Heathen mythology, Illustrated by extracts from the most celebrated writers, both ancient and modern

Not being pleased with the manner in which his application was received, he resolved, in the heat of passion, to desecrate the sacred temple by plundering it, and carrying away...

He had temples and statues in every country, particularly in Egypt, Greece, and Italy; the most famous was that of Delos, where they celebrated the Pythian games, that of Soract...

"Poised in air, the javelin sent, Through Paris' shield the fearful weapon went, His corslet pierces, and his garment rends, And, glancing downward, near his flank descends. The...

The Sylvans were the children of the foster father of God Bacchus, who accompanied the latter in all his travels. Bacchus having been well received and entertained at the court...

When the warriors of the land seek glory in battle, she sends an inferior goddess to watch over the safety of those whom she favours, while they who fall, are honoured by the mi...

He gave another proof of this propensity, by throwing himself upon the timid Cupid, and wrestling from him his quivers; and increased his notoriety by robbing Venus of her girdl...

wears sometimes a cap, with a rod in her hand, both signs of independence, as the latter was used by the magistrates in the manumission of slaves, and the cap was worn by those...

With looks averted backward they advance, Who strike and stab, and leave the blows to chance Waking in consternation, he essays, Weltering in blood, his feeble arms to raise; En...

"Come away! the sunny hours Woo thee far to founts and bowers! O'er the very waters now, In their play, Flowers are shedding beauty's glow-- Come away! Where the lily's tender g...

"From the flying troops Eteocles leaps forth in furious guise, And with a terrible accent he exclaims, 'To Polynice.' With presumptuous rage, His steps he traces, and at last he...

"The beauteous youth now found himself betrayed, And from the deck the rising waves surveyed, And seemed to weep, and as he wept he said, 'And do you thus my easy faith beguile?...

"Welcome joy, and feast, Midnight shout and revelry, Tipsy dance and jollity. Braid your locks with rosy twine, Dropping odours, dropping wine, Rigour now is gone to bed, And Ad...

Nature itself seemed charmed and animated by his presence, and the nymphs made his company their chief desire. It was not long before the winged deity pierced him with his arrow...

Produced by David Edwards, Keith Edkins and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The...

Scylla, daughter of Hecate and of Phorcys, was a beautiful nymph, greatly beloved by Glaucus, also one of the deities of the sea. Scylla scorned his addresses, and the God, to r...

"The Goddess came, and kneeling on the brink, Stooped at the fresh repast, prepared to drink: Then thus, being hindered by the rabble race, In accents mild expostulates the case...

This wise monarch, aware that superstition is one of the greatest engines in governing a people, encouraged a report that he regularly visited the nymph Egeria, who indeed, acco...

"He spoke, and told to Mulciber his will, And smiling bade him his command fulfil; To use his greatest art, his nicest care, To frame a creature exquisitely fair; To temper well...

"Breathe softly, flutes; Be tender of your strings, ye soothing lutes; Nor be the trumpet heard! O vain, O vain! Nor flowers budding in an April rain, Nor breath of sleeping dov...

A fierce contest ensued, and Perseus must have fallen a victim to the fury of Phineus, had he not employed the same arms which had proved so successful against Atlas.

Achilles, 234 Acis, 255 Acteon, 49 Aeneas, 244 Aeolus, 143 Aetes, 169 Aegeus, 197 Admetus, 212 Adonis, 67 Adrastus, 220 Agamemnon, 228 Age of Gold, 10 Age of Steel, 23 Agenor, 2...

"As in the Lemnian caves of fire, The mate of her who nursed desire, Moulded the glowing steel, to form Arrows for Cupid, melting, warm; Once to this Lemnian cave of flame, The...

"This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books ever introduced to the public; and, to add to its value, the letter-press descriptions given are written by masterly hands...

"Oh! Goddess, hear these tuneless numbers, wrung By sweet enforcement and remembrance dear, And pardon that thy secrets should be sung, Even into thine own soft-couched ear: Sur...

Saturn devoured this, as he had the previous offerings; and emboldened by her success, Cybele delivered in the same manner Pluto and Neptune, and afterwards, by administering a...