LITERATURE 



323 



<.ods of the Greeks and Romans. The principal deities of each were common to both, and we can include 

 them all in one system of classification. 



"The ancient Greeks believed their gods to be of the same shape and form as themselves, but of far greater beauty, 

 strength, and dignity. They also regarded them as being of much larger size than men; for in those times great 

 size was esteemed a perfection, supposed to be an attribute of divinities, to whom they ascribed all perfection*. A 

 fluid named Ichor supplied the place of blood in the veins of the gods. They were immortal, but they might 

 be wounded or otherwise injured. They could make themselves visible or invisible to men. and assume the forms 

 of men or of animals. Like men, they stood in daily need of food and sleep. The meat of the gods was called Am- 

 brosia, their drink Nectar. The gods, when they came aiming men. often partook of their food and hospitality 

 " Like mankind, the gods were divided into two sexes; namely, gods and goddesses. They married and had chtl- 

 Of ten a god became enamored of a mortal woman, or a goddess was smitten with the charms of a handsome 

 youth, and these love-tales form a large portion of <;r-. -ian mythology. 



"To make the resemblance between gods and men more complete, the Greeks ascribed to their deities all human 

 passions, both good and evil. They were capable of love. friend.-hip. pmtitode. and all a hand. 



vere frequently envious, jealous, m < rr particularly careful to exact all due nvixvt and 



n from mankind, whom they required to honor them with temples, prayers, costly sacrifices, splendid pro- 

 cessions, and rich gifts; and they severely punihed insult or neglect." 



H.K GODS. Jupiter. Neptune. Apollo. Mars. Mercury. Vulcan. Janus. Saturn Tint.. KM, , -hus. Juno. 

 va. Diana. Venus. Vesta, Ceres. Rhea. (2) INFERIOR GODS. Corlus. Sol. jEoln .Ksculapiun I 



.na. Fama. Several gods peculiar to the Greeks: I 



e. Cotytto. etc. Several gods peculiar "*. rlora, 



a. Pales, etc. (3) M^ . Tritons. Sirens. Kj 



Fauns. Gorgons, 

 Amaions. Centaurs. Minotaur. Chimara, Gerv. i \lla. Charybdis. Sphinx. Typbon. 



the heroes 



roes received only an annual 



ration at their tombs, or in the vicinity, when offerings and libations were presented to them. Sometimes 

 the respect paid them exceeded these limits, and they were exalted to the rank and honors of the gods. The intro- 

 duction of solemnities m m. ,** i ascribed to Cad> 



m (4) DMUM. II M.m Innchu* I'MMU.I . .m Chrvfrfw. Cecrop* Deucalion. Amphict>-on. Cadmus. Danaus. Pelope. 

 Minos. Perseus. Hercules. Theseus. Jason. Castor. Pollux, and heroes of the Theban and the Trojan Wars. etc. 



