1000 Mythological Characters Briefly Described (continued 1)
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Ellis, Edward Sylvester
“Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.” Shakespeare.
Herdsmen, see Bubona.
Hermae (Her′mae) were statues of Hermes (Mercury), which were set up in Athens for boundaries, and as direction marks for travelers.
Hermanubis (Her′manu′bis), see Anubis.
Hermathenae (Hermathe′nae) were statues of Mercury and Minerva placed together.
Hermes (Her′mes). A Greek name of the god Mercury.
“Hermes obeys. With golden pinions binds His flying feet and mounts the western winds.” Virgil.
Hermione (Hermi′one), daughter of Mars and Venus, who was turned into a serpent, and allowed to live in the Elysian Fields. There was another Hermione, daughter of Menelaus and Helen; she was betrothed to Orestes, but was carried away by Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles.
Hero (He′ro). A priestess of Venus, with whom Leander was so enamored that he swam across the Hellespont every night to visit her, but at last was drowned; when Hero saw the fate of her lover she threw herself into the sea and was also drowned.
Heroes, see Valhalla.
Hesperides (Hesper′ides). Three daughters of Hesperus, King of Italy. They were appointed to guard the golden apples which Juno gave Jupiter on their wedding day. See Hercules.
Hesperus (Hes′perus), brother of Atlas, was changed into the evening star.
“To the ocean now I fly, And those happy climes that lie Where day never shuts his eye, Upon the broad fields of the sky: There I suck the liquid air, All amidst the gardens fair Of Hesperus and his daughters three, That sing about the golden tree.” Milton.
Hestia (Hes′tia). The Greek name of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth.
Hieroglyphics (Hierogly′phics), see Mercury.
Highways, see Janus.
Hildur (Hil′dur). The Scandinavian Mars.
Hippia (Hip′pia). A surname of Minerva.
Hippius (Hip′pius). A surname of Neptune.
Hippocampus (Hippocam′pus). The name of Neptune’s favorite horse, a fabulous marine animal, half horse and half fish.
Hippocrenides (Hippocre′nides), a name of the Muses, from the fountain of Hippocrene (the horse fountain), which was formed by a kick of the winged horse Pegasus.
Hippolyte (Hippol′yte), queen of the Amazons, daughter of Mars. Her father gave her a famous girdle, which Hercules was required to procure (see Hercules). She was conquered by Hercules, and given by him in marriage to Theseus.
Hippolytus (Hippol′ytus) was the son of Theseus and Hippolyte; he was killed by a fall from a chariot, but was raised to life again by Diana, or, as some say, by Aesculapius.
Hippona (Hippo′na) was a rural divinity, the goddess of horses.
History, see Clio and Saga.
Honey, see Aristaeus and Dryads.
Hope, see Pandora.
Horae (Ho′rae) were the daughters of Sol and Chronis, the goddesses of the seasons.
Horse, see Cyllaros.
Horse Races, see Neptune.
Horses, see Hippona.
Hortensis (Horten′sis), a name of Venus, because she looked after plants and flowers in gardens.
Horus (Ho′rus). The name of two deities, one Sol, the Egyptian day god; the other, the son of Osiris and Isis. See Harpocrates.
Hostilina (Hostil′ina). A rural divinity; goddess of growing corn.
Hunger, see Erisichthon.
Hunting, see Diana.
Huntsmen, see Pan.
See page 62
Hebe
Hyacinthus (Hyacin′thus) was a boy greatly loved by Apollo; but he was accidentally slain by him with a quoit. Apollo caused to spring from his blood the flower Hyacinth.