1000 Mythological Characters Briefly Described. Adapted to Private Schools, High Schools and Academies
was a sign of reconciliation, but he was the victim of his brother’s detestable cruelty.
“Media must not draw her murdering knife,
Nor Atreus there his horrid feast prepare.”
Atropos (At′ropos), one of the three sisters called The Fates, who held the shears ready to cut the thread of life.
Atys (A′tys), son of Croesus, was born dumb, but when in a fight he saw a soldier about to kill the king he gained speech, and cried out, “Save the king!” and the string that held his tongue was broken.
Atys (A′tys) was a youth beloved by Aurora, and was slain by her father, but, according to Ovid, was afterward turned into a pine-tree.
Augaeas (Aug′aeas), a king of Elis, the owner of the stable which Hercules cleansed after three thousand oxen had been kept in it for thirty years. It was cleansed by turning the river Alpheus through it. Augaeas promised to give Hercules a tenth part of his cattle for his trouble but, for neglecting to keep his promise, Hercules slew him.
Augury (Au′gury). This was a means adopted by the Romans of forming a judgment of futurity by the flight of birds, and the officiating priest was called an augur.
Aurora (Auro′ra), the goddess of the morning,
“Whose rosy fingers ope the gates of day.”
She was daughter of Sol, the sun, and was the mother of the stars and winds. She is represented as riding in a splendid golden chariot drawn by white horses. The goddess loved Tithonus, and begged the gods to grant him immortality, but forgot to ask at the same time that he should not get old and decrepit. See Tithonus.
“… So soon as the all-cheering sun
Should, in the farthest east, begin to draw
The shady curtains of Aurora’s bed.”
Auster (Aus′ter), the south wind, a son of Jupiter.
Avernus (Aver′nus), a poisonous lake, referred to by poets as being at the entrance of the infernal regions, but it was really a lake in Campania, in Italy.
Averruncus Deus (Averrun′cus Deus), a Roman god, who could divert people from evil-doing.
Axe, see Daedalus.
Baal (Ba′al), a god of the Phoenicians.
Baal-Peor (Ba′al-Pe′or), a Moabitish god, associated with licentiousness and obscenity. The modern name is Belphegor.
Babes, see Rumia Dea.
Bacchantes (Bac′chantes). The priestesses of Bacchus.
Bacchus (Bac′chus), the god of wine, was the son of Jupiter and Semele. He is said to have married Ariadne, daughter of Minos, King of Crete, after she was deserted by Theseus. The most distinguished of his children is Hymen, the god of marriage. Bacchus is sometimes referred to under the names of Dionysius, Biformis, Brisaeus, Iacchus, Lenaeus, Lyceus, Liber, and Liber Pater, the symbol of liberty. The god of wine is usually represented as crowned with vine and ivy leaves. In his left hand is a thyrsus, a kind of javelin, having a fir cone for the head, and being encircled with ivy or vine. His chariot is drawn by lions, tigers, or panthers.
“Jolly Bacchus, god of pleasure,
Charmed the world with drink and dances.”
Balios (Ba′lios). A famous horse given by Neptune to Peleus as a wedding present, and was afterward given to Achilles.
Barker, see Anubis.
Bassarides (Bassar′ides). The priestesses of Bacchus were sometimes so called.
Battle, see Valhalla.
Bear, see Calisto.
Beauty, see Venus.
Bees, see Mellona.
Belisama (Belisa′ma), a goddess of the Gauls. The name means the Queen of Heaven.
Bellerophon (Beller′ophon), a hero who destroyed a monster called the Chimaera.
Bellona (Bello′na), the goddess of war, and wife of Mars. The 24th March was called Bellona’s Day, when her votaries cut themselves with knives and drank the blood of the sacrifice.
“In Dirae’s and in Discord’s steps Bellona treads,
And shakes her iron rod above their heads.”
Belphegor (Belphe′gor), see Baal-Peor.
Belus (Be′lus). The Chaldean name of the sun.
Berecynthia (Berecyn′thia), a name of Cybele, from a mountain where she was worshiped.
Biformis (Bi′formis), a name of Bacchus, because he was accounted both bearded and beardless.
Birds, see Augury.
Births, see Lucina and Levana.
Blacksmith, see Brontes and Vulcan.
Blind, see Thamyris.
Blue eyes, see Glaukopis.
Bona Dea (Bo′na De′a). “The bountiful goddess,” whose festival was celebrated by the Romans with much magnificence. See Ceres.
Bonus Eventus (Bo′nus Even′tus). The god of good success, a rural divinity.
Boreas (Bo′reas), the north wind, son of Astraeus and Aurora.
“… I snatched her from the rigid north,
Her native bed, on which bleak Boreas blew,
And bore her nearer to the sun…”
Boundaries, see Terminus.
Boxing, see Pollux.
Brahma (Brah′ma). The great Indian deity, represented with four heads looking to the four quarters of the globe.
Briareus (Bri′areus), a famous giant. See Aegeon.
Brisaeus (Bris′aeus). A name of Bacchus, referring to the use of grapes and honey.
Brontes (Bront′es), one of the Cyclops. He is the personification of a blacksmith.
Bubona (Bubo′na), goddess of herdsmen, one of the rural divinities.
Buddha (Bud′dha). Primitively, a pagan deity, the Vishnu of the Hindoos.
Byblis (Byb′lis). A niece of Sol, mentioned by Ovid. She shed so many tears for unrequited love that she was turned into a fountain.
“Thus the Phoebeian Byblis, spent in tears,
Becomes a living fountain, which yet bears
Her name.”
Cabiri (Cab′iri). The mysterious rites connected with the worship of these deities were so obscene that most writers refer to them as secrets which it was unlawful to reveal.
Cacodaemon (Cac′odae′mon). The Greek name of an evil spirit.
Cacus (Ca′cus), a three-headed monster and robber.
Cadmus (Cad′mus), one of the earliest of the Greek demi-gods. He was the reputed inventor of letters, and his alphabet