SECOND DIVISION.

THE INFERIOR GODS AND GODDESSES.

THESE Gods and Goddesses, who were considered of an inferior class, were not admitted to the council of Jupiter. They were, however, believed to possess virtues superior to the ordinary race of men, which entitled them to hold converse with the inhabitants of Olympus, and would advance them, in the course of time, to a seat in heaven. The principal were Saturn, Janus, Momus, Bacchus, Sol, Phaeton, and Cupid; Cybele, Aurora, Bellona, the Graces, the Muses, and Latona.

SATURN.

Although Saturn, whose history we have already given in "the tradition of the Greeks," never ranked among the deities of the first class, he acquired so great a reputation in Latium, where he reigned, that divine honours were paid him. All Italy was called Saturnia, and the festival of the Saturnalia was instituted to commemorate the happy period of his administration, which was denominated the Golden Age; the ancient statues of Saturn had chains, in remembrance of those with which his son loaded him; but he is generally represented under the figure of an old man, armed with a scythe, to imply that he presided over the times and seasons. Under this form he is named Chronos, or Time.

JANUS.

This prince, who so hospitably divided his kingdom with Saturn, was endowed by him,

in gratitude for his kind reception, with extraordinary prudence, a knowledge of future events, and a perpetual remembrance of the past. From this circumstance he was called Bifrons, and is represented with a double face. He presided over the year, and had 12 altars, to show that it was composed of 12 months. January was named after him. Numa Pompilius erected a temple to his honour, which was open in time of war, and shut during peace, on which account he was considered as the God of peace.

SOL.

The adoration of the sun, who is confounded with Apollo, may be considered as the origin of idolatry. He was worshipped by the Egyptians under the name of Osiris, by the Chaldeans under that of Belus, and the Persians, Mythras. He presided over the 12 signs of the

Zodiac, and had the guidance of the chariot of day, whose approach was ushered in by his daughter Aurora, who unlocked the gates of the east, and announced his arrival. A colossal statue of brass was raised to his honour in the island of Rhodes, and was considered one of the seven wonders of the world.

PHAETON.

This ambitious youth derives his origin from the great luminary of day, or Apollo. Epaphus, the son of Jupiter, having disputed the honour of this descent, he complained of it to his Father, who swore by the river Styx (an oath which the Gods never violated), that he would grant him whatever proof he required. Phaeton asked the command of the chariot of the day: this rash request was acceded to; but being unable to restrain the impetuosity of the steeds, he in

volved heaven and earth in conflagration, and, as a punishment, was precipitated by Jupiter into the river Po. His sisters, lamenting his death, were turned, by pity of the Gods, into poplartrees, and their tears into drops of amber. His brother Cygnus died of grief, and was changed into a swan.

BACCHUS.

Bacchus was the son of Jupiter and Semele. He taught the cultivation of the vine, and invented commerce and navigation: he is likewise said to have conquered India and all the east. He is crowned with ivy or vine leaves, and carries a Thyrsis or javelin. He is represented seated in a chariot, which is sometimes drawn by tigers and lions, and sometimes by lynxes and panthers, attended by drunken bands of satyrs, fauns and nymphs, who are called