Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-27
HISTORICAL LETTERS.
TO Ms Editor ofAe viRe1NIA ANGUS.
LETTER TX.

sttS -SSScihS snOre, ara recalls TO his mind
thousand pleasing incidents; SO I, in pas
Sing from my brief historical view Of ancient
Greece, Cannot resist the temptation of re-
curing to- the fabulous part Of her annals.
Her history is that Of Gods, Of heroes, and
great men. 1t is through her that we have
come to the knowledge of nations which
preceded hn---..S, Ss.>,~~-..i.ivi. we're CO.
teInporaneous with her: And it impossi-
bic to contemplate subjects connected with
the arts and the sciences without thinking of
country where they chiefly originated aud
were brought to the greatest perfection
Considerations like these incline us to view
with reverence, and to regard as important,
every Invention and every institution Of the
Grecian Commonwealths. This letter, there
tore, WILDE devoted to q sketch of the Divini-
ties, OF the Muses., of the Demigods, of the
twelve Labors ofHercules, the SevenWonders
of-the World, and Of the different sects of
Philosophers Of antiquity, all of which are,
more or less interviewer with the establish
ments Of the Greeks
PRINCIPAL Divinities ofthe Pagan Uorld.
Jupiter, the master of the gods, was the
son of Saturn, and had Juno for his wife
Neptune, brother Of Jupiter and god Of
the Ocean, had Amphitrite for wife.
Pluto, brother OF Jupiter and god Of hell,
was married to Proserpine, the daughter of
Ceres.
Mars, the god of war, had Bcllona for
his sister anu Terror and Fear for chill
dren.
Minerva, or Pallas, (sprung from the brain
Of Jupiter,) goddess of wisdora, Of the arts,
and Of war
Venus, goddess of Love and Beauty the
Smiles and Graccs compose her train.
Cupid, son of Venus and Of Vulcan, who
presided over fire, and was the patron of ali
artists who worked in iron or metal.
Apollo, or Phabus, son of Jupiter and La
tona, sod of Music and Poetry; He con-
Quoted the chariot of the Sun and presided at
the Concerts Of the MUSES..
Diana, sister Of Apollo, goddess of the
chase: In hell she is called Hecate.
Ceres, presided over agriculture. The
god Terminus presided over the bounds and
limits of land
Hebe, goddess of Youth and Ganymede,
employed by Jupiter to pour out nectar for
the gods.
Bacchus, god Of wine: Old Silenus was
his foster-father.
Mercury, messenger of the gods and god
OF craft, and eloquence, and had variety of
occupations assigned him. Themis, was the
goddess of Justice
Iris, with rain bow wings, of thousand
NIAOi D Wsio tilS IiCSoClpCI Oh Juno.
Aurora, with rosy fingers, goddess of the
Morning. Morpheus, god of Sleep and of
Dreams.
Eolus, god Of winds and tempests. Meme
sis, goddess of Vengeance.
Flora and Pomona, goddesses Of flowers
and CT fruits. Pan and Sylvanus, gods of
shepherds and fgroves
Dryads, HamadIyads, and Lymnades,
nJmphs of woods, trees, and lakes.
Naiades, nymphs of woods and fountains
Mercedes, nymphs Of the sea.
Sirens, sca-nymphs, who enchaOed pas
sengers by the melody of their voices.
Fawns and Satyrs, country divinities, fol-
lovers of Bacchus.
The three graces, Aglaia, Euphrosina, and
Thalia, followers Of Venus
The three fates, Clotho, Lachesis and A.
tropos, who presided over human life.
The three fdries, Alecto, Megera, and
1Isiphone, armed with torches and with SER
pents.
The three Judges of Hell, Minos, Aracus,
and Rhadamanthus.
The three Harpics, with antiquated visa
ges, the bodies OF vultures, and claws of i
ron.
The three Hesperides, Eglca, Arethusa,
and liyperethusa, who guarded the golden
apples.
The three Gorgons, (who had between
them only one eve and one tcoth,) Euryale,
Medusa, and Stheno: they changed into
stone all who looked upon them.
The Nine Muses., 7rto fresided o rer The Lii
5erat Irts; 7vith their Aftri5ptes.
Clio, presides over History; crowned with
laurel, having a trumpet aud book.
Euterpc, prcsides over Music crowned
with flowers and playing the flute.
ThaGa, presiGes over comedy having on
socks or sandals, and holding mask in her
hand.
Melpomene, presides over tragedy ha-
wing on buskins, and armed with poig-
nard.
Terpsichore, presides over Dancing
4 crowned with gariands, and holding a harp.
Erato, presides over lyric poetry crown
ed with myrtle and roses, holding Tyre
Polyhymnia, presides over Rhetoric
crowned with Jewels and armed with scep-
ire
Calliope, presideso over Eloquence and He
roc Poetry crowned with laurel
Urania, presides over astronomy crown
60 with stars, and holding a celestial globe.
me Heroes or D,niigods and their lIri1-
cihat actio1s.
Perseus, the son Of Jupiter and Danae,
husband Of Andromeda, whom he delivered
from sca-monstcr: His DrinciDaI action