Evening star., 1927-11-27
The Ninth Month.
Copyright. 1907

A ALTHOUGH November was. so
called because it was the ninth
month of the Roman year. it should
perhaps have been named for Jupiter,
the king of the gods, for during this
month festivals to him were held
throughout the Rom.n world. Jupiter
was also lord of the heavens, and as
such he was the god of rain, of light.
ming and of thunder so that the cold
weather common i'm November was at
tributed TO his wrath. In an effort 70
appease his anger a great feast was
held on the 18th of the month, when
solemn professions, carrying olive
branches for peace, were made to his
temple on the Capitoline Hill in Rome
Jupiter was thought to hold sway
over the whole world and so terrible,
indeed. was his anger that no punish.
ment was more swift and sure than
his when enraged. With his thunder
bolt he slew the proud and reckless
| Phaeton, while another example of his
wrath is found in the story of Bellero-
phon. who wa assigned the task of
killing the Chimera. a fire-breathing
monster with a lions head. goats
body and dragons tail. While sor.
rowfully wondering how he could per-
form so difficult a task, Bellerophon
met the goddess Minerva, who gave
him a golden bride with which 10
bride the horse Pegasus and thus ac-
| complish his task.
Pegasus was a winged horse which
the sea god Neptune had made from
the drops of blood that fell into the
sea from the head of the Gorgon
Medusa. slain by Perseus. He was
perfectly white and of great speed
and. as Bellerophon knew, came down
to the earth to drink at certain
spring. Bellerophon waited in hiding
by this spring and, taking Pegasus by
surprise. jumped upon his back. The
/ winged horse at once flew up TO
great height, trying to unseat Bellero-
phon, but the hero succeeded in put
ting on Minerva's golden bride,
whereupon Pegasus at once became
gentle. Thus equipped. Bellerophon
set off on his task and. suddenly
swooping down from the sky upon the
Chimera. overcame and killed the
dreadful monster. His task accom-
pished. he might now have lived in
happiness, but he was filled with
pride because of the wonderful flights
he had made on Pegasus. While soar
ing higher and higher one day he be-
gan to think himself equal to the gods
and wished to join them on Mount
Olympus. Thus angered, Jupiter sent
gadfiy which, stinging Pegasus.
caused him to rear up and throw the
proud Bellerophon far to the earth
below.
The goddess Minerva. who had as
sisted BellerophOn. was the daughter
of Jupiter. but she was born in very
strange way, for she spranS out Of
her fathers head, clothed in bright
.armor and with spear in her hand.
She became the Goddess of Wisdom.
of the arts and the sciences and of
spinning and weaving. Her skill In
weaving is shown by the following
story:
There once lived in Greece a girl
named Arachne, who was so clever at
needlework that she boasted she could
weave more skillfully than Minerva
herself. Minerva. angered by these
words, came down to Arachne's home
and accepted the challenge which she
had so rashly made. Arachne pictured
the story of Jupiter when, disguised
as white bull. he carried off Europa
to the land which afterward bore the
name of Europe. Minerva chose fo'
her work the story of her own contest
with the sea god Neptune as to which
of them should have the honor of
naming a new city that had been built
in Greece. Jupiter had said that the
honor would be given to the one pro
ducing the most useful thing to man.
Neptune struck the ground with his
trident and there sprang forth horse.
The gods were filled with wonder At
the sight of the noble animal and
thought the victory would be Nep-
tunes. Minerva then produced an
olive tree. at which the gods all
laughed at first. but when the god
dess explained how the wood. the fruit
and the leaves could be used by man,
how it was the sign of peace whila
the horse was the symbol OF war. they
decided in favor of Minerva. and since
her name, among the Greeks, was
Athena. she gave to the city the name
of Athens. All this the goddess wove
in her tapestry. Then in anger and
despair the unhappy Arachne hanged
herself and Minerva turned her dan
Cling body into a spider and bade her
forever spin and weave.