The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
THE OLD GREEK GODS.
First OF Series of Talks Upon Myth
oIoov.

First OF Series of Talks Upon Myth
ology.
I For the reason that am confident that
you boys and girls who write me such
intelligent and interesting letters will
b. much better pleased with weekly talk
which will be Instructive as well as en-
Pertaining than with one which is en-
PERTAINING only. have decided to give you
q series Of articles upon The mythology
OF Greece and Italy"
] shall endeavor to make them as pleas
ont MS possible for you and hope you VIII
derive Some profit from reading them.
We will begin with the mythology Of
Greece. The Greeks were an uncommonly
frgenious people. full OF imagination, great
worshippeIs OF beauty. and very. very
fond OF poetry. They were, too, polythe-
ksts~-that is-they were believers in many
gods--and much OF their poetry consists
bf the recital in verse Of the adventures
bf their gods and goddesses. Cor their gods
Nsre divided into two sexes, like mankind.
Like mortals too, they married and had
children. Quite often a god fell in love
With a mortal woman, and frequently
goddess would be smit;en with the beauty
Ind attractiveness of handsome youth
living down here on this earth. Grecian
Mythology consists very largely i'm stories
hf these loves between gods and mortals.
the home of the Gods, according to two
lid Greex poets named Homer and Hes
lOd, was on the summit OF avery. very
hish, snow clad mountain called mount
olympus" situated I'm Thessaiy. A gate
b. clouds. kept by the goddesses named
Che Seasons. unfolded 10 permit the inn
tnortals 10 visit earth. and TO admit them
upon their return. The people who lived
IN this city Of the gods were all their kins-
Folk. and had all their separate dwelling,
bat when summoned. they repaired TO the
kpiendid palace of Jupiter, and here too,
when summoned. came the deities whose
usual place Of abode was on the earth.
the waters. or In the under world. In the
Snagnincent palace Of the oiympisn king
Was great hail. and here the gods feast
I'd zach day on ambrosia and nectar.
Vie nectar was served 20 them by the
lovely goddess ebe. --(youth) maid SER
Wants being the usual attendants az meals
IN the houses Of the Grecian princes in
oiden times.
Here they talked over the affairs OF
foaven and earth. and os they sat and
drank the delicious nectar Apollo, the god
OF music, played for them upon his Tyre,
W which the muses. nine In number, sang
most beautifully. Each OF the muses. pre-
fidcd over some one department of Liter
allure. Art or Science, and their names
~-''@~RNf. INV <'tNiP'AtthSs i~NNtfPNs
Erato, Terpsiehore, Urania, ITALIA and
folymnia-
Their favorits abode was Mount Parnas-
Sus.
The Dawn. the Sun, and the Moon, who
drove each day IN their cbariots. gave
light 20 the gods as well as to men.
With the exception. perhaps. Of the robes
aud other parts OF the dress OF the GODDESS
e.. everything on Olympus appertaininR 10
b. a. f2f sls.. 49,.
ais. especially brass or copper. the metal
which was In the greatest abundance In
Greece, for we must always recoiiect
that the gods being the mere creature OF
fancy, everything relating 10 them was
framed according TO the ideas and state
Of manners ia the early ages OF Greece.
klueaa was architect Smith. armouFer.