The Mysteries of All Nations

-Cupid's Armour-Fate-Eternal Decrees-Throne of Jove-Fortune and Happiness-Misfortune and Misery-Twofold Nature-Rewards and Punishments-First Man and Woman-Pan the Emblem of all Things-Power of Heathen

indow in M

, and influenced the affairs of the spheres above and below; but as much of comparatively modern superstition has been traced to mythology, generally so called, we canno

rrestrial deities; 3rd, the marine and river gods and goddesses; 4th, the infernal gods; 5th, the subordinate and miscel

she brought forth her enormous first-born Hyle, and at the same portentous birth the amiable almighty

to blow, or the rivers to flow, or plants or trees had sprung from the earth; while the heavens lay hid in the mighty mass, and the stars were unknown, the various parts of which the wondrous creation consists lay jumbled w

broad Earth; and then Love appeared, the most beautiful of all things. Of Chaos

laws and arts. Their food consisted of herbs. Often were they compelled to fly before the mountain tigers and bears of the forest, while they were nearly frozen to death. Thus they lived in wretchedness until Prometheus came to their relief. He called Pallas, the goddess of wisdom, to his aid. By her assistanc

rtue of the other; but if the one died, the other could not long survive. Venus brought forth another son, Anteros. He no sooner came into being, than his elder brother Cupid grew, and his wings were soon fledged. So strong did the little urchin become, that he flew to heaven. There he associated with the Muses, became intimate with Mercury, kept company with Hymen, and grew in favour with every one except the implacable Momus. Unfortunately, Cupid became insolent and vain, behaving with arrogance to the superior powers. He made enmity reign wher

the confusion and misery of many in life. Like his mother, he is constantly in want. He is eager, ravenous, and wandering about bare-footed, without home or habitation, sleep

go instantly to the Fates, and bring from them the strong box in which the eternal decrees are laid up. Mercury went to the Fatal Sisters, and delivered his message. The Sisters smiled, and told him

e one's days embittered with disasters, or made pleasant with serenity, ease, and prosperity. To every star is allotted a mind, and all things have their fixed irrevocable laws. The human nature is twofold; and man, who lives well on earth, returns after death to the habitations of

e of an ash-tree. Odin, it is said, gave them breath, Hener endowed them with reaso

f the divinities. His person is composed of various and opposite parts-a man and a goat. According to the most ancient Egyptian

e loved, into a laurel, and his boy Hyacinth into a violet. Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno, or, ac

ariot drawn by peacocks, waving a sceptre in her hand, and wearing a crown set about with roses and lilies, and encircled wi

she was educated, and afterwards being carried to heaven, was married to Vulcan. Her image is fair and beautiful; she is clothed with purple, glit

drove her away. In spite of her entreaties, they refused to allow her to slake her thirst, whereupon, in wrath, she, cursing them, said, "May

le of Lemnos. His leg was broken by the fall. He erected a forge, where he makes thunderbolts for his father Jupiter and armour for the other gods. His servants

e ?olian Islands, where he dwells. He can raise storm

ointed to judge as to whom the greatest skill was manifested in creation. The carping god disapproved of all. He found fault with the bull for not having his horns before his eyes in his forehead, that he might be enabled to push the surer. He condemn