GRECIAN MYTHOLOGY. 143 
_ The death of Odysseus is enveloped in mystery. The most common 
version is that he was killed by Zéelegonos, the son of Circe, who had landed 
on Ithaca as a pirate, and was opposed by Odysseus and Telemachos. 
The term hero was applied not merely to the demigods, as already sug- 
gested, but also to worthy and honored men of great antiquity. Thus 
Homer employs it in speaking of princes and their sons, nobles, generals, 
their aids and companions. Of this class of heroes we give two representa- 
tions in pl. 16, figs. 5 and 6. 
13. THe Grants. 
We have alluded to the Grants while treating of Zeus. They were 
monsters of astonishing size and invincible strength, and their dragons’ tails 
and feet gave them a hideous aspect. They sprang from the blood which 
issued from the wounds of Uranos; or according to another myth, Gaia 
brought them forth to spite her husband. 
The most noted were J/imas, who, in the contest between his race and 
the Olympic gods, was transfixed by Ares (pl. 30, fig. 21); Pallas, who 
was slain by Pallas Athene while fighting against her with his snaky tails 
and a shepherd’s crook (jig. 22); and Gration, who fought with a stag, or 
with Artemis in the form ofa stag (jig. 23). 
14. Tae Pyemies. 
The Pyemtrs, the complete contrast to the Giants, were a fabulous race of 
dwarfs (the Liliputians of modern times), whose most formidable enemies were 
the Cranes. 2g. 29 presents a battle between them. Two of the Pygmies 
are armed with lances, and carry askin on the left arm as a shield ; a third is 
hastening to the aid of a prostrate comrade. Heracles once fell asleep in the 
deserts of Africa, when an army of Pygmies attacked him with as much energy 
as though they had been besieging a town. The hero awoke during the onset, 
smiled at his puny foes, but was so much pleased with their courage, that 
he gathered them in his lion’s skin and carried them to Eurystheus., 
15. SacrEpD ANIMALS. 
The Greek system of mythology abounded in sacred animals. We have 
already spoken of Apollo’s raven (pl. 17, jig. 28). In pl. 28, jig. 26, we 
have represented the sacred bull of Dionysos. His body is girded with an 
ivy branch, and he stands upon a thyrsus adorned with ribbons. The 
inscription designates it as the work of the artist HZyllus, who wrought the 
stone from which our engraving is copied. PU. 24, jig. 9, presents the 
sacred lion which Dionysos or one of his attendants is feeding. This piece 
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