecting
same
thing always continues to take place in the same
way
in the heavens
all his apparent honesty,there is
; or, with
in the ancient
much
dissimulation
bard, that although
so
the
he well knew
to what
story referred,he designedly
Although the
guards againstlettingthis be discovered.
is by no
in all cases,
latter supposition
to be rejected
means
the

rape

decision,however, will be here

but in either

case

such passages

in favour

in Homer

are

of the former
very

examples for the grand leading positionin

of the religion
and mythi of Greece : That, at
of the
no

Homeric

Poesy, the ancient

longerrepresentedand
connexion, and

that

understood

Natural

tive
instruc-

the

tory
his-

the time

Fable

in its proper

and

was

ginal
ori-

only isolated fragments,conceived

APPENDIX.

in the

spiritof

immense

heroic

tide of

would

carried along on
mythology, were
legends. Closer reflection on such

have

of

perhaps

Homer, which

with

the

ear,

fable,if listened

natural

would

heard

be

infa/eowrof

at that
antiquitythat
alreadybecome
almost
from
an
undistinguishableruin, to restore
the beautiful plan of the most ancient poetry of Greece

high

so

sages
pas-

timony
testaught Voss,
been so often brought forward

has

delicate

more

the

that the

even

againstthe high antiquityof

to

331

time

which
should

it had

an

be

problem.^
In the following
and
part of the year Orion rises nearer
is in Scorpio,
the beginningof night. When
the sun
nearer
therefore
nearly midway between the autumnal
equinox
and

the

of

the

first time

rises he

sun

path the

same

rises

Greece

in

axgomxi,

or

beginning of night.
assigns the 12th day of Scorpio,as the beginning
the acronychalrisingof Orion .^ The
stellation
mighty connow
proceedsalong the sky the entire night,and
for

the

when

solstice,he

winter

is visible
Eudoxus

first

our

two

sinks

at

in the

the

Western

clusters of stars, the

horizon.

In the

Hyadesand Pleiades,

of Orion.
The
Pleiades, or Seven
along in advance
Stars, a closely-crowded
group of small stars, are stationed
of Orion, a few degreesnorthward
the rightshoulder
over
from the Ecliptic. In later times they were
assignedto
the neck of the Bull, as the Hyades representedthe head
Homeric
of that Zodiacal animal.
antiquityknew nothing
The
south
of
of all this distribution.
Hyades, somewhat
move

the

trianglewhich

brilliant star of the

from

drawn

line

Orion, towards

I wish

himself

more

of the
"

Eos

chose

heauty. We
as

Bellatrix, the

the Pleiades, and

The

them.

from

fully,on
legend. We
for her

lover

they form,
star

in

are

the

stands

on

shoulder

of

equal distance

farthest West

from
judge sufificiently

of

these

words.

Orion, a hunter of surpassingstrength and

Homer, as well as later writers,figuring

constellation."
In

an

most

ii.p. 22, had expressed

in the Odyssey, as to his conception

find her in

the

the

Bemerkungen,

the passage
cannot

Aldebaran,

nearlyat

Pleiades, which

Nitzsch,Erklarende

even

Orion.

still nearer

are
Ecliptic,

Geminus,

ib. p. 251.

APPENDIX.

332

these

stars, first reach the Western

of the

the middle

about

horizon

Scorpio. The farther the

Sun
the earlier does its settingtake place before
advances
Democritus
sunrise.
assignsthe first visible settingof the
the 4th day of the Scorpion; but the days
Pleiades
to
the
15th
and
between
19th are
by
generallymentioned
ancient
observers.^
According to Ideler this settingtook
place,in the time of Hesiod, on the 3d of November
by
the

time

the

Julian, and

lendar.2

the

that

According

these

for several

seen

the

to

set

this

the
setting,

are

of October

to

7th of November

the

is in

26th

Hyades are first seen

accordingto Ideler
on

Sun

the 27th

on

but

by
lower

the

part

Hesiod.

the

pointing out
unnavigable to the

av

not
a

as

has

been

already
the

disappearancethat

of Ocean.

by

The

he

heliacal

Geminus

to

take

from

Greeks

which

became

sea

of the

account

on

the

autumnal

ed'mg o^gz/toi/
nX.jj/a5ts,
'flg/wvoj

is here

Orion

unlike

In

'

Handbuch

lb., p.

irovTov.^
fiigoiibia

ig

imagined

to

be

the wild huntsman

ghost,continues

'

their

time

^ivyovsai, "jtlvTum

too,

of Orion

While

"

Eur'

hunter,

Calendar.^

the ] 7th of

when

Scorpio;
occurred

Scorpioand the 8th of Sagittarius

;
the
Julian
of November,
is
culated
calCalendar,
by
now
for the complete settingof Orion
at the time
of
This periodof the year is thus described by Hesiod,

the 15th

storms

time

days sinkingbefore day-break beneath

it is

placebetween

For

Julian

of

29th

or

the

Geminus,

settingin Hesiod's

of Orion, therefore, is stated

SETTING

Gregorian Ca-

in

astronomers

only after
into the waves
plunges altogether
horizon

the

by

in

mighty warrior and

of our legend;and he,

the nether

world

to chase

the

Geminus,

Works

p. 261.
i. pp.
der Chronologie,

Theoc,

Lehrbuch,

246.

and

vii. 64

p. 103.
619, Gottl.

242, 246.

Days,

v.

In reference

to the

same

time,

"

vorog uygoifi/(ixji"
eglfois
i"figfi^ioi;
I*
iroBag leyii.
n' 'ngiaiv
or
'ilMav^fi
K{i//,ara,

X"rav

Hence
and

niwihoms,VirgiliEn., i. 636

many

of the
epithets

same

kind

; aqttosm,

iv. 62

; nwvus,

appliedto Orion

vii. 719 ;

in the poets.

APPENDIX.
with

of animals

shades

flee before

must

his

him, and

333

brazen

The

club.'

this

compelledat

are

Pleiades
to

season

Here
the Pleiades were
of Ocean.
refugein the waves
conceived to be a flight
of wild pigeons,
doubtless originally
itself from the
idea which
an
very naturallyunfolded

take

"

cluster,and

the

aspect of

and
liXn'^-^^i

from

the resemblance
and

between

from

know

the

significant
Homef,^ a more
development of
passage
which would here interruptthe connexion,'that from early
the Pleiades, with whose
times
risingthe corn-harvest in
Greece
flying
began,were conceived to be doves, which came
to the Olj'mpian
from the ends of the world with ambrosia
names

mXudbig

we

which

in the track
it

of the

readilystrike the eye, was placed

mighty giant,as the objectof his pursuit

rather

made

was

of the heavens

durou

movements

for it

with
We

suddenly attack it.

of the Great

Bear

give to

stars, the
1

to

671.

attention

my

between

Orion

and

Odyss., xii.

'

Reference

the

on
*

der

great many

the Wild

Odyss.,v.

83

be

in

only we

celestial charts,
W.

Grimm,

has

might well prompt

dation.
founreallya common

which

for this

Regarding the

sqq.

little

strikingpoints of resemblance

legends have

made

not

must

of many

consists

modern

the

to have

to
particularly

Pleiades

as

Volcker's

doves,Nitzsch

269.

Od., V. 274. AuroD,in

and not

drawn

Huntsman,

both

might

this that the constellation

whole, considered

it is now

him, and

if it feared he

as

his

watches

towards

My respectedfriend,Professor
to

62 sqq.
also
may

Jap., p.

its head

animal,which

whether
investigate

Myth,

from

it
figurerepresenting

Odyss.,xi.

drawn

us

head of the

the

doneiei.
ilglmtx,

its eyes,

the

on

was,

greatest part

regardsOrion, and

see

in which

direction

same

It

always turns

to follow him

appears

the

over

also,

rfrjs^sra/nai

describes it. *

Homer

extend

to

the Bear,

as

constellations,
by

that does not

hare

of the

after the later distribution

it was

as

confined

not

was

in the earlier poeticrepresentation,

bounds

narrow

Orion

of

chase

this
gods. Altogether,
so

very

minute

in

within

the

partlybeneath

they completetheir
sky itself,

the horizon.

tion,
revolu-

APPENDIX.

334

but rather that

natural

more

it is

of the star, in which

that

so

exactlyturned

immediatelyfind, from

can

we

the posidirection,considering
tion

Bear's head, the situation of

constellation is beneath

the

Orion, even

the horizon.

positionof the
the

though
The

Orion

towards

latter

constellation of

naturally,
adopted into this figureof a
ready
algreat chase,,as the hunting-dogof Orion : hence Homer
and shining
compared Achilles, gleaming in armour,
Dog

the

was,

very

this star

afar,to

from

"

bi 01 axiyai
"O5 gc r' otrugrigsJgiv'agl^riXoi
fj^ir affrgagi vvxrbs

^OjIvovtcci voXkoTgi

a,fio'K'y(^'
xaXiougiv'
I'jrh'kriSDi
'ilgimog

xli

"OvTi

/J"iv od' sgri, aaxov

Aa/Ji^rgoTarog

Kal

Ti

However,
of
as

an

for Sirius
in the

to it ; but

natural

Orion,

with

dog

animal, it was

griftiO,rsruxrai,

ti

assuredlythe form
in regardto Orion,

in it

ascribed

connexion
chase

dog

infuriate

an

influences
such

not

was

its direction

and

times

it

hi

diiXoiisijB^oroTgi.^
irugirbv

"soKkh
(pi^ii

and

tion,
of this constella-

having

been

take

of the

account

on

viewed

once

that he should
to

cognition
re-

regardedfrom early

was

heavens,

made

led to the

that

be

as

brought into

part in the great

the constellations.

among

Although, therefore,the pursuitof the Pleiades was also

conceived to form a part of the Orionic chase, the
originally
the other hand, developedthe relation
on
poets of antiquity,
that the Pleiades were
in such a way
imagined to be
timid
virgins,(Hesiod, indeed, had already called them
daughtersof Atlas,)and Orion, a fierce giant,who pursued
them, or their mother, with passionatedesire. Even the
cyclicepicpoets,'and Pindar,* are quoted for this story.
The latter,also,says in another passage : ' "It ia rightthat
Uebur

Buttmann,

II.,xxii. 27.

In the Schol.

I cannot

to

die

Entstehung der Sternbilder,

p.

fiigrogia
vagi ro7s xvxKixoTs.
the
to
as
meaning of this
investigations

the II. xviii. 486,

into the

here enter

17.

erpTeBsion.
*

and
^

from
Frag, ii.,
Eustath.
Nem.

on

ii. 12.

this passage.

the

the

Dithyrambs, in

II.,xviii.,
p. 1155.

Dissen

has

the

Etymol. M.,

pp.

676, 33

Bom.

called attention

to the

paronomasia

in

APPENDIX.

Orion

should

Pindar

is

the

the mountain-born

Pleiades,when

to

put

heavens

end

an

to their

signs of

as

Peleiades."

formed
alreadyrelated how Zeus transfleeingfrom Orion, into doves,

said to have

even

the
in order

not be far from

335

misery, and

the

placed them

Here, indeed,

seasons.

happens so often in poeticalmythi, the connexion

the presence
things is exactlyreversed, inasmuch
as
Pleiades

in

the

eflfectof the
be met

the

origin of
is

"

now

This

pursuit.

form

the

notion

as

of the
of the

that

they

representedas a mediate
of mythus is frequently

in later writers.^

with

From

the

"

Orion

pursued by

were

to

sky

in

periodabove-mentioned, Orion

sinks

now

every

zon
longer before day-break,beneath the horiis in Aquarius, he is seen
that when
the Sun
at
; so
his culminating point at the beginning of the night,and
the Sun
is in Aries, we
sinks about midnight. When
see
Orion set just when
the darkness
has set in ; the acronytakes
of the constellatiou
CHAL
SETTING
place. Eudoxus
assigns the time from the thirteenth day of Aries to the

day longer and

first of

Taurus,

that

as

in which

the

constellation

whole

^
before
seen
But, whereas, it was
gradually disappears.
sky, and in an upright position,
pretty high in the Southern
the Western
to lie obliquelytowards
observed
it is now
horizon
positionis alluded to by Horace, when
; which

he calls the

"

The

then

sun

visible in the
the

under

Orion
and

evening ;

Grecian

can

relations

Hygin,

Poet.

he

remains

more

Orionis."
to

allow

concealed

than

him
a

fiftydays

visible towards

morning

to

be still

while, and,
pass
in the

before

East,

Sun, and before the above-mentioned

take

place.

to
peculiar

Astron.

Orion

ii. 21 ; Athen.

xviii. 486.
2

Geminus, ib.,pp. 261, 263.

Carm.

i. 28, 23.

"

Orion

near

sky,

of the

RISING

wind

rapidus comes
too

comes

in advance

BEiiiAOAL

Devexi

again become

can

These

South

autumnal

have

furnished

xi, p. 490

materials

; Schol.

ad

II.

336

APPENDIX.

for

strange fable,which, notwithstandingits extraordinary

character,can be explainedwith perfectcertaintyin almost
a

all its features

;

indeed,

its reference

Orion,
the

thus

island

of

the

to

it runs,

Chios,

the

even

constellation.'
from

came

and

there

In

of game

kinds

his service
that

wooed

burst

off the

into

was

the
a

son

chased, as
be

to

were

CEnopion always put

drunkenness,

he

the

placeBoeotia to
daughter of King
of Dionysus and
mighty hunter, all

his native

CEnopion, (the wine-man,) who

Ariadne.

partially
nised
recog-

ancients

found

in the

island.

marriage, Orion,
of

chamber

in

But
a

as

fit of

the

flowered
virgin,and deher.
(Others,instead of Merope the daughter of
CEnopion, say that it was his wife Aerope who was violated
Orion had caroused,
by Orion.) But the Satyrs,with whom
bind

him,

and

deliver him

out

his eyes

as

the

shore.

Orion

the

noise

CEnopion. CEnopion

up to

punishment, and
now

of

gropes

him

turns

about

until

out

burns

helplesson

he hears

at

forge,and followingit, reaches

workshop of Hephaestus and the Cyclopes,in Lemnos.
god of fire hereupon gives Orion the boy Cedalion as
he placeson his shoulders,and
to
causes
guide,whom
The

him.
towards
sockets
him

his

back
has

'

boy always

the

Bast,

so

of his eyes.

in order

to

that the
In

eyesight,and

leads

this

Orion,

Orion

way

the sunbeams
able to

punish CEnopion.

in the meantime

concealed

the

the

constantlyshines

sun

now

through

himself

the
The
his
lead

Ocean
in the

restore

to

again,hastens

see

The

tance
dis-

latter,however,
in

subterranean

moderns, has already correctlyexplained

most
mythus in his Myth, der Jap.,p. 114
The
from ApoHod., i. 4, 3 ; Hygin.,
followingstory is taken
sqq.
Eratosth.
P.A. ii. 34 ;
Catast.,32 ; Parthen., 20 ; Serv. ad ^n., x.
ad Arat.
763 ; Theon.
Phsn., 323 ; Schol. Nicand. Theriaca, 15 ;
Comp. Arat. Phsen.,640 ; togetherwith the Schol. Tzetz. Chil. iii.226 j
28.
It is supposed (seeSchneider
the Schol.
on
Lucian., *. tou o'ixov,
Nicand., ib.)that Pindar
alreadytreated the story in his Dithyr. ;
all
doubtful.
must
at
See Dissen on
events be reckoned
this,however,
Pind. Dithyr.,p. 626.
On the other hand, it is certain that Sophocles
alluded
the
Even
the
to
mythus in his Cedalion, a satiric drama.
have
referred
expression axinxrlerous d6/jLovs,
it,may
quoted from
the
in
to the HephiEstianchamber, which
legend.
figures
Volcker,
of the

among
features

of

this

APPENDIX.
chamber

built

337

Orion's

where
bj Hephaestus,

vengeance

can

longerreach hi.m.

no

Now,

to the

explanationof

circumstance,that

gatheringof

takes
his

the

of

the

to

of

Sirius, whose

contemporary, Euctemon,

day

of Cancer

of the

month

:^ in

and

also

Homer's

time

July.^

This

the
especially
legends,

iEtolian

one,

of

heliacal

rising
25th, accordingto

the

on

of

vine, in form

the

ripeningand
began to ripenwhen
This
was
principally

grape
heavens.

influence

Orion, togetherwith

with

The

grape.
in the

place,accordingto Meton,

27th
end

the

appeared

ascribed

story belongschieflythis

appearances
broughtinto connexion

Sirius,were
Orion

this

Eudoxus,

on

it occurred

idea

at the

occasioned

accordingto

the

various

which

the

pieceof wood, was born of the dog Maera

Sirius.3
Now, then, so long as the wine is ripening,
or
Orion
is the servant
of King CEnopion, (whose name
is
the ruler of the grape-aboundmerely wine
personified,)
ing
"

"

isle of

Chios,

and

Greece,
at the

for

him

the

the

part

animals
in

the

in

the

vintage,

the

Now, in
new-pressed must.
vintage begins,according to Hesiod's precept,

gets intoxicated

and

hunts

then, also, naturallytakes

He

sky.

in

time*
kuI 'Silgios
"X"")
'n^lcav
eg /Jiiiov
d' sgldrj^ododdxTuXo;
'Hiis.
'AgxroDgov
Obgavhv,

Eur

av

S'

is here denoted ; it took

risingof Arcturus
placeaccordingto the ancient Parapegmata, from the lOtli
to the 20th day of the sun's station in Virgo,'and in Hesiod's
of September;^ it was
the 18th
time
on
regarded as the
beginning of autumn, properlyso called,(Metoporon.) At
rises about
time of the year Orion
the same
midnight,and
of the sky when morning dawns,
has ascended
to the middle
Up to that
and, as Hesiod
says, Eos regards Arcturus.
The

heliacal

point,therefore, Orion

has

always

ascended

'

Geminus, ib.,p.

Lehrbuch, p.
Ideler,Handbuch, i. p. 344.
Nonnus
Dionys,,xii. 287.
Comp. likewise,
' Euctemon
Gottl.
and Days, 609.
Works
Ideler,Handbuch, i. p. 247.

'
'

from

that

245.
102.

in

Geminus,

p. 249.

APPENDIX.

338

time, he

begins

popularfancy as

the

regarded by

the

prolonged for

the year

several
of the

Poseideon, near

rural

solstice

the

which

the

earth

idea of
Hebrew

drunk

and

nations

of

giant,but

giant'sloss
the

to

their

blind

about

ccecus, and
5-upxJj,

the

the

senses,

and

in
objective,

or

and

want

the

rises

East, and
their

senses

foolish

Orion

If to

active

as

fellow.
are

his

the

to

powerful
The

deeds
mis-

avenged by
spring.

eyes

there

us

son
per-

that this refers

in the

invisible

of them,

active and

disappearingin

seen

quitenatural

drunkenness,

him.

seems

have

He
lost

to

be

and

with

the

the

were

in

giant of

the stars,who

was

West, suddenly appears again in the

renewed

taughtthem

taken

subjective
passivesignification.Hereupon

when
fiftydays elapse,

some

and

Kesil, the

passive,this was
a
not
seem
so
strange to antiquity,when
other terms, appliedto the operationsof

did

that

matter

been

the

to

inconsiderate

an

It is self-evident

sight.

light; no one sees

a
confounding of

here

have

to

that

in

the

itself over

readilyled

most

denotes

complete disappearanceof

wanders

now

of

Partly

ocean.

stretch

to

It is remarkable

in this fit of

committed
the

of the

waves

have

insolent

an

and

horizon,

antiquityto regard Orion, indeed,

as

when

"

this season,

It appears

also

time

partly his oblique position

person.

fool.i

place till

and

of Orion, also

name

tage-festiva
vin-

Attic

the

giganticfigure seemed

might, at

"

the

reached

what
some-

into

day

sinking of Orion,

had

therefore at

their

vintage is

the

the
particular,
Dionysia, did not take

the winter

earlier every

at

in

vintage.

before

for in Greece

months

Orion, already going down,

sank

the

with

connected

was

of Orion''s

consequence

time, however, have

same

period of

later

sinking

thoughts,the positionof Orion,

in their

eyes, and

carousals

the

in
participation
They might, at

This

downwards.

sink

to

splendour. The

that Orion

had

been

evidence
with

of

the Sun.

of ^"Q2 into
interpretation
Orion,
is not generallyreceived,(comp. Ideler,Untersuchungen iiber den
Ursprung der Stern-Namen, p. 264 : ) it appears to me, however,
the most
pi'obable. If we translate Kestl by giant, we evidentlydo
1

am

violence

well

to the

aware

word.

that

the

339

APPENDIX.

Formerly he

observed

was

ascendingbefore

seen

virtue,restored

it.

him

sink after the

to

Sun

the

That

Sun,

he

now

with

had,

its

was

fiery

his

eyesight,was quite a natural idea.

The circumstance
of his going through the earth-encircling
Ocean-stream
the same
rests on
notion, accordingto which
the Sun-god ^as Mimnermus
and
Pherecydes related
"

after

descendingin

bark

the

over

the

"

heavens

Ocean

again. Only
his

confirmed
of all
the

was

recover

Orion

West, voyages

of Ocean

waves

becomes

as

the

from

his

Orion

be

easilydrawn

into

the

wards
will be after-

as

Orion

instruct

ascend

to

the
Hephsestlls,

fictions.

to

golden

through

wades

other

fittest person
his sight. The
as

that

in

the East, there

giganticstature, and

fire,could

receives

to

round

sessor
pos-

the fable
he

how

he

might

gnome-like boy Cedalion, whom

guide,is

the

enigmaticalfigurein

an

legend. It points,however, to the circumstance^ that the

legend altogetherwas
indigenous at Naxos^ where were
circulated

all

intercourse

of

be

referred
there

was

interestingfables relatingto the

Hephaestus and Dionysus, and which are to
the poesy
of ancient
Thrace.
Hepheestus
sorts

to

of

said to have

had

Cedalion

as

in the

his instructor

of

even
a
forging.' Perhaps he was
originally
great
of fire in the legendof Orion, and merely became
dsemon
a boy
in order that he might have room
the shoulders of Orion.
on

art

boy sittingon the shoulders of the giant,perhaps with a

an
blazingtorch, was
image, to the development of which
in the shoulders
of Orion very
the widely-separatedstars
A

Drawn
naturally invited.
picturesquean objectas our

in

this

St

Christopher.

he

manner,

was

There

as
were

with

according to Lucian, in which this group,

paintings,
representedtogether.
Hephaestus and Helius, were

And

the fact,that

even

Eustathius

the

on

KjjfiaX/ww from

derives
been

figuresresemblingSatyrs are

guide

conceived
connexion
said

on

time

the

of the

to be dead.

of the
the
name

to be found

Volcker, p. 1 15,
p. 987. Rom.
Cedalion
to have
and
xnidiunv,
imagines

II.,xiv. 294,

Dead,

inasmuch

as

Orion, when

But- this does not

mythusj

and

I coincide

he

has

sufficiently
agree
with

what

set, is

with

Welcker

subject,App. to the Trilogy,p. 316, where at the

is explainedto be " a guardian."
KridaXi'iiiv

the

has
same

APPENDIX.

340

boy sittingon their back and

duction
bearing a torch/ might, perhaps,be explainedby the introof the Satyrs,whereby
into the company
of Orion

picturedon

he

with

monster,

of

of the character

somewhat

himself

assumed

The

with

vases,

Cedalion

shoulders,

his

on

Satyr.

in connexion

Satyrs,was Certainlyalso a leadingfigure

from
that Satyricdrama
of Sophocles^and
in the Cedalion
above
quoted,
might probably be taken the circumstance
to
(from Servius,) that the Satyrs delivered Orion bound

with

of

chorus

Let

CEnopion.
fable.

Orion

the

to

of

solution

the

venged
sight,wishes to be refoe, the stupifyingjuiceof the grape ; but,
chamber
is preparedfor the
a subterranean

in the meantime

his

recovered

having

his

on

however,

turn,

us

Hephsestian chamber, it will be

of those
earthen
natural to think
most
jars,and similar
vessels,into which, according to Grecian
custom, the wine
In

latter.^

pouredin

was

of

the

air

the

seclusion.

As

ffom

all influence
also presided

Hephaestus

potters,for example

of

handicraft

the

withdrawn

Springsand

careful

by

over

this

regard to

Athens,

in

deity of the Cerameicus, or Potters' Quarter, the

popular fancy might very well call these burnt vessels a
built by Hephaestus ; and
chamber
CEnopion concealed in
in a beatitiflil poem
is an
idea similar to one
this house
by
Novalis, a mythus of the latest formation.
as

chief

"

To

snbterranean

In

cell conveyed^

cradle

narrow

lielies

now

Triumphs and feasts lie sees arrayed

In dreamsj and
airy castle's rise.
When
struggleshis impatientsoul.
Let
His

The
^

Millin
whole
From

of
not

venture

bonds

and

bars

Maisonneuve, Peintures de
comf)Osition,
is,indeed, very

the

ailalogyof the ^tolian

forth by
btotlglit

Spring as

vine-shoots

tine,we

correspond with this ;

and

Vases

Antiques,T.

here

i. pi.20.

enigmatical.

fable,
accordingio

Sirius is buried, in order

might

tnathali. The

in the text.

nigh ;

control.
spurns
asunder
fly."

et

pieceof wood
in the

his chamber

strength then
yoiithftil

And

'

none

likewise

which

the

to grow

up

think of the

planting
time of Orion's rising,however, does
I haVe,therefore,
preferredthe explanation

341

APPENDIX.
The

imagination of

of Orion

not

the Greeks

merelyinto

grape, but with

fruits ;

gidriby the Bceotians,among

was

more

legend,^espoused Side,
with

much

for the

Hera

offended

this

at

infernal

world.

found

on

various

Ionic

legend called

The

ripeningof the
the pomeespecially
granate-tree,

who

Greeks

was

beautiful

so

she

but
her

thrust

occasions

Rhoeo

in Grecian

one

that

she

Hera

was

so

down

to

the

pomegranate-tree is likewise

other

go/o;,

Orion, accordingto

prize of beauty ;
that

the

the legend of Orion

whom

domiciled.^
particularly

constellation

the

the

usually called by

was

and

vied

with

connexion

other autumnal

which

brought

to

mythology

be
an

daughter of Staphylus,(the
grape-man,) and a lover of Apollo.^ The
swelling and
seed-aboundingfruit was well adapted to symbolisefruitfulof Hpra held a pomegranate
ness
; hence the Argive statue
in its hand : * according to Gyprian tradition, Apbi'odite
said to have planted the tree.5
was
This symbol, however,
more
frequentlyin connexion with death and the
appears
infernal world,
is

winter
in the

in

the Eleusinian

forfeited to the Realm

of

mythus,
Aides,

at

where

phone
Perse-

least for th^

for

eatingsome
pomegranate-kernels;*then
mystic legends,accordingto which the pomegranateseason,

is at

tree

a^

the

Dionysus,'and
Agdistis; * and

at

'

Athen.,
The

to

h^ve

sprung

from

another

from

that

of

the

that

the

also in the

pomegranate-tree

said

time

one

on

story

the grave

of Eteocles

the

of

Phrygian god
Furies
planted a

the

Theban, fron^

xiv. p. 650 sq.

Delian
legend, the

blood

ApoUod., i. 4, 3,
is given in Dionys.
beginning of which
Hal. on
Diodor.,v. 62.
Dinarch., p. 661. Reiske.
*
in
of
iv. 28, p. 168.
Olear. also
Philostrat.,
ApoUonius
Tyana
in
the worship of Hera.
speaks of the pomegranate as a symbol
^
iii.
in
84".
Athen.,
Antiph,
According to Clemens, Strom,
p.
also sacred to Hermes.
vi. 15, p. 288, Sylb.,the ^0161,
was
^
of
was
indeed,
Voss,
opinion(on Hymn to Dem., 373) that the
here
and
that tliey
of pomegranates had
kernels
no
significance,
for all fruits that grow
in tlie
in quite a general sense
taken
were
fields of Hades.
Besides, Persephone, to prevent hunger, ate the
usual

food

'

Clemens.

Arnob.

gods during her stay in the infernal

Protrept.,c. 8, " 19, p. 6 Sylb.

of the

adv.

gentes, v.

6.

world.

APPENDIX.

342

the

reddish

the

that

the

fruit when

grains,protrudes.
always, we
pomegranates was

is stillanother
of

the

ascribingto
first hear

we

Here

resolved

but

that

could

design. Now,

sea

at

not

he

archery,assertingthat
of the

which

was

this, and

his

in the

with

head

body

her

aim

archery,she

him

among

the

of

the

the

sort
out

sinks

legend

familiar

Philost.

reference

of

In

every

Imagines,
the

Inedits, T. i. p.
p. 69.

to

ii. 29.

pomegranates

by

floated

the

him, and

Greek

the

then

but

tion.
constella-

completely

in

from

the

remarks

monuments,

the

originally

is taken
:

hapless
placed

Here

more

he

Raoul-Rochette
on

afterwards

or

Artemis

ancient

lover's

settingof

Orion, because

that it is occasioned

the

by

piercedher

over

sea,

object

deceived

was

compensation.

of the

Ocean, manifestlydenotes
overtakes

of

skill in

dark

discovered

Artemis

and

understand

might

tide

bitterlywept

Orion, standing
Death

'

as

trial of her

of the contest

shore, and

the waves,

above

in the

swimming

Artemis

sea.

the

abandon

his sister to

able to hit the

When

of her

head

the

almost

was

dissatisfied with

well she

not

was

arrows.

stars

help

Callimachus.^

and

Orion,

sister to

however

eagerness

the

to

in

out

seen

pearance
disap-

I cannot

pupil of

only

his head

she

bow,

deners.
fruit-gar-

refers to the

descried Orion

once

distance, with

use

ancient

which

Apollo was
prevailupon

immediately challengedhis
the

loved

Artemis

him.

her

Istrus, the

of it from

wed

to

match,

with

Columella

by

period of myth-formation,although

elder

it is said

its

flesh,with

the

informed

are

after sunset, and

Orion

circumstance

of
prevent this splitting

To

thus, which

my

the

likewise

concern
Palladius,a principal

There

altogether

the notion

ripening bursts, and

blood-red

and

the flesh of the pomegranate,

and

significance
; and

fruit's

nifest,
ma-

of seeds, partlyalso

fictions,and

rise to these

gave
of

of the kernels

colour

It is

afresh.'

partlythe great abundance

that
the

always streamed

blood

fruit of which

his

the

circum-

sepulchral
Monumens

159.

Hygin., P.

A.

ii. 34:.

Istri

Fragvn. Coll.

Lenz

et

Siebelis,

APPENDIX.

that

stance

added

at

she

afterwards

placedhim

time

when

fact

in the Heavens

had

the circumstance
the horizon

on

the head
other

the

that Orion's

with

dim

appears

hand, that

overlooked, that

was

head

the

Istrus

did

in

"

giant,^who

pedes incedit,medii per

Stagna viam scindens,humero
summis

Aut,

referens

of Orion

appearance
his

at

heavens

risingand
and

authors.

here

this

and

there

accordingto
rests

he

settingin
travels

his

doubtless

the

to

be

Nerei

montibus
inter nubila

described
he

when

followed

father, Poseidon,

Orion

notion

the

round

doubt

no

is

above

son

condit.

by Virgil,^as
is high in the
ancient

had

that the

Greek
manner

his peculiar

conferred

on

entire

genealogy,
and Euryale,

of Poseidon

referred

omijm,

the

be

can

which

the

on

conceived

was

logographer,^in like
wading through the sea to Orion, as

art, which
him

the

In

sea.

supereminetundas

is thus

settingas

Pherecydes

ascribes

shoulders,

the

the

maxima

annosam

Ingrediturquesolo,et caput

well

stellation
con-

"

Cum

The

spot

repeat the original

here

story, that he makes Orion smm

Orion
genuine poeticalrepresentation

dark

be asserted,on

It may

not

Even

aspect of the

the

splendourof

dark.

and

was

Orion

fable.

like

appears

from
justified

be

can

the stars

amid

alreadythe subjectof

been

contrasted

343

to, that

Orion

after

West, treads the bottom

of the Ocean, and

the

There

earth

to

the

East.

is

likewise

cient
anassuming that Virgilborrowed from a more
Greek
the image of a hunter climbinga hill,to describe
Orion
ascending the sky, and that therefore the southern
to bear
region of the heavens, which seems
up the stars in
the Zodiac, was
We
and near
compared to a mountain.
then
also explain the passage in the Odyssey,* where
can

ground

for

Odysseus tells
1

Pindar

of the

alludes

to

shadowy forms
his

gigantic size

which
in

the

he

observed

in

expression puo/s

'napmtla. Isth.,iii. 67.

2

^n.,

X.

764 sqq.

Comp.

Theocr. in the

above

passages

vii. 56.
3

In

ApoUod., i. 4, 3.

XI.

531

sqq.

quoted,

344

APPENDIX.

the

infernal world, in such

time

retain

the

idea of the

auThg

xar'

that

chases

that

so

The

of

childlikeness

all events

not

Euphorion,iand
Christ

story handed

the

the

with

originatedtill
Our
long before.

Aratus,^

lived

who

drian
Alexan-

the

authorities
third

in the

latter,however, alreadydescribes

down

Christ,)is quoted for it, rests probably on an

Besides, it has been very frequentlyrepeatedby the
tions
compilersof mythi.* It is stated in these narra-

ancient

that

boasted

Orion

skill in venery,

to Artemis

he

that

or

was

of his

superiorstrength
guilty of unbecoming

Schol, Odyss.,v.
Schol, Ven. II.,xviii. 486.
161.
n.
Meineke,
108, p.
Fragm.
2 Phaen.
difference in
637, where there is some
1

Nicand.

Eo-called

Ther.

Eratosth,

23,

Sturz.

13, with
Catast.

the

the narration.

in

Schol.

7; Lucan,

Ovid,

ix. 836.

edited

Fasti

Violar.

Also

p. 441.

the

Creuzer, fasc.
the

Schol.

1, p, 61.
Schol.

Nonnus
68.

on

alt.
The

631.

v.

6.
Palsephatus,

Meletemm.,
by
ad Odyss.,v. 121, p, 1627, 44.
Eustath.
Nigiduis in
iii. 27.
Schol.
Theb.
80.
to
Statins,
Gei-manicus, v.
Narr. 2, in Creuzer
s Meletemm., i. p.
Gregor. Nazianz.
Odyss.

ih.

Euphorion'a

120.

Heyne ad II. Comp, Heyne

Pherecyd. Fragm. 36, p. 153, ed.

Leid* ad II.,xviii. 486

Schol.

i. 4, 3j p.
Apollod,,
4

ration,
followingnar-

Xoyos);
by the ancients, {legtregm
Pherecydes^the logographer,(about 450

fact that

error.

servation
ob-

attract

before

years

and

have

not

are

the

but

It is otherwise

before

and

senses,

they

of

age

century
as

could
at

which

with

phenomena
to the

the

in themselves

all bear

and
fancy have that simplicity
belonged to the poetry of nature in the

ages.

which

it

The

creations

which

ante-Homeric

for it

examined

all obvious

are

the

he is in the heavens, and climbs

he goes down, it is assumed

mals
anithe same
of shadows, pursues

antiquity.

connected,

Orion

sky which

the

shades.

legendshitherto

character
are

into

dayig.

when

in the land
still,

transformed

figuresin

long as

lonelymountain;

he

same

o^tedi

alh
"xay^dXTiiov

are

game

before him

that

up

the

case

the

at

can

"Kii/Jjuva
ci.g(podsXhv

xaTivsipviv Jv oio'SoKokSiv

Xsoif/v i%oi\i '^ovaXov

In

we

constellation.

siXiuvra

"ij^a,g
o/iiou
T0O5

that

way

eieev6ti(ta
fih','flg/wra
'riXd^iov

di

Thv

to

ad

Eudocia,

APPENDIX.

conduct

towards

laid hands

the

on

who

and

Artemis,

345

he, with

that

or

virginDpis, who

brought

of

ears

beloved

was

by Artemis,
Hyperboreans,

the

from

corn

(oZmi a/taXXopogos)
; that Artemis, then, in
and

the

at

the

Scorpion

was

stung in the
here

even

from

issue

to

humble

and

ancle,

he

It

Zeus

but that

when

enmity

heavens.

story has

that the whole

manifest

ancient

Orion

That

the stars

among

visible in the

becomes

Scorpion

tise,
chas-

to

earth, by which

thereby killed.

from

down

goes

order

insolence, caused

his

the

compassion placed Orion

of

out

time

same

lust,

unbridled

the

is

perfectly
the
and
significance,

its

but it is just
origin,in the last circumstance
;
not added
clear thut the Scorpionwas
to the older mythus
as
of Artemis, until that name
of Orion's death
by the arrows
had
been given to the Zodiacal
sign which lies oppositeto

of its

cause

Orion,
of

act

the

setting.But

Scorpion does

with which

constellations
conversant

horizon, when

the

rises above

and

it could

of the

complete division

before the

unquestionablyindebted
in

observable

relation

the

known

other

the

On

that

it appears

hand,

the astrognostic
legend was
period^
the

daughtersof Orion,
who, by the command
as

up

might

In

invented.

history was

who

of

delivered from

Boeotia

Upis

reason,
bearer

to

of

also

is

gain a

perhaps

an

oracle,were

further

corn-ears

Corn

in the Zodiac.

each

other cannot

reference

to

manifestly points
A

indeed

out

are

is also

when

the

this

the

farther than

particularrelation
be pointedout.

of Orion's

to

country

subterranean

heavens, where

legend for

Virgin
of the

about

offered

be

the

constellations.

the

earlier

virgins,and

about

in the

ages.'^

stories

were

that

into

to

order

famine,

introduced

we

much

Coronian

called

deities,out of compassion,placedthem
1

at

there

were

Greeks

there

continuation

sacrifices,in
propitiatory
be

of earlier

carried

that

and

vanishing of Orion,

the

were

stellations
oppositeconingeniouscombination

of the
brought, more
periodthan the livingintuition

later

poetry

cient
an-

such

which

into

the

Zodiac, for which

are

of

to

Chaldseans

the

to

fable and

been

is in the

belong to

not

Grecian

have

not

Orion

with

the

same

For
the

this

Ear

constellations

of
to

APPENDIX.

346

they

been

might, perhaps,have
children.

the destruction
left her
hair

of

hang down,

the

of

because

more,

other

widen

and

idea

and

name

in

my

of

the

place in the sky.

been already present

their

with

Electra,

griefat

her

natural

intelligible

an

shall not

attempt

legends which

are

to

nected
con-

from
refrain

this the

possessedwith

certain

once

in

artificial combinations

circle appear

the

it must,
g,ltogether,
the

is

who

speak

We

of Orion.

him

forced

ideas,even
to

to

of

comet.

fable of Orion

name

Aratus

made
of the afflicted,

constellation.

the

called his

were

overwhelmed

of

force into this circle all the

with

by

garded
re-

were

cityof her affections,that she

the sky, and, lettingher long

the

the form

the

far does

told

is the custom

as

again in

appearance

manner

Troy,

comets

Orion, and

so

was

of sisters in

group

Thus

story is

Pleiades,who

of the

one

similar

why

reason

having proceededfrom

as

neighbourhoodof Orion,

the

the

which

in

particularcase,

visible in

first became

comet

Comets.'

as

appear

and

which

serve

But

attractive.

opinion,be acknowledged, that

had not, at first,
giant Orion
must
Such
a
certainly
person

imagination,before the
Orion
could
discover it in the heavens.
might have
eye
been a primitive
god in Boeotia, belongingto times prior to
those in which the system of Olympian gods was
developed

have

and

established.

With

to

the

regard

to

his name,

which,

in the

originalform, (in Corinna, Pindar, and Callimachus,)was

the opinion laid down
by Buttmann,^ that it was
'ilaglm,
of Ares, possesses great probabiwith the name
connected
lity.
Hence,
of

town

the

Hyria,

legend placedhim in the Boeotian

which, in the mythologicalperiod,

heroic
from

actuallyto have issued, and

King Hyrieus, the tribe-hero of Hyria.

great families of heroes

called him

son

of

seem

Antoninus

in
'^v Tip^jJs0EoVg(nroD
ImxijSs/^

In

Liberalis

Met.

26.

Comp. Orchoraenos,p.
tlie Schol.

200.

II. xviii. 486.

Ideler," Investigationson the Origin and Significationof

in the Treatise
the
on
the Names
of tlie Stars," p. 331
sq : and
Regarding Orion as an ancient
Origin of the Constellations,
p. 38.
god of battle,see also Orch., p. 100, n. 2.

APPENDIX.

This

in the

Hyria,
Hyrieus

as

it

other

merely

from

Greeks,

that

originated,

cycle

of fables

of the

'

This

form

of

is to
iEolian

an

Inc.

Fragm.
I

was

man,

to

of that

fable

ilio,9,

for

I would

"ouf/as,

Boeotian

the

in

Orch.,

merely

play.

does

according

name

employed
Origin

This

in

Boeotia

of the

to

x.

be

Orion
ii.

not

source

also, De

is

460,

same

of

ex-

Orion,
caU

to

Liber
is

12,

called

denominated
the

assume

lectic
dia-

OTPIH.

with,

met

34,

agree

it

and

even

p.

probably
Nicand.

been

others,)

with

'Cla^iuvas

Pindar,

44.

must

rests

Ther.

called

and

itself.

Constellations,

the

entitled

must

great

Antoninus,
371,) which

p.

has

Corinna

as

13,

the

;)

of

pious

Ther.

country

Ov^ieus, (Schol.

form

and

her

to

are

we

read

"TPIH

Lye. 328.) But that

P.A.
635
v.
; Hygin.,

which,

the

the

vii.

that

legends

Nicand.

Plutarch,

native

work,

Corinna,

Dyscolus

In

Strabo,

is to
'Clptiis

of

the

129,

Welcker,

the

with

Boeotians

probable

for

In

Met.,

of

Akaei

that

noble

referred

name.

Ovid
of

text

Where

form,
On

Boeotian

it is

and

form,

ignorance

on

(Ovid, Fasti
etymological
the

the

of
With

as

ApoUon.

The

"Tj/as.

not

Fragm.

Corinna.

was

is also

as

quires,
re-

fragment

Matthise

(Schol.

Orion.

of

the

dialect

the

lo.

to

he

;)

is named

ordinary

p. 99.

Tzetz.

16.

daughters

with

collateral
2

am

here, also,

; but

Thyrie

fragm.

1?;

Orion

country,
in

to

extensively

represented

lake, Hyria, (in

the

belongs

persuaded)

which

Oug/as,
town

iEtolian

Hydra

the

of

read

to the

reference

review
in

1.

treated

emendation

obvious

poetess (as

Boeotian

She

i. H.

verse

barbarous

king, (according

rural

the

of the

an

v.

the

I cannot

Alcmanis

the

in

Bd.

certainly

Hyria.

civilizer

according

that

Tanagrsean,

neighbouring

the

Jahrg.

likely

it most

think

who

69

p.

from

which

in

ii. p.

fasc.

Welcker

; and

Orion's

KaXX/;^ogou ^Aii/JfOu-

Welcker,

fragment,

of

Boeotian

of the

Putsch.

664.

ing
strik-

of Orion.

remarked,

has

p.

ion
opin-

my

banish

in

see

analogy

Meletemm.

Jahrbiicher,

Jahns

in

this

to

122,

the

Welcker

as

to

Uria/

names

gladly

figure

the

in

legend

beautiful, and

which

Creuzeri

Corinna,

would

Priscian,

in

g/as Souyarjig.As
and

in

name,

poet

we

Buttmann,*

found,

be

disgusting

so

stars

and

these

the

which

with

bring myself,

of

called

was

;^

sound

the

otherwise

Boeotians,
Urieus

pronounced

birth

grouping

of the

mouth

was

was

347

Ouj/'wn,
to_ be

seems

the
have

nal
origibeen

APPENDIX.

348

GROTTO

THE

The

OF

of the

Numbers

HERMES

AT

work

of the

PYLUS.'

ExpeditionScienhitherto
appeared, in the
what
Sculpture,will have some-

great

have
tifiquede Moree, which
department of Architecture and
disappointedthose who expected,from

be confessed

it must

and

and

interestingexcavations

of

accounts

the very

outset,

eries
important discov-

that the

size

of the

work,

it is got up, do not

magnificence with which
is presented to us
to what
altogetherbear a due proj)ortion
in so splendid a fbrin.
of the three Numbers
However,

the

and

which

have

yet

to

come

the

writer's

the

art,

while

on

of

give a

closed

in

the

the

Messenian

the

famous

of
called

was

Pylus by

which

on

bay

the
to

with

North
this
our

ancient

an

Zonchio,

the rest

several

faces turned
which

pandy sea-beach,
called the

Cave

of

correctlygiven in

It

wprth

seems

of

this matter.

is

for the

most

part

which

in

the

As

it stands

sandy

time

lake

Nestor.

The

lake,

from

Studien

fiir

along

the

find among
and

positionof

above-mentioned

of

almost

lead

tracts

noj-thwardg,we
the

now

from Messenia;

descend

we

the

Spartans,and

of the Greeks.

narrow

on

work,

the

tress,
forthe

above

tolerablylarge grotto, which

the

minds

fortress,which

but

command

Hyperboreish-Romische

Berlin, 1833.

enteringthe

Coryphasion by

promontory.

steep rocks

out,
with-

poem,

islancjof Sphacteria,stands

entirely
separatesthe hill on which
only

it

work.

account

bay,

Mess0nia,

name

Thucydides

Homeridian

sumptuous

minute

more

of

promontcj-y
receives

this

from

by

ancient

an

suspicionof
slightest

the

editors
to

in

passage

Northward

tains
con-

"

the

very

second

"

however,

the

the

of
and drawing, not indeed of a work
description
but of a patural object,:by which
a
startling
light is

thrown

of

hands,

is

the
now

grotto

in the

Archaologie, Erster

is

Plans
Theil.

APPENDIX.

of

Pylus,and

fig.2,
itself

the

under

landscapein pi.6, fig.1, under

H.

notices, p.
descriptive
a

Grotto
inside

and

Whether

4 and

it receives

the

of

name

"

Nestor's

leave

to

without

foundation

fissure in

It is

rock.

justified

French

is

name

the

to be

the editors of the

this

the

faces the North,

grotto" is

Archaeologists. Now,

which

compared.

entrance

light from

F, and

of the grotto

2, with

be

to

are

The

is a pointwhich
rejected,

or

6,

Stalactites.

of

view

ground-plan and a
at pi. 7, fig.1 and

be found

to

are

349

work

certainlynot

and

: for Pansanias
significance
states,'
within
that
the cityof Pylus, in Messenia, there was
a
in which
the
of
cattle of Nestor, and, still earlier,
cavern
of Pylus at
Neleus, had their stall.- Probably the town

extended

that time
this

cavern

there

can

Grotto

of

it is

the

drove

conceal

to

Hermes

the

there

than

same

be

can

the

cattle which

Eoese,

cattle in the

the

it

rocky

Sea.

Ionian

otherwise

he

In

is

is

which^ according

Hermes

Homeridian

the

thievish

the

same

given
but

the
1
5
'

hymn
boy

the

cave

early times
ancient
Pylus
in

to

cattle

itself
this

lay
was

Messenia

36.

Metam.

is

V.

216.

342.

684

398.

and

from

concealed

mentioned

the

shore.

city of Pylus

"

c.
*

703.
'

V.

341.

At

whatever

actually not the case,

now
generally held
Metamorph.

in

place whither

the

the

among

high-vaulted

indication

no

within

3.

II, v.

as

along

oxen

'

IV.

given by

concealed

are

Hermes^

the

drove

of

order

the shore
Coryphasion,near
Ovid,' too, although the story is

time, indeed, there

that

in

boy,

hill at

of

the

little

Apollo,

Pylus. But, in like manner,

the
at Pylus^ is also
grotto (au?wo"V'^ifisKahiof)*
rocks

partly borrowed

that

stated

it appears

Pylian cave the

just as little doubt

of this theft

account

that

have^ however,

when

from

stole

altered,-the

much

hence

into

cave

which

and
Liberalis,''

Hesiodic

of the

In

them.

Antoninus
the

other

no

for

thecitadel

identity.

Peloponnesianlegend, Hermes,

the

to

its

to

as

title to this essay,- called this

in the

that

doubt

no

from

in it ; and

comprehended

was

be

fdr northwards

so

23.

V.

103.

as

to

APPENDIX.

350

be

that

of

Nestor

Coryphasion,but
the

destruction

of that

founded
which
the

the

poet

It

.^Egaleus.
that

town

place it

it became

after

the

tants
inhabi-

nearer

unite

to

customary

the

inquirybeing made
geographicalposition.
the author

When

described

of these lines

at the

arrived

by

Homeride,

the

or

conviction

by Hermes,

evident

him

to

Homeridian

the

to

as

in the

had,

and

Alpheus

exact

manner,
foregoing

that the Grotto

of

Stalactites,

that
Expedition,is actuallythe same
the
rather
Peloponnesian legend of

cattle-theft

that

Hymn,

had
the

to

in

view,

it

explanationof

which

indeed

When

killed two

oxen

in piecestheir

the

that

flesh,and

old

to the
accorditig

also

was

the

alreadyled him, thereby received

confirmation.

cut

only

was

portionof

much

Pylus, without

Hermes

of

Pylus than it actuallyis,^

the
Messenian
is
Pylus, perhaps the reason
found
in this, that by means
of the Homeric
to

seems

regard to
merely to be

had

headland

in

poems,

hill

the

at

city at the foot of Coryphasion,'within

If, at the same
time,
grotto might be included.
in such a way
that
Alpheus is often mentioned

river

the

the

on

situated

not

was

"

were

in

and

sense

the

context

come
exceedinglywel-

an

described

separatedfrom
it

the

immediately

passage

poet has

roasted

the

the

he
spits,

on

reading of the passage,

from

how

herd,

goes

on,

124

verse

S i^tTatrndde
svl Tirpf],
giniig
xaTadTXKp'iku)
iig 'in v!jv ra/isr
agea,
i7ro'ko'XJ^6vioi
'?rep{ia,giv

Earlier

given

scholars
here.

tendit super

attempted to

Barnes,

for

translate

example, thus

petram, qttasiadhuc

asperam

diu utiquepostea ac
diufuerint,

is

there

that

here

most

ordinaryrules

which
putatiotl)
that

must

we

iitiTi
'

of

Pelles autem

eos-

secassei, quw

Is any

proof needed

meaning as observance of the

conjugation. Ilgen,after a long dishere

follow,comes

to

the

ra
Ta//ilt}i
^roXu^g^wavipuagm,

Strabo, viii. p.

it is

nunc

"

vDv

as

little

cannot

we

read

as

temere.

this passage

359.

"

V.

101, 139,

398.

result,

APPENDIX.
Sicut etiam

351

condus

(esutendit),
quotquot ea sunt
His
opinion is, that
natura, ut longum tempus durent.
Hermes
now
spread out the skins upon the rocks, as even
steward
a
spreadsout the hides which will keep without
rotting. But that the hides of cattle keep when they are
dried is a thing which
is self-evident,
and is here the most
nunc

promus

in the

useless remark
the

which

passage

in
probability
is

is

Ilgen's. This

ad

nunc

time

same

Hermann's

iiS 'in vDv ravu"'

quemadmodvm

the

at

alteration

the

Moreover,

proposed

its favour.

modification of

world.

has

no

of the
passage

view

critic proposes

to

read

'irsipia.giv
woXuj^gov/a

adtta,

tmehintur, quae
multopost,

quoque,

of

natura

Hermes
of the hides
cut
out
facta svmt.
parts, which readilydecay, and spread out the
consider
it natural
and
that
who would
fitting

diuturnitatem

the

softer
But

rest.

this

technical

whose

remark,

value

leave

we

out

of the

question,should be here intruded in such a way : Hermes

now
spread out the hides as they are even
spread out,
of
them
that
is
durable.
All
these explanations
namely, that part
suffer

likewise

the

from

raura
flroXuxgo"" 3'"*! ^If*"^'5 /*"''"i

afterwards,"these
different
latter

things,the

that

enduring," and

"

"

long

ideas are
made
to refer to
nigh-related
of the hide, the
former to the durability

The
latest editorj
preserved custom.
only repeats the opinionof his teacher^

still

the

to

Franke,

Fried.

so

inconvenience

Hermann.
if

Now,

reallygive,it is
been
The

introduced

ra

of

means

The

rare

vuv

t"

occurrence

again to

be found

division.

false

of the

sources

reading

has

only
conjunctionof syllables.

stillr"inT

It should

iMTaea.

iig 'in

false

by

the

perceivethat

to

easy

Florentine edition has

Codex

once

what

first examine

we

agga,

ra/^tsr

aeea.,

and

the Moscow

evidentlyread thus,
"

fiirasifa
"jre^iiagiv.
iroXup^gowo/
of the
in the

word

Odyssey,' has

is formed

Miraggoe
1

furaega.,

IX.,

221.

after

which

is

occasioned
the

only
the

analogy

of

352

APPENDIX.

(properly"flowing around
"jrt^igehs
sV/fftfos
(s.V.
lonius Rhodius

and

have

Scholiasts

who

to be
vrgSyovoi,

took

same

from
distinguished

these

to

;
/istot.'yivi/iivoi

as

the

to

in

them,

Odyssey, we
explanationof the

contradistinction

later-born,"(perhaps in

"

Apol-

of the
/iitaeeai'iiii

assent

our

still younger

although

and

the

tender

more

to

the

past harvest,)

Iambs

are
(sjtfa/)

them
.

the
Accordingly,
Hermes

signifythe

to the

give

to

According

Stgov.

irag

must

in reference

even

shall

or

of

this class, although it is

under

come

va^ueeot

analogies,/MTaeeos

ing,")
overflow-

the
even
iiriyi'yv"ii.ivog);
vagaegon

a.

might

usually read

tlie measure,

passage

the

spread out

nothing

says

hides

of

the

oxen

that

than

more

the

on

rugged

sive
they are still to be seen, enduring,through succestime afterwards.
We
immeasurable
ages, a long and
shouldj perhaps, have always read the passage so, if this
had not appearedunintelligible,
and, togetherwith the
even

rock,

as

be

rarely to
could

this

all

to

serious
as

That
the

poets had

to take

of the

sport of

some

Homeride,

been

said,

Grotto
would
roused

or

the

his

of such

peopleas

works

grottos, and
the

rock

floated

before

now

ancient

which

of men's
how

their

native

head, tail,and

feet !

more

the

conviction.

stalactites
manifold

most

hands,

should

on

not

the roof
so

on

And

The
Where

produce,have
productions
and

walls

a
legend-loving

seize many

mythi

might figuresbe actuallyformed

actitic grotto,having a resemblance

stone

in

everythingclear.

the

much

Lydia,
sorrow.
petrifying

writer's

makes

observe

as

any

imaginationof
authority,was, as has

Greeks,here find and

development of

Tmolus

Mount

on

the

just

to

images impressed on
killed by Hermes,
as
Niobe's

more

evident

occurred

had

hymn

legendof

strange forms

fancy to

of nature, and

formerly

even

the

cattle

nature

of Stalactites
not

and

perhaps

have

to

seem

That

passage.

hides, was

of this

of those

confirmation

not.

that forms

memorials

were

of real

said

livelybard

think

spoiledthe

fisTagga,

it does

the

right to

rot

be

not

but

that

one

met

how

hint

for the

easily,too,

the walls of this stalto

extended

hides,with

APPENDIX.

But, perhaps,many
that

such

in the

not

are

in

of

Odyssey
the

ancient

'

antiquityis
the

Of

poesy.

opinion,

strange figures

beautiful

of

local curiosities

and

nature

have

grotto, we

in
description

for that all the utensils of this sacred

the

Naiads,

bees build

sports of

to

of

student

spiritof

stalactitic

the

references

353

their

caldrons

and

of stone

urns

cells,the long looms

of

stone

grotto

in which

the

which

the

on

their garments of sea-purple,

nymphs weaye
together with
the ever-flowing
waters, are
nothing else than figures in

stalactite,
was
which

the

always perfectlyevident,

Ithacans

reallythe

was

example
with

of

ancient

of

metamorphosis
Hermes
mentions

the

Onchestus
be

Boeotia

but

that

what

being

converted

of

old

an

the

man

on

however,

the remembrance

"

XIII.,

103

of this

sqq.

of

the

theft

indeed, only
of

scene

stated,
name

it at

holding to

in Ovid

and

Batttjs,

was

for his
that

Messenia

treachery,by
figure,like that

which

was

called

punishment.

Thiersch

in the

Morgenblatt,1832,

END.

EDINBURGH

by William

of

itself,
(the stone-figure
Ovid, called Index,)perpetuated

THE

Printed

mythus

Battus,

of

according to

was,

An

not.

the

for

reason

whose

Hermes

hill-topin

Watch-tower

no

stone, and

is

or

story

betrayed
hymn,
places the

man,

punished by
into

the

grotto

strangers,^

the

by

even

is further

Liberalis,regarding this old

was

to

Homeridian

The

invention

viz.,that he

who

man,

the

nymphs

occupied,in

and
betrayal itself,

in

later

here

old

the

Apollo.

to

of the

is furnished

been

have

we

show

present day

sanctuary

kind

another

which

the

at

whether

Tait, 107, Prince's

Street.

p. 242.