CHAPTER I.

LEGENDS RESPECTING THE GODS.

Opening of the mythical world.—How the mythes are to be told.—Allegory rarely admissible.—Zeus—foremost in Grecian conception.—The gods—how conceived: human type enlarged.—Past history of the gods fitted on to present conceptions.—Chaos.—Gæa and Uranos.—Uranos disabled.—Kronos and the Titans.—Kronos overreached.—Birth and safety of Zeus and his brethren.—Other deities.—Ambitious schemes of Zeus.—Victory of Zeus and his brethren over Kronos and the Titans.—Typhôeus.—Dynasty of Zeus.—His offspring.—General distribution of the divine race.—Hesiodic theogony—its authority.—Points of difference between Homer and Hesiod.—Homeric Zeus.—Amplified theogony of Zens.—Hesiodic mythes traceable to Krête and Delphi.—Orphic theogony.—Zeus and Phanês.—Zagreus.—Comparison of Hesiod and Orpheus.—Influence of foreign religions upon Greece—Especially in regard to the worship of Dêmêtêr and Dionysos.—Purification for homicide unknown to Homer.—New and peculiar religious rites.—Circulated by voluntary teachers and promising special blessings.—Epimenidês, Sibylla, Bakis.—Principal mysteries of Greece.—Ecstatic rites introduced from Asia 700-500 B. C.—Connected with the worship of Dionysos.—Thracian and Egyptian influence upon Greece.—Encouragement to mystic legends.—Melampus the earliest name as teacher of the Dionysiac rites.—Orphic sect, a variety of the Dionysiac mystics.—Contrast of the mysteries with the Homeric Hymns.—Hymn to Dionysos.—Alteration of the primitive Grecian idea of Dionysos.—Asiatic frenzy grafted on the joviality of the Grecian Dionysia.—Eleusinian mysteries.—Homeric Hymn to Dêmêtêr.—Temple of Eleusis, built by order of Dêmêtêr for her residence.—Dêmêtêr prescribes the mystic ritual of Eleusis.—Homeric Hymn a sacred Eleusinian record, explanatory of the details of divine service.—Importance of the mysteries to the town of Eleusis.—Strong hold of the legend upon Eleusinian feelings.—Different legends respecting Dêmêtêr elsewhere.—Expansion of the legends.—Hellenic importance of Dêmêtêr.—Legends of Apollo.—Delian Apollo.—Pythian Apollo.—Foundation legends of the Delphian oracle.—They served the purpose of historical explanation.—Extended worship of Apollo.—Multifarious local legends respecting Apollo.—Festivals and Agônes.—State of mind and circumstances out of which Grecian mythes arose.—Discrepancies in the legends little noticed.—Aphroditê.—Athênê.—Artemis.—Poseidôn.—Stories of temporary servitude imposed on gods.—Hêrê.—Hêphæstos.—Hestia.—Hermês.—Hermês inventor of the lyre.—Bargain between Hermês and Apollo.—Expository value of the Hymn.—Zeus.—Mythes arising out of the religious ceremonies.—Small part of the animal sacrificed.—Promêtheus had outwitted Zeus.—Gods, heroes, and men, appear together in the mythes. _pages_ 1-64