1000 Mythological Characters Briefly Described (continued 2)
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Ellis, Edward Sylvester
See page 142
Venus de Milo
Uranus (Ura′nus), literally, heaven. Son and husband of Gaea, the Earth, and father of Chronos (Time) and the Titans. The Greek name of Coelus; his descendants are sometimes called Uranides.
Urgus (Ur′gus). A name of Pluto, signifying the Impeller.
Ursa Major (Ur′sa Ma′jor), see Calisto.
Ursa Minor (Ur′sa Mi′nor), see Arcas.
Usurers, see Jani.
Utgard Loki (Ut′gard Lo′ki). In Scandinavian mythology the king of the giants.
Valhalla (Valhal′la). The Scandinavian temple of immortality, inhabited by the souls of heroes slain in battle.
Vali (Va′li). The Scandinavian god of archery.
Valleys, see Vallonia.
Vallonia (Vallo′nia). The goddess of valleys.
Varuna (Varu′na). The Hindoo Neptune—generally represented as a white man riding on a sea-horse, carrying a club in one hand and a rope or noose to bind offenders in the other.
Vedius (Ve′dius). The same as Vejovis.
Vejovis (Vejo′vis). “Little Jupiter”—a name given to Jupiter when he appeared without his thunder.
Vejupiter (Veju′piter), see Vejovis.
Vengeance, see Nemesis.
Venus (Ve′nus). The goddess of beauty, and mother of love. She is said to have sprung from the foam of the sea, and was immediately carried to the abode of the gods on Olympus, where they were all charmed with her extreme beauty. Vulcan married her, but she permitted the attentions of others of the gods, and notably of Mars, their offspring being Hermione, Cupid, and Anteros. After this she left Olympus and fell in love with Adonis, a beautiful youth, who was killed when hunting a wild boar. Venus indirectly caused the Trojan War, for, when the goddess of discord had thrown among the goddesses the golden apple inscribed “To the fairest,” Paris adjudged the apple to Venus, and she inspired him with love for Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. Paris carried off Helen to Troy, and the Greeks pursued and besieged the city (see Helen, Paris, and Troy). Venus is mentioned by the classic poets under the names of Aphrodite, Cypria, Urania, Astarte, Paphia, Cythera, and the laughter-loving goddess. Her favorite residence was at Cyprus. Incense alone was usually offered on her altars, but if there was a victim it was a white goat. Her attendants were Cupids and the Graces.
Verticordia (Verti′cor′dia). A Roman name of Venus, signifying the power of love to change the hard-hearted. The corresponding Greek name was Epistrophia.
Vertumnus (Vertum′nus) (“the Turner,” “Changer”). God of spring, or, as some mythologists say, of the seasons; the husband of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and orchards.
Vesta (Ves′ta), daughter of Saturn and Cybele, was the goddess of the hearth and its fire. She had under her special care and protection a famous statue of Minerva, before which the Vestal Virgins kept a fire or lamp constantly burning.
Vestal Virgins (Ves′tal Vir′gins) were the priestesses of Vesta, whose chief duty was to see that the sacred fire in the temple of Vesta was not extinguished. They were always selected from the best families, and were under a solemn vow of chastity, and compelled to live perfectly pure lives.
Vialis (Via′lis). A name of Mercury, because he presided over the making of roads.
Victory (Vic′tory). A goddess, the daughter of Styx and Acheron, generally represented as flying in the air holding out a wreath of laurel. Her Greek name is Nike (Nicē). See Nicephorus.
Vidor. A Scandinavian god, who could walk on the water and in the air. The god of silence (corresponding with the classic Harpocrates).
Virtue. A goddess worshiped by most of the ancients under various names. The way to the temple of honor was through the temple of virtue.
Virtuous Women, see Juno.
Vishnu (Vish′nu). The Preserver, the principal Hindoo goddess.
Volupia (Volu′pia), see Angeronia.
Vulcan (Vul′can), the god of fire, was the son of Jupiter and Juno. He offended Jupiter, and was by him thrown out of heaven; he was nine days falling, and at last dropped into Lemnos with such violence that he broke his leg, and was lame forever after. Vulcan was married to Venus. He is supposed to have formed Pandora out of clay. His servants were the Cyclopes. He was the patron deity of blacksmiths, and as the smelter or softener of metal bears also the name of Mulciber.
“Men call him Mulciber; and how he fell From heaven, they fabled, thrown by angry Jove, Sheer o’er the crystal battlements.” Milton.
Vulcanalia (Vulcān-al′ia) were Roman festivals in honor of Vulcan, at which the victims (certain fish and animals) were thrown into the fire and burned to death.
War, see Bellona, Chemos, Mars.
Water, see Canopus.
Water-Nymphs, see Doris.
Wax Tablets, see Calliope.
Wealth, see Cuvera.
Weaving, see Ergatis.
Weeding, see Runcina.
Weights and Measures, see Mercury.