GRECIAN MYTHOLOGY. | 113 
manner. Then follow Poseidon (c), with his trident; Hephzestos (d), with 
the pzleus or rounded cap; Hermes (e¢), with the caduceus near him; De- 
meter (7); Hestia (g); Artemis (A), easily recognised by her quiver ; 
Ares (2), with his helmet ; Aphrodite (%), with Eros resting on her shoulders ; 
Zeus (7), with the thunderbolt ; and Pallas Athene (7m), with the helmet on 
her head and the lance near her, completes the circle. 
Pl. 18, fig. 25, represents the assembly of the gods on Mount Olympos. 
Zeus is sitting upon his throne, the ideal of domestic kindness, yet by no 
means without the dignity belonging to him as king of the gods. On his 
left arm leans the sceptre, in his right he holds the goblet filled with nectar, 
and at his feet stands the ever sacred eagle looking up to him. Ganymede 
and Hebe, in the foreground to the right, perform the office of cup-bearers. 
A little behind Zeus, on his right, sits Hera, the queen of the gods, her 
dress and mien bespeaking the chaste, deeply thoughtful housewife; near 
her feet is her sacred bird the peacock. Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, 
stands on the left of Zeus, holding by the hand her favorite Eros. Beyond 
those just mentioned we easily recognise Hermes, who at the command of 
Zeus is introducing Psyche to Olympos ; Poseidon seated, with his trident, 
on a bank of clouds, and conversing with Hades, who, with a bifurcated 
sceptre, stands close by, and is indeed leaning over to the god of the ocean. 
In front of Poseidon sits Hepheestos, with his symbol, the lion, stretched at 
his side. Behind the queen of the gods stands Ares clothed in full armor; 
and the figure seen near him, with his head covered with a lion’s skin, is 
probably “Heracles, who has just been received to Olympos. On the left 
behind Zeus, and somewhat elevated, we observe Pallas Athene; close by 
her is Apollo touching the strings of his lyre, while behind both appears 
Artemis as Selene, with the crescent on her head. Several muses are 
accompanying Apollo on their instruments ; two genii are strewing flowers 
upon Psyche, and the whole picture seems to represent the celebration 
of her admission to Olympos. 
14. Tue Norions or THE GREEKS WITH REGARD TO Otympos. With 
regard to the residence of the gods, the Greeks seem to have entertained 
conflicting ideas at different times. Several mountains bore the name of 
Olympos; but that lying in Thessalia was regarded by the ancient Greeks 
as the highest mountain in the world, and the central point of the whole 
earth. For this reason they supposed it to be the celestial mount, or moun- 
tain of the gods, upon which the deities dwelt. Near the summit they sup- 
posed there was an opening into the canopy of heaven, the abode of the gods, 
which was supported by pillars at the extremities of the earth. In addition 
to this opening it had two gates; the one to the east, through which the sun 
god Helios and Night with her train ascended from the ocean; the other 
opening to the west, through which they returned to their residences. At 
various elevations of the many-peaked Olympos, the individual gods dwelt 
in their palaces; but on the loftiest summit of all stood the court of the 
omnipotent Zeus. Thither all the rest repaired either on visits or to attend 
the banquets. From this position also the mighty god scanned the circle 
of the earth, sent rain and clouds, and hurled his thunderbolts. The twelve 
333 
