Juno. Because of her fwiftnefs, the is painted with wings, fitting on a rainbow. It was her office to unloofe the fouls of dying women from the chains of the body. 6. APOLLO. Apollo is defcribed as a beardless youth, with long hair, crowned with laurel, and fhining in an embroidered vestment; holding a bow and arrows in his right hand, and a harp in the left. Sometimes he is feen with a shield in the one hand, and the Graces in the other. The power of this god is threefold: in heaven, where he is called Sol; in earth, where he is named Liber Pater; and in hell, where he is styled Apollo. He generally is painted with a harp, shield, and arrows. He was the fon of Jupiter and Latona. His mother, who was the daughter of Cæus the Titan, conceived twins by Jupiter: at which Juno being incensed, fent the ferpent Python against her; Latona, to avoid the intended mifchief, fled into the island Delos, where fhe brought forth Apollo and Diana at the fame birth. By the invention of phyfic, mufic, poetry, and rhetoric, he defervedly prefided over the Mules. He alfo taught the arts of foretelling and archery; by which he fo much obliged mankind, that he was enrolled in the number of the gods. He deftroyed all the Cyclops, the forgers of Jupiter's thunderbolts, with his arrows, to revenge the death of his fon Efculapius, whom Jupiter had killed with his thunder, because, by the power of phyfic, he restored the dead to life again. He fell violently in love with the virgin Daphne, fo famous for her modefty. When he pursued her fhe was changed into a laurel, the moft chafte of trees; which is never corrupted with the violence of heat or cold, but remains always flourishing, always pure. Apollo raifed the walls of the city of Troy by the mufic of his harp alone; and was challenged by Marfyas, a proud mufician; but the god flayed him alive, becaufe he prefumed to contend with him in his own art, and afterwards turned him into a river. Also when Midas, king of Phrygia, foolishly determined the victory to the god Pan, when Apollo and he fang together, Apollo ftretched his ears to the length and shape of affes ears. called Cynthius, from the mountain Cyn. thus in the island of Delos; from whence Diana is also called Cynthia; and Delius, from the fame ifland, because he was born there. He is called Delphicas, from the city Delphi in Baotia, where he had the mot famous temple in the world. They fay, that this famous oracle became dumb at the birth of our Saviour; and when Auguftus defired to know the reafon of its filence, the oracle answered him, That, in Judæa, a child was born, who was the Supreme God, and had commanded him to depart, and return no more anfwers. He is called Paan, either from allaying forrows, or from his exact skill in hunting, wherefore he is armed with arrows. He is called Phoebus, from the swiftnels of his motion, or from his method of healing by purging. He was named Pythius, not only from the ferpent Python, which he had killed, but likewife from asking and confulting; for none among the gods delivered more refponfes than he; especially in the temple which he had at Delphi, to which all nations reforted, fo that it was called the oracle of all the earth. These oracles were given out by a young virgin, called Pythia from Pythius, one of Apollo's names. 7. SOL. Sol, who enlighteneth the world, is esteemed the fame as Apollo. He was the father of Phaton by Clymene; and, as a proof of his paternal affection, promised to grant his fon whatever he fhould requeft. The rafh youth afked the guidance of his chariot for one day: Sol in vain ufed every argument to diffuade him from the enterprize; but having fworn by the river Styx, an oath it was unlawful for the gods to violate, unwil lingly granted his requeft, and gave him the neceffary inftructions for his behaviour. Phæton, tranfported with joy, mounted the chariot, and began to lash the flaming fteeds; but they finding the ignorance of their new driver, ran through the air, and fet both heaven and earth on fire. Jupiter, to prevent a total conflagration, ftruck Phaeton with thunder from his chariot, and plunged him into the river Po. His fifters, Phæthufa, Lampetia, and Phabe, and alfo Cycnus his friend, immoderately This god had many names. He is bewailed his death on the banks of the t river; river; and, by the pity of the gods, his filters were changed into poplar trees, and his friend Cycnus into a swan. 8. MERCURY. Mercury, fon of Jupiter and Main, daughter of Atlas, was the god of eloquence and merchandize, and meffenger of the gods. He is reprefented a young man, with a cheerful countenance, an honeft look, and lively eyes; fair without paint, with winged fhoes and hat, and holding in his hand a winged rod, bound about with two ferpents. which are driven by a distracted woman. He is covered with armour, and brandithes a fpear in his right hand. Sometimes he is reprefented fitting on horfeback, formidable with his whip and fpear, with a cock near him, the emblem of watchfulness. His fervants are Fear and Terror. Dif cord alfo goes before in a tattered garment, and Clamour and Arger follow him. Bellona, goddefs of war, is the companion of Mars, or, according to others, his fifter or wife. She prepares for him his chariot and horfes, when he goes to battle. His name, Mars, fets forth the power and influence he has in war, where he prefides over the foldiers. He had many remarkable qualities, on account of which they worshipped him as a god. He is faid to have invented letters, and the ufe of them: it is evident, that he excelled in eloquence, and the faculty of fpeaking; and therefore was accounted the He is called Gradivus, from his ftategod of rhetoric and oratory. He is re-linefs in marching, or from his vigour in ported to have been the first inventor of brandishing his fpear. contracts, weights, and measures: he also taught the arts of buying, felling, and traffic; and thence was called the god of merchants, and of gain. He was a wonderful mafter at making peace; and pacified not only mortals, but alfo the gods themselves, when they quarrelled. This faculty is fignified by the red which he holds in his hand, and which formerly he got from Apollo, to whom he had before given a harp. He had divers offices: the chief were, to carry the commands of Jupiter; alfo to attend perfons dying, to unloofe their fouls from the chains of the body, and carry them down to hell: likewife to revive, and replace into new bodies, thofe that had already completed their time in the Elysian fields. 9. MARS. Mars, the fon of Jupiter and Juno, or, as is related by Ovid, of Juno only, who conceived him by the touch of a flower fhewed her by Flora. Mars is the god of war, fierce in afpect, fern in countenance, and terrible in drefs: he fits in a chariot drawn by two horfes, He is called Quirinus from Quris, or Quiris, fignifying a fpear. This name was afterwards attributed to Romulus, who, with Remus, was esteemed the son of Mars; from whom the Romans were called Quirites. 10. BACCHUs. Bacchus was fon of Jupiter and Semele, and is faid to have been nourished by Jupiter in his thigh on the death of his mother. As foon as he was born, he was committed to the care of Silenus and the Nymphs, to be brought up; and, in reward for their fervice, the Nymphs were received into heaven, and there changed into ftars called the Hyades. Bacchus is a filthy, fhameful, and immodeft god; with a body naked, red face, lafcivious look, fwoln cheeks and belly, difpirited with luxury, and intoxicated with wine. He is crowned with ivy and vine-leaves, and in his hand holds a thyrfus for a fcepter. His chariot is drawn fometimes by tygers and lions, fometimes by lynxes and panthers: a drunken band of Satyrs, Demons, and Nymphs, prefiding over the wine-prefles, fairies of the fountains, and priefteffes, attend him as his guard, and old Silenus, riding on an afs, brings up the rear. Bacchus invented fo many things ufeful to mankind, either in finishing controverfies, building cities, enacting laws, or obtaining victories, that for this reafon he was admitted into the council of the gods, by the joint fuffrages of the whole world. He first planted the vine and drank the juice of the grape; the tillage of the ground, and making honey, are attributed to Bacchus: when he was king of Phoenicia, he inftructed his fubjects in trade and navigation. He promoted fociety among ft men, and brought them over to religion and the knowledge of the gods. He fubdued the Indians, and many other nations, and triumphed in a chariot drawn by tygers. Riding on an elephant, he travelled Egypt, Syria, Phrygia, and all the Eaft, gained many and great victories, and there erected pillars, as Hercules did in the Weft. He had various names: he was called Bromius, from the crackling of fire, and noife of thunder, that was heard when bis mother was killed in the embraces of Jupiter. Bimater, becaufe he had two mothers. Evius, or Evous; for in the war with the Giants, when Jupiter did not fee Bacchus, he thought that he was killed; and cried out, Alas, Son! Or, becaufe when he found that Bacchus had overcome the Giants, by changing himself into a lion, he cried out again, Well done, Son! Evan, from the acclamations of the Bacchantes, who were therefore called Evantes. Eleleus and Eleus, from the acclamation wherewith they animated the foldiers before the fight, or encouraged them in the battle itself. The fame acclamation was also ufed in celebrating the Orgia, which were facrinces offered up to Bacchus. lacchus was alfo one of the names given to Bacchus, from the noife which men when drunk make. Liber, and Liber Pater, from libero, as in Greek they call him 'Expos [Eleutherios] the Deliverer. Alfo Lenæus, and Lyaus; for wine frees the mind from cares, and thofe who have drank plentifully, fpeak too often whatfoever comes into their minds. 11. MINERVA. Minerva, or Pallas, the goddefs of wifdom, war, arts, and fciences, was the daughter of Jupiter; who finding no likelihood of having childien by Juro, it is faid, defired Vulcan to flike his forehead with his hammer; and, after three months, he brought forth Mi nerva. She was called Minerva, as fome fay, from the threats of her ftern and fierce look. Instead of a woman's dress, fhe is arrayed in armour; wears a golden head-piece, and on it glittering crefts; a brazen coat of mail covers her breaft; fhe brandishes a lance in her right hand, and in her left holds a fhield, whereon is painted the grifly head of Medufa, one of the Gorgons, rough and formidable with fnakes. Upon the head of this goddefs there was an olive crown, which is the fymbol of peace; either becaufe war is only made that peace may follow; or because the taught men the ufe of that tree. There were five Minervas; but that one, to whom the rest are referred, was defcended of Jupiter. For he, as fome fay, finding that his wife was barren, through grief ftruck his forehead, and brought forth Minerva. This goddefs, like Vefta and Diana, was a perpetual virgin; and fo great a lover of chaltity, that the deprived Tirefias of his eyes, becaufe he faw her bathing in the fountain of Helicon. Minerva was the inventrefs of divers arts, especially of spinning; and therefore the diftaff is afcribed to her. The Athenians were much devoted to her worship; and the had been adored by that people before Athens itself was built. The Rhodians alfo paid great honour to this goddefs. She was extremely jealous left any one fhould excel her in any art; and near her are placed divers mathematical inftruments, as goddels of arts and fciences. The cock and the owl are facred to her; the first being expreffive of courage and watchfulness, and the latter the emblem of caution and forefight. Minerva reprefents wifdom, that is, ufeful knowledge, joined with difcreet practice; and comprehends the underttanding of the molt noble arts, together with all the virtues, but more especially that of chaflity. Her birth from Jupiter's head, is moft certainly an emblem, that all human arts and sciences are the production of the mind of man, directed by fu perior wisdom. 12. VENUS. Venus is faid to be the daughter of Jupiter and Dione. She is tyled the goddefs of the Graces, Eloquence, Beauty, Neatnefs, and Cheartulnefs; in her countenance many charms abound. She She is clothed with a purple mantle glittering with diamonds, and refulgent with a rofy crown; fhe breathes pleasures, and flows in foftnefs. Two Cupids attend at her fides, the Graces ftand round her, and the lovely Adonis follows after, gently holding up her train. Her chariot is of ivory, finely carved, beautifully painted and gilt, fafhioned in form of a thell, and drawn by fwans, doves, and fwallows, or fometimes by fparrows, as the directs, when the pleases to mount it. She is faid to have fprung from the froth of the fea; and, being laid in a fhell, as it were in a cradle, to have been driven by Zephyrus upon the ifland of Cyprus, where the Hore received her, cherished her in their bofoms, educated, and adorned her; and when the was grown up, they carried her into heaven, and prefented her to the gods, who, being taken with her beauty, all ftrove to marry her; but at last he was betrothed to Vulcan, to whom afterwards fhe was given in wedlock. The firft of Venus's companions was Hymenæus, the god of marriage, and protector of virgins. Maids newly married offered facrifices to him, as alfo to the god defs Concordia. Cupid, the god of love, was the next of Venus's companions. She alfo paflionately loved Adonis, a beautiful youth. The poets fpeak of two Cupids; one of which is an ingenious youth, the fon of Jupiter and Venus, a celestial deity; the other a debauchee, fon of Nox and Erebus, whofe companions are Drunkennefs, Sorrow, Enmity, Contention, and other plagues of that kind. The Graces, called Charities, were three fters, daughters of Jupiter and Eurynome, or Venus.-Thefe will be more particularly mentioned in a future place. Venus was worthipped under various names: Cypris and Cypria, Cytheris and Cytherea, from the iflands of Cyprus and Cythera, whither fhe was firft carried in a fea-fhell. Erycina, from the mountain Eryx, in the island of Sicily; upon which Eneas built a fplendid and famous temple to her honour, because she was his mother. Idalia and Acidalia, from the mountain Idalus, in the ifland Cyprus, and the fountain Acidalius, in Boeotia. Marina, becaufe fhe was born of the fea, and begotten of the froth of the waters. From thence the is called Aphroditis and Anadyomone, that is, emerging out of the waters, as Apelles painted her. She is called Paphia, from the city Paphos in the island of Cyprus, where they facrificed flowers and frankincenfe to her: alfo the Lefbian Queen, from Lesbos, in the fame island. On a dispute at a feaft of the gods, between Juno, Pallas, and Venus, for the pre-eminence of beauty, Jupiter, not being able to bring them to an agreement, referred the decision to Paris, a fhepherd on Mount Ida, with direction that a golden apple fhould be given to the faireft. Paris determined the prize in favour of Venus, and affigned to her the golden reward. Venus, in return for this fingular regard to her, promifed Paris Helena, the fairest beauty in the world. Paris failed into Greece with a great fleet, and brought away Helen, who had been betrothed to Menelaus, king of Sparta; but he being then abfent, Paris carried her away with him to Troy, which brought on the famous fiege of that city, as is related in the Grecian Hiftory. [Thefe were the principal, or firft clafs of Deities in the Heathen Mythology; the Dii Majores, to whom the higheit degree of worship was paid; as it was univerfally imagined, that these deities were more eminently employed in the government of the world, and prefided over the immediate concerns of mankind. Vulcan, Neptune, Pluto, and fome others, are alfo efteemed principal Deities; but mention will be made of thefe as they occur in the feveral orders or ranks of Terrestrial, Marine, and Infernal Deities.] from cloathing, because the earth is cloathed with plants and fruits. She fits, becaufe the earth being immoveable, refts in the lowest part of the world. She carries a drum, because the earth contains the boif terous winds in its bofom. Her head is alfo furrounded with divers flowers and plants, voluntarily weaving themselves into a crown, while animals of every kind play about, and fawn upon her. By reafon the earth is round, Vefta's temple at Rome was built round; and they fay, that her image was orbicular in fome places. It is no wonder that the firft oblations were offered to her, fince all the facrifices fpring from the earth; and the Greeks both began and concluded all facrifices with this goddefs. 3. VULCAN. Vulcan, the hufband of Venus, was fon of Jupiter and Juno (fome fay of Juno only); but, being born deformed, he was caft down from heaven by Jupiter as foon as he was born, and in the fall broke his leg. He was the god of fubterraneous fires, and prefided over metals. He first made his addreffes to Minerva, and was refufed by her: he afterwards married Venus, but that goddefs difregarded him for his deformity. Vulcan made the chariot of the fun, and fupplied Jupiter with thunder: he fixed his forges on Mount Etna, but chiefly in the inland Lemnos, where he worked for the gods, and taught the natives the art of working iron by fire. His forgemen were the Cyclops, who were reprefented as having only one eye, in the middle of their foreheads. Apollo, it is faid, flew them all, for having forged the thunder with which Jupiter ftruck Afculapius, the god of phyfic. The principal temple of Vulcan was on Mount Etna; and he is painted with a hat of blue colour, the fymbol of fire. He was called Mulciber, or Multifer, from his foftening and polifhing iron. 4. JANUS. Janus was the fon of Calus and Hecate. He had a double face and forehead in one and the fame head; hence he was called the two-faced god; and therefore is faid to fee things placed behind his back, as well as before his face. In his right hand he holds a key, and in bis left a rod; and beneath his feet are twelve altars. dicated to him, fome of which had double doors, others four gates; becaufe he was fometimes reprefented with four faces. It was a custom among the Romans, that, in his temple, the confuls were inaugurated, and from thence faid to open the year on the kalends of January, when new laurel was put on the ftatue of the ged. The temple of Janus was held in great veneration by the Romans, and was kept open in the time of war, and fhut in the time of peace; and it is remarkable, that, within the fpace of feven hundred years, this temple was fhut only thrice: once by Numa; afterwards by the confuls Marcus Attilius and Titus Manlius, after a league ftruck up with the Carthagenians; and, laftly, by Auguftus, after the victory of A&tium. 5. LATONA. Latona was the daughter of Phoebe, and Coeus the Titan; whom, for her great beauty, Jupiter loved and deflowered. When Juno perceived her with child, fhe caft her out of heaven to the earth, having firft obliged Terra to fwear, that fhe would not give her any where an habitation to bring forth her young and befides, fhe fent the ferpent Python to perfecute the harlot all over the world. But in vain; for in the island Delos, under a palm or an olive-tree, Latona brought forth Diana and Apollo. 6. DIANA. Diana, goddefs of hunting, was the daughter of Ceres and Jupiter, and fifter of Apollo. She is ufually painted in a hunting habit, with a bow in her hand, a quiver full of arrows hanging down from her fhoulders, and her breast covered with the fkin of a deer: fhe was the goddes of hunting and chastity. She has three different names, and as many offices: in the heavens fhe is called Luna and Phoebe, on the earth Diana, and in hell Hecate. In the heavens the enlightens all things by her rays; on the earth the fubdues all the wild beafts by her bow and darts; and in hell keeps in fubjection the ghofts and fpirits, by her power and authority. Diana was expofed by her mother in the ftreets, and was nourished by fhepherds: for which reafon, fhe was worthipped in the ftreets, and her ftatue ufually fet before the doors of the houses. Many temples were erected to this god. He had feveral temples built and de- defs, of which, that of Ephefus was the |