MERCURY.

Are immoral actions imputed to Apollo ?
Why did Jupiter expel Apollo from heaven?

With whom did Apollo dwell while he was on earth.
Did Apollo love Hyacinthus ?

What rash promise did Apollo make to Phaeton?

What happened to Phaeton?

What were Apollo's achievements?

Where was the most famous oracle of Apollo?

Who was the Pythia?

What is the most admired statue of Apollo ?

MERCURY.

See plate, page 31.

-The God who mounts the winged winds,
Fast to his feet the golden pinions binds,
That high through fields of air his flight sustain,
O'er the wide earth, and o'er the boundless main.
He grasps the wand that causes sleep to fly,
Or in soft slumbers seals the wakeful eye;
Then shoots from heaven to high Pieria's steep,
And stoops incumbent on the rolling deep.

Homer's Odyssey.—Pope.

The Greek Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia. He was the god of eloquence, of arts and sciences, and the messenger of Jupiter. He was the inventor of weights and measures, and conducted departed souls to the world of spirits.

Mercury is represented as a young man; wings were fastened to his sandals and to his cap, and in his hand he held the caduceus. This was a wand entwined with two serpents. The caduceus had a power to induce wakefulness, or to cause sleep. Mercury, besides his higher offices, was the god of thieves, of merchants, and of highways. Statues of Mercury were often placed in roads to point out the way to travellers.

The mythologists say that Mercury was born at Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, and that in his infancy he was intrusted to ine care of the Seasons.

His

cunning and dexterity in stealing were remarkable. He stole the quiver and arrow of Apollo, and robbed Neptune of his trident, Venus of her girdle, Mars of his sword, and Vulcan of his anvil.

The cunning and add ess of Mercury recom mended him to those gods, and Jupiter chose him for his special messenger. The king of heaven presented to him his winged cap called the petasus, and with wings for his feet called talaria. He had also a small sword which could render him invisi ble, which he lent to Perseus.

Mercury is supposed to have been the Hermes of the Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians are considered as the original inventors of the arts, science, and religion of Greece; though the arts and sciences flourishing at a later period in Greece, and deriving improvement from successive races of men, seem to have been brought to much higher utility and beauty by them than by any other people.

The Hermes of Egypt was probably some philosopher, who was distinguished by various knowledge and inventive talent. The Egyptians impute. to Hermes the invention of commerce, of geometry, of astronomy, and cf hieroglyphic characters.

Who was the Greek Mercury?
How was Mercury represented?
Where was Mercury born?

What were his gifts?

Who was the Hermes of Egypt?

What inventions do the Egyptians 'mpute to Hermes!

MARS.

MARS was the god of war. He was commonly depicted by his worshippers as a warrior completely armed, and attended by Bellona, his sister, a god dess, fierce as himself. They were represented it

MARS.

VULCAN.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR LENOX AND TILLEN FOLK TATO 49.

■ chariot drawn by two wild horses, whose names were Flight and Terror.

Discord, Clamour, Anger, and Fear attended the thariot of Mars. The dog, for his eagerness in pursuit of prey; the wolf, for his fierceness; the raven, which feeds upon the slain; the cock, for his wakefulness, were all consecrated to a god, who was himself without pity, forbearance, or fear.

Men worshipped Mars, to engage his assistance against their enemies, or through fear of his power 'They could not feel love and trust in a being who was neither just nor benevolent. Mars was dreaded upon earth, and detested in heaven. In the Iliad, Jupiter addresses him thus:

Of all the gods that tread the spangled skies,
Thou most unjust, most hateful in our eyes!

The Romans were a more warlike people than the Greeks; they held Mars in higher reverence than the former people. The priests of Mars at Rome were called Salii,-they had the care of Ancilia, or sacred shields. These shields were sacred to Mars, and were held in superstitious reverence by the Romans.

In the early ages of Rome, a shield was found, of a shape which was not known among the Romans An oracle was consulted by the person who found the shield, in order to learn its origin. The oracle declared that the shield had fallen from heaven, and that Mars would favour the people who should preserve it, and that they should overcome their enemies and conquer the world; that is, all the civilized world, which then included the countries round the Mediterranean, and which the Romans several centuries after completely subdued.

Numa Pompilius, second king of Rome, in order to secure the shield from being lost, caused several