Ellis Edward Sylvester
1000 Mythological Characters Briefly Described. Adapted to Private Schools, High Schools and Academies
Atreus (At′reus), the type of fraternal hatred. His dislike of his brother Thyestes went to the extent of killing and roasting his nephews, and inviting their father to a feast, which Thyestes thought was a sign of reconciliation, but he was the victim of his brother’s detestable cruelty.
“Media must not draw her murdering knife,
Nor Atreus there his horrid feast prepare.”
LORD ROSCOMMON.
Atropos (At′ropos), one of the three sisters called The Fates, who held the shears ready to cut the thread of life.
Atys (A′tys), son of Croesus, was born dumb, but when in a fight he saw a soldier about to kill the king he gained speech, and cried out, “Save the king!” and the string that held his tongue was broken.
Atys (A′tys) was a youth beloved by Aurora, and was slain by her father, but, according to Ovid, was afterward turned into a pine-tree.
Augaeas (Aug′aeas), a king of Elis, the owner of the stable which Hercules cleansed after three thousand oxen had been kept in it for thirty years. It was cleansed by turning the river Alpheus through it. Augaeas promised to give Hercules a tenth part of his cattle for his trouble but, for neglecting to keep his promise, Hercules slew him.
Augury (Au′gury). This was a means adopted by the Romans of forming a judgment of futurity by the flight of birds, and the officiating priest was called an augur.
Aurora (Auro′ra), the goddess of the morning,
“Whose rosy fingers ope the gates of day.”
She was daughter of Sol, the sun, and was the mother of the stars and winds. She is represented as riding in a splendid golden chariot drawn by white horses. The goddess loved Tithonus, and begged the gods to grant him immortality, but forgot to ask at the same time that he should not get old and decrepit. See Tithonus.
“… So soon as the all-cheering sun
Should, in the farthest east, begin to draw
The shady curtains of Aurora’s bed.”
SHAKESPEARE.
Auster (Aus′ter), the south wind, a son of Jupiter.
Avernus (Aver′nus), a poisonous lake, referred to by poets as being at the entrance of the infernal regions, but it was really a lake in Campania, in Italy.
Averruncus Deus (Averrun′cus Deus), a Roman god, who could divert people from evil-doing.
Axe, see Daedalus.
Baal (Ba′al), a god of the Phoenicians.
Baal-Peor (Ba′al-Pe′or), a Moabitish god, associated with licentiousness and obscenity. The modern name is Belphegor.
Babes, see Rumia Dea.
Bacchantes (Bac′chantes). The priestesses of Bacchus.
Bacchus (Bac′chus), the god of wine, was the son of Jupiter and Semele. He is said to have married Ariadne, daughter of Minos, King of Crete, after she was deserted by Theseus. The most distinguished of his children is Hymen, the god of marriage. Bacchus is sometimes referred to under the names of Dionysius, Biformis, Brisaeus, Iacchus, Lenaeus, Lyceus, Liber, and Liber Pater, the symbol of liberty. The god of wine is usually represented as crowned with vine and ivy leaves. In his left hand is a thyrsus, a kind of javelin, having a fir cone for the head, and being encircled with ivy or vine. His chariot is drawn by lions, tigers, or panthers.
“Jolly Bacchus, god of pleasure,
Charmed the world with drink and dances.”
T. PARNELL, 1700.
Balios (Ba′lios). A famous horse given by Neptune to Peleus as a wedding present, and was afterward given to Achilles.
Barker, see Anubis.
Bassarides (Bassar′ides). The priestesses of Bacchus were sometimes so called.
Battle, see Valhalla.
Bear, see Calisto.
Beauty, see Venus.
Bees, see Mellona.
Belisama (Belisa′ma), a goddess of the Gauls. The name means the Queen of Heaven.
Bellerophon (Beller′ophon), a hero who destroyed a monster called the Chimaera.
Bellona (Bello′na), the goddess of war, and wife of Mars. The 24th March was called Bellona’s Day, when her votaries cut themselves with knives and drank the blood of the sacrifice.
“In Dirae’s and in Discord’s steps Bellona treads,
And shakes her iron rod above their heads.”
Belphegor (Belphe′gor), see Baal-Peor.
Belus (Be′lus). The Chaldean name of the sun.
Berecynthia (Berecyn′thia), a name of Cybele, from a mountain where she was worshiped.
Biformis (Bi′formis), a name of Bacchus, because he was accounted both bearded and beardless.
Birds, see Augury.
Births, see Lucina and Levana.
Blacksmith, see Brontes and Vulcan.
Blind, see Thamyris.
Blue eyes, see Glaukopis.
Bona Dea (Bo′na De′a). “The bountiful goddess,” whose festival was celebrated by the Romans with much magnificence. See Ceres.
Bonus Eventus (Bo′nus Even′tus). The god of good success, a rural divinity.
Boreas (Bo′reas), the north wind, son of Astraeus and Aurora.
“… I snatched her from the rigid north,
Her native bed, on which bleak Boreas blew,
And bore her nearer to the sun…”
YOUNG, 1710.
Boundaries, see Terminus.
Boxing, see Pollux.
Brahma (Brah′ma). The great Indian deity, represented with four heads looking to the four quarters of the globe.
Briareus (Bri′areus), a famous giant. See Aegeon.
Brisaeus (Bris′aeus). A name of Bacchus, referring to the use of grapes and honey.
Brontes (Bront′es), one of the Cyclops. He is the personification of a blacksmith.
Bubona (Bubo′na), goddess of herdsmen, one of the rural divinities.
Buddha (Bud′dha). Primitively, a pagan deity, the Vishnu of the Hindoos.
Byblis (Byb′lis). A niece of Sol, mentioned by Ovid. She shed so many tears for unrequited love that she was turned into a fountain.
“Thus the Phoebeian Byblis, spent in tears,
Becomes a living fountain, which yet bears
Her name.”
OVID.
Cabiri (Cab′iri). The mysterious rites connected with the worship of these deities were so obscene that most writers refer to them as secrets which it was unlawful to reveal.
Cacodaemon (Cac′odae′mon). The Greek name of an evil spirit.
Cacus (Ca′cus), a three-headed monster and robber.
Cadmus (Cad′mus), one of the earliest of the Greek demi-gods. He was the reputed inventor of letters, and his alphabet consisted of sixteen letters. It was Cadmus who slew the Boeotian dragon, and sowed its teeth in the ground, from each of which sprang up an armed man.
Caduceus (Cadu′ceus). The rod carried by Mercury. It has two winged serpents entwined round the top end. It was supposed to possess the power of producing sleep, and Milton refers to it in Paradise Lost as the “opiate rod.”
Calisto (Calis′to), an Arcadian nymph, who was turned into a she-bear by Jupiter. In that form she was hunted by her son Arcas, who would have killed her had not Jupiter turned him into a he-bear. The nymph and her son form the constellations known as the Great Bear and Little Bear.
Calliope (Calli′ope). The Muse who presided over epic poetry and rhetoric. She is generally depicted using a stylus and wax tablets, the ancient writing materials.
Calpe (Cal′pe). One of the pillars of Hercules.
Calypso (Calyp′so) was queen of the island of Ogygia, on which Ulysses was wrecked, and where he was persuaded to remain seven years.
Cama (Ca′ma). The Indian god of love and marriage.
Camillus (Camil′lus), a name of Mercury, from his office of minister to the gods.
Canache (Can′ache). The name of one of Actaeon’s hounds.
Canopus (Cano′pus). The Egyptian god of water, the conqueror of fire.
Capis (Cap′is) or Capula (Cap′ula). A peculiar cup with ears, used in drinking the health of the deities.
Capitolinus (Capitoli′nus). A name of Jupiter, from the Capitoline hill, on the top of which a temple was built and dedicated to him.
Capripedes (Cap′ri′pedes). Pan, the Egipans, the Satyrs, and Fauns, were so called from having goat’s feet.
Caprotina (Caproti′na). A name of Juno.
Cassandra (Cassan′dra), a daughter of Priam and Hecuba, who was granted by Apollo the power of seeing into futurity, but having offended that god he prevented people from believing her predictions.
Cassiopeia (Cassiope′ia). The Ethiopian queen who set her beauty in comparison with that of the Nereides, who thereupon chained her to a rock and left her to be devoured by a sea-monster, but she was delivered by Perseus. See Andromeda.
Castalia (Casta′lia). One of the fountains in Mount Parnassus, sacred to the Muses.
Castalides (Casta′li′des), a name of the Muses, from the fountain Castalia or Castalius.
Castor (Cas′tor), son of Jupiter and Leda, twin brother of Pollux, noted for his skill in horsemanship. He went with Jason in quest of the Golden Fleece.
Cauther (Cau′ther), in Mohammedan mythology, is the lake of paradise, whose waters are as sweet as honey, as cold as snow, and as clear as crystal; and any believer who tastes thereof is said to thirst no more.
Celeno (Cel′eno) was one of the Harpies, progenitor of Zephyrus, the west wind.
Centaur (Cen′taur). A huntsman who had the forepart like a man, and the remainder of the body like a horse. The Centauri lived in Thessaly.
Cephalus (Cep′halus) was married to Procris, whom he accidentally slew by shooting her while she was secretly watching him, he thinking she was a wild beast. Cephalus was the type of constancy.
Ceraunius (Cerau′nius). A Greek name of Jupiter, meaning The Fulminator, from his thunderbolts.
Cerberus (Cer′berus). Pluto’s famous three-headed dog, which guarded the gate of the infernal regions, preventing the living from entering, and the inhabitants from going out.
“Three-headed Cerberus, by fate
Posted at Pluto’s iron gate;
Low crouching rolls his haggard eyes,
Ecstatic, and foregoes his prize.”
Ceremonies, see Themis.
Ceres (Ce′res), daughter of Saturn, the goddess of agriculture, and of the fruits of the earth. She taught Triptolemus how to grow corn, and sent him to teach the inhabitants of the earth. She was known by the names of Magna Dea, Bona Dea, Alma Mammosa, and Thesmorphonis. Ceres was the mother of Proserpine. See Ambarvalia.
“To Ceres bland, her annual rites be paid
On the green turf beneath the fragrant shade. —
… Let all the hinds bend low at Ceres’ shrine,
Mix honey sweet for her with milk and mellow wine,
Thrice lead the victim the new fruits around,
On Ceres call, and choral hymns resound.”
“Ceres was she who first our furrows plowed,
Who gave sweet fruits and every good allowed.”
POPE.
Cestus (Ces′tus), the girdle of Venus, which excited irresistible affection.
Chaos (Cha′os) allegorically represented the confused mass of matter supposed to have existed before the creation of the world, and out of which the world was formed.
“… Behold the throne
Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread
Wide on the wasteful deep; with him enthroned
Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of all things,
The consort of his reign.”
MILTON.
Charon (Char′on) was the son of Nox and Erebus. He was the ferryman who conveyed the spirits of the dead, in a boat, over the rivers Acheron and Styx to the Elysian Fields. “Charon’s toll” was a coin put into the hands of the dead with which to pay the grim ferryman.
“From the dark mansions of the dead,
Where Charon with his lazy boat
Ferries o’er Lethe’s sedgy moat.”
Charybdis (Charyb′dis). A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily. Personified, it was supposed to have been a woman who plundered travelers, but was at last killed by Hercules. Scylla and Charybdis are generally spoken of together to represent alternative dangers.
“Charybdis barks, and Polyphemus roars.”
FRANCIS.
Chemos (Che′mos). The Moabitish god of war.
Children, see Nundina.
Chimaera (Chimae′ra). A wild illusion, personified in the monster slain by Bellerophon. It had the head and breast of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. It used to vomit fire.
“… And on the craggy top
Chimera dwells, with lion’s face and mane,
A goat’s rough body and a serpent’s train.”
POPE.
“First, dire Chimera’s conquest was enjoined,
A mingled monster of no mortal kind.
Behind, a dragon’s fiery tail was spread,
A goat’s rough body bore a lion’s head,
Her pitchy nostrils flaky flames expire,
Her gaping throat emits infernal fire.”
MILTON.
Chiron (Chi′ron), the centaur who taught Achilles hunting, music, and the use of medicinal herbs. Jupiter placed him among the stars, where he appears as Sagittarius, the Archer.
Chloris (Chlo′ris). The Greek name of Flora, the goddess of flowers.
Chou. An Egyptian god corresponding to the Roman Hercules.
Chronos (Chro′nos). Time, the Grecian name of Saturn.
Cillaros (Cil′laros), see Cyllaros.
Circe (Cir′ce), daughter of the Sun. The knowledge of poisonous herbs enabled her to destroy her husband, the King of the Sarmatians, for which act she was banished. When Ulysses landed at Aeaea, where she lived, she turned all his followers into swine.
Cisseta (Cisse′ta). The name of one of Actaeon’s hounds.
Citherides (Cither′ides). A name of the Muses, from Mount Citheron.
Clio (Cli′o). One of the Muses, daughter of Jupiter and Mnemosyne. She presided over history.
Cloacina (Cloaci′na). The Roman goddess of sewers.
Clotho (Clo′tho) was one of the Fates. She was present at births, and held the distaff from which was spun the thread of life. See Atropos and Lachesis.
Clowns of Lycia, The (Ly′cia), were changed into frogs by Latona, because they refused to allow her to drink at one of their streamlets.
Cluacina (Clu′aci′na). A name of Venus, given to her at the time of the reconciliation of the Romans and the Sabines, which was ratified near a statue of the goddess.
Clytemnestra (Cly′temnes′tra), wife of Agamemnon, slew her husband and married Aegisthus. She attempted to kill her son Orestes, but he was delivered by his sister Electra, who sent him away to Strophius. He afterward returned and slew both Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.
Clytie (Clyt′ie). A nymph who got herself changed into a sunflower because her love of Apollo was unrequited. In the form of this flower she is still supposed to be turning toward Sol, a name of Apollo.
Cneph. In Egyptian mythology the creator of the universe.
Cocytus (Cocy′tus), the river of Lamentation. One of the five rivers of the infernal regions.
“Infernal rivers that disgorge
Into the burning lake their baleful streams.
… Cocytus, named of lamentation loud.
Heard on the rueful stream.”
MILTON.
Coeculus (Coe′culus), a violent robber, was a son of Vulcan.
Coelus (Coe′lus), also called Uranus (or Heaven), was the most ancient of the gods.
Coena Saliaris (Coe′na Salia′ris), see Ancilia.
Collina (Colli′na) was one of the rural deities, the goddess of hills.
Comedy, see Thalia.
Comus (Co′mus) was the god of revelry. He presided over entertainments and feasts.
Concord (Con′cord). The symbol of Concord was two right hands joined, and a pomegranate.
Concordia (Concor′dia). The goddess of peace. One of the oldest Roman goddesses. She is represented as holding a horn of plenty in one hand, and in the other a scepter, from which fruit is sprouting forth.
Constancy, see Cephalus.
Consualia (Consu′alia). Games sacred to Neptune.
Consus (Con′sus). A name given to Neptune as being the god of counsel.
Cophetua (Cophe′tua). A legendary king of Africa, who disliked women, but ultimately fell in love with a “beggar-maid,” as mentioned in Romeo and Juliet.
“… Cupid, he that shot so trim
When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid.”
SHAKESPEARE.
Copia (Co′pia), the goddess of plenty.
Coran (Co′ran). One of Actaeon’s hounds was so named.
Corn, see Ceres.
Coronis (Cor′onis), was a consort of Apollo and mother of Aesculapius. Another Coronis was daughter of a king of Phocis, and was changed by Athena into a crow.
Corybantes (Coryban′tes) were priests of Cybele. They obtained the name because they were in the habit of striking themselves in their dances.
Corydon (Cory′don). A silly love-sick swain mentioned by Virgil.
Corythaix (Cory′thaix). A name given to Mars, meaning Shaker of the Helmet.
Cotytto (Cotyt′to). The Athenian goddess of immodesty.
“Hail! goddess of nocturnal sport,
Dark-veiled Cotytto, to whom the secret flame
Of midnight torches burns; mysterious dame.”
MILTON.
Counsel, see Consus.
Creditors, see Jani.
Crow, see Coronis.
Cultivated Land, see Sylvester.
Cup-bearer, see Ganymede.
Cupid (Cu′pid), the god of love, was the son of Jupiter and Venus. He is represented as a naked, winged boy, with a bow and arrows, and a torch. When he grew up to be a man he married Psyche.
“For Venus did but boast one only son,
And rosy Cupid was that boasted one;
He, uncontroll’d, thro’ heaven extends his sway,
And gods and goddesses by turns obey.”
EUSDEN, 1713.
Cuvera (Cuve′ra). The Indian god of wealth corresponding to the Greek Plutus.
Cybele (Cy′bele). The mother of the gods, and hence called Magna Mater. She was wife of Saturn. She is sometimes referred to under the names of Ceres, Rhea, Ops, and Vesta. She is represented as riding in a chariot drawn by lions. In one hand she holds a scepter, and in the other a key. On her head is a castelated crown, to denote that she was the first to protect castles and walls with towers.
“Nor Cybele with half so kind an eye
Surveyed her sons and daughters of the sky.”
DRYDEN.
“Might she the wise Latona be,
Or the towered Cybele,
Mother of a hundred gods,
Juno dares not give her odds.”
MILTON.
Cyclops (Cy′clops) or Cyclopes (Cy′clopes) were the gigantic, one-eyed workmen of Vulcan, who made Jove’s thunderbolts. Hesiod gives their names as Arges, Brontes, and Steropes.
“Meantime, the Cyclop raging with his wound,
Spreads his wide arms, and searches round and round.”
POPE.
Cygnus (Cyg′nus), the bosom friend of Phaeton. He died of grief on the death of his friend, and was turned into a swan.
Cyllaros (Cyll′aros), one of Castor’s horses. The color is mentioned as being coal-black, with white legs and tail. See Cillaros.
Cyllo (Cyl′lo). The name of one of Actaeon’s hounds, which was lame.
Cyllopotes (Cyllop′otes). A name given to one of Actaeon’s hounds which limped.
Cynosure (Cyn′osure). One of the nurses of Jupiter, turned by the god into a conspicuous constellation.
“Towers and battlements it sees
Bosomed high in tufted trees,
Where perhaps some beauty lies,
The Cynosure of neighboring eyes.”
MILTON.
Cyparissus (Cyparis′sus). A boy of whom Apollo was very fond; and when he died he was changed, at Apollo’s intercession, into a cypress tree, the branches of which typify mourning.
Cypress (Cy′press), see Cyparissus.
Cypria (Cy′pria). A name of Venus, because she was worshiped in the island of Cyprus.
Cythera (Cyth′era). A name of Venus, from the island to which she was wafted in the shell.
Dactyli (Dacty′li) were priests of Cybele. They were given the name, because, like the fingers, they were ten in number.
Daedalus (Daed′alus) was a great architect and sculptor. He invented the wedge, the axe, the level, and the gimlet, and was the first to use sails. Daedalus also constructed the famous labyrinth for Minos, King of Crete. See Icarus.
“Now Daedalus, behold, by fate assigned,
A task proportioned to thy mighty mind.”
POPE.
Dagon (Da′gon). A god of the Philistines, half man half fish, like the mermaid. Milton describes him as “Upward man and downward fish.”
Dahak (Da′hak). The Persian devil.
Daityas (Dai′tyas). In Hindoo mythology the devils or evil gods.
Danae (Dan′ae) was a daughter of Acrisius and Eurydice. She had a son by Jupiter, who was drifted out to sea in a boat, but was saved by Polydectes and educated.
Danaides (Dana′ides), see Danaus.
Danaus (Dana′us), King of Argos, was the father of fifty daughters, who, all but one, at the command of their father, slew their husbands directly after marriage. For this crime they were condemned to the task of forever trying to draw water with vessels without any bottoms. See Hypermnestra.
Dancing, see Terpsichore.
Dangers, see Charybdis, also Scylla.
Daphne (Daph′ne). The goddess of the earth. Apollo courted her, but she fled from him, and was, at her own request, turned into a laurel tree.
“… As Daphne was
Root-bound, that fled Apollo.”
MILTON.
Dardanus (Dar′danus), a son of Jupiter, who built the city of Dardania, and by some writers was accounted the founder of Troy.
Dead-toll, see Charon.
Death, see Nox.
Deceiver, The, see Apaturia.
Deianira (Deiani′ra), daughter of Oeneus, was wife of Hercules. See Hercules.
Delius (De′lius), a name of Apollo, from the island in which he was born.
Delphi (Del′phi). A town on Mount Parnassus, famous for its oracle, and for a temple of Apollo. See Delphos.
Delphicus (Del′phicus). A name of Apollo, from Delphi.
Delphos (Del′phos), the place where the temple was built, from which the oracle of Apollo was given.
Demarus (De′marus). The Phoenician name of Jupiter.
Demogorgon (De′mogor′gon) was the tyrant genius of the soil or earth, the life and support of plants. He was depicted as an old man covered with moss, and was said to live underground. He is sometimes called the king of the elves and fays.
“Which wast begot in Demogorgon’s hall
And saw’st the secrets of the world unmade.”
SPENSER.
Deucalion (Deuca′lion), one of the demi-gods, son of Prometheus and Pyrra. He and his wife, by making a ship, survived the deluge which Jupiter sent on the earth, circa 1503 B.C.
Devil, see Dahak, Daityas, and Obambou.
Diana (Di′ana), goddess of hunting and of chastity. She was the sister of Apollo, and daughter of Jupiter and Latona. She was known among the Greeks as Diana or Phoebe, and was honored as a triform goddess. As a celestial divinity she was called Luna; as a terrestrial Diana or Dictynna; and in the infernal regions Hecate.
Dictynna (Dictyn′na), a Greek name of Diana as a terrestrial goddess.
Dido (Di′do). A daughter of Belus, King of Tyre. It was this princess who bought a piece of land in Africa as large as could be encompassed by a bullock’s hide, and when the purchase was completed, cut the hide into strips, and so secured a large tract of land. Here she built Carthage; and Virgil tells that when Aeneas was shipwrecked on the neighboring coast she received him with every kindness, and at last fell in love with him. But Aeneas did not reciprocate her affections, and this so grieved her that she stabbed herself. A tale is told in Facetiae Cantabrigienses of Professor Porson, who being one of a set party, the conversation turned on the subject of punning, when Porson observing that he could pun on any subject, a person present defied him to do so on the Latin gerunds, di, do, dum, which, however, he immediately did in the following admirable couplet:
“When Dido found Aeneas would not come,
She mourned in silence, and was Dido dumb.”
Dies Pater (Di′es Pa′ter), or Father of the Day, a name of Jupiter.
Dii Selecti (Dii Selec′ti) composed the second class of gods. They were Coelus, Saturn, Genius, Oreus, Sol, Bacchus, Terra, and Luna.
Dindymene (Din′dyme′ne). A name of Cybele, from a mountain where she was worshiped.
“Nor Dindymene, nor her priest possest,
Can with their sounding cymbals shake the breast
Like furious anger.”
FRANCIS.
Diomedes (Diome′des), the cruel tyrant of Thrace, who fed his mares on the flesh of his guests. He was overcome by Hercules, and himself given to the same horses as food.
Dione (Dio′ne). A poetic name of Venus.
Dionysia (Diony′sia) were festivals in honor of Bacchus.
Dionysius (Diony′sius). A name of Bacchus, either from his father Jupiter (Dios), or from his nurses, the nymphs called Nysae.
Dioscuri (Dios′curi). Castor and Pollux, the sons of Jupiter.
Dirae (Di′rae). A name of the Furies.
Dis. A name of Pluto, god of hell, signifying riches.
“… That fair field
Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers,
Herself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis
Was gathered.”
MILTON.
Discord, see Ate.
Discordia (Discor′dia), sister of Nemesis, the Furies, and Death, was driven from heaven for having sown discord among the gods.
Diseases, see Pandora.
Distaff, see Pallas.
Dithyrambus. A surname of Bacchus.
Dodona (Dodo′na) was a celebrated oracle of Jupiter.
“O where, Dodona, is thine aged grove,
Prophetic fount, and oracle divine?”
BYRON.
Dodonaeus (Dodonae′us). A name of Jupiter, from the city of Dodona.
Dog, see Lares.
Dolabra (Dola′bra). The knife used by the priests to cut up the sacrifices.
Dolphin, see Arion.
Doorga (Door′ga). A Hindoo goddess.
Doris (Do′ris) was daughter of Oceanus, and sister of Nereus, two of the marine deities. From these two sisters sprang the several tribes of water nymphs.
Doto (Do′to). One of the Nereids or sea nymphs.
Draco (Dra′co). One of Actaeon’s hounds.
Dragon, seven-headed, see Geryon.
Dreams, see Morpheus.
Dryads (Dry′ads) were rural deities, the nymphs of the forests, to whom their votaries offered oil, milk, and honey.
“Flushed with resistless charms he fired to love
Each nymph and little Dryad of the grove.”
TICKNELL.
Dumbness (Dumb′ness), see Atys.
Dweurgar (Dweur′gar). Scandinavian god of the Echo – a pigmy.
Eacus (E′acus), son of Jupiter and Egina, one of the judges of the infernal regions, who was appointed to judge the Europeans. See Aeacus.
Earth, see Antaeus.
Eblis (Eb′lis), the Mohammedan evil genius.
Echidna (Echid′na). A woman having a serpent’s tail. She was the reputed mother of Chimaera, and also of the many-headed dog Orthos, of the three-hundred-headed dragon of the Hesperides, of the Colchian dragon, of the Sphinx, of Cerberus, of Scylla, of the Gorgons, of the Lernaean Hydra, of the vulture that gnawed away the liver of Prometheus, and also of the Nemean lion; in fact, the mother of all adversity and tribulation.
Echnobas (Echno′bas), one of Actaeon’s hounds.
Echo (Ech′o) was a nymph who fell in love with Narcissus. But when he languished and died she pined away from grief and died also, preserving nothing but her voice, which repeats every sound that reaches her. Another fable makes Echo a daughter of Air and Tellus. She was partly deprived of speech by Juno, being allowed only to reply to questions.
“Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv’st unseen
Within thy airy shell.
. . .
Sweet queen of parley, daughter of the sphere,
So may’st thou be translated to the skies,
And give resounding grace to all heaven’s harmonies.”
MILTON.
“Oft by Echo’s tedious tales misled.”
OVID.
Egeon. A giant sea-god, who assisted the Titans against Jupiter.
Egeria (Ege′ria). A nymph who is said to have suggested to Numa all his wise laws. She became his wife, and at his death was so disconsolate, and shed so many tears, that Diana changed her into a fountain.
Egil (E′gil). The Vulcan of northern mythology.
Egipans (Egip′ans) were rural deities who inhabited the forests and mountains, the upper half of the body being like that of a man, and the lower half like a goat.
Egis (E′gis) was the shield of Minerva. It obtained its name because it was covered with the skin of the goat Amalthaea, which nourished Jupiter. See Aegis.
Eleusinian Mysteries (Eleusin′ian). Religious rites in honor of Ceres, performed at Eleusis, in Attica.
Elysium (Elys′ium), or the Elysian Fields. The temporary abode of the just in the infernal regions.
Empyrean, The (Empyre′an). The fifth heaven, the seat of the heathen deity.
Endymion (Endym′ion). A shepherd, who acquired from Jupiter the faculty of being always young. One of the lovers of Diana.
Entertainments, see Comus.
Envy, see Furies.
Enyo was the Grecian name of Bellona, the goddess of war and cruelty.
Eolus (E′olus), see Aeolus.
Eos (E′os). The Grecian name of Aurora.
Eous (E′ous). One of the four horses which drew the chariot of Sol, the sun. The word is Greek, and means red.
Ephialtes (Eph′ial′tes). A giant who lost his right eye in an encounter with Hercules, and the left eye was destroyed by Apollo.
Erato (Er′ato). One of the Muses, the patroness of light poetry; she presided over the triumphs and complaints of lovers, and is generally represented as crowned with roses and myrtle, and holding a lyre in her hand.
Erebus (Er′ebus), son of Chaos, one of the gods of Hades, sometimes alluded to as representing the infernal regions.
Ergatis (Erga′tis). A name given to Minerva. It means the work-woman, and was given to the goddess because she was credited with having invented spinning and weaving.
Erictheus (Eric′theus), fourth King of Athens, was the son of Vulcan.
Erinnys (Erin′nys). A Greek name of the Furies. It means Disturber of the Mind.
Erisichthon (Erisich′thon) was punished with perpetual hunger because he defiled the groves of Ceres, and cut down one of the sacred oaks.
Eros (Er′os). The Greek god of love.
Erostratus (Eros′tratus). The rascal who burnt the temple of Diana at Ephesus, thereby hoping to make his name immortal.
Erycina (Eryc′ina). A name of Venus, from Mount Eryx in Sicily.
Erythreos (Erythre′os). The Grecian name of one of the horses of Sol’s chariot.
Esculapius (Escula′pius), see Aesculapius.
Eta (E′ta), see Aeetes.
Ethon (E′thon), one of the horses who drew the chariot of Sol – the sun. The word is Greek, and signifies hot.
Etna (Et′na). A volcanic mountain, beneath which, according to Virgil, there is buried the giant Typhon, who breathes forth devouring flames.
Eudromos (Eu′dromos). The name of one of Actaeon’s hounds.
Eulalon (Eu′lalon), one of the names of Apollo.
Eumenides (Eume′nides), a name of the Furies, meaning mild, and referring to the time when they were approved by Minerva.
Euphrosyne (Euphro′syne), one of the three Graces, see Graces.
“Come, thou goddess fair and free,
In heaven ycleped Euphrosyne.”
MILTON.
Eurus (Eu′rus). The east wind. A son of Aeolus.
Euryale (Eury′ale) was one of the Gorgons, daughter of Phorcus and Ceto.
Eurydice (Euryd′ice), wife of Orpheus, who was killed by a serpent on her wedding night.
“Nor yet the golden verge of day begun.
When Orpheus (her unhappy lord),
Eurydice to life restored,
At once beheld, and lost, and was undone.”
F. LEWIS.
Eurythion (Euryth′ion). A seven-headed dragon. See Geryon.
Euterpe (Eu′terpe), one of the Muses, the patroness of instrumental music. The word means agreeable.
Euvyhe (Eu′vyhe), an expression meaning “Well done, son.” Jupiter so frequently addressed his son Bacchus by those words that the phrase at last became one of his names.
Evening Star, see Hesperus.
Evil, see Cacodaemon.
Evils, see Pandora.
Eye, of one, see Cyclops and Glaukopis.
Fame was a poetical deity, represented as having wings and blowing a trumpet. A temple was dedicated to her by the Romans.
Fate, see Nereus.
Fates, or Parcae, were the three daughters of Necessity. Their names were Clotho, who held the distaff; Lachesis, who turned the spindle; and Atropos, who cut the thread with the fatal shears.
