QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. Who were Janus, Opis, Nascio, and Cunia? What was the office of Levana? What was the business of Carna, and what were the sacrifices offered to her? Who was the goddess Nundina, and why was she so called? What is the office of Juventus ? What are the duties of Horta and Quies? Who was Vitula? Who were Sentia and Angerona ? Why were Stata and Laverna worshipped? From what did Volumnus and Volumna derive their names? What is said of Aius Locntius? What parts of the body were sacred to the gods? Who was the chief of the funeral deities? PART VI. OF THE DII INDIGETES AND ADSCRIPTITII; OR, THE SEMI-DEI AND HEROES. CHAPTER I. HERCULES. HIS NAMES AND LABOURS. In the last division of the Fabulous Pantheon, are described the images of the Indigetes, or Semi-Dei, and the Heroes. The Semi-Dei, Hubo [Hemitheoi,] or DemiGods, were those who had human bodies, sacred minds, and celestial souls: they were born in this world for the good and safety of mankind. Labeo, in St. Augustine, distinguishes them from the Heroes. He thinks that Heros was one of Juno's sons, and that the name Heros is derived from Hpa [Hera,] Juno's name in the Greek language. Others think that the word comes from pa [era,] [era,]" the earth;" because men owe their original to it. Others again think it comes from epws [eros,] "love;" for heroes are the most illustrious product of love, and are themselves, as Hierocles observes, full of love. But others think that this name is derived from spew [ereo,] "to plead," and is given them because heroes are very elegant, and most powerful, and skilful in rhetoric. Or, lastly, it is thought that the word comes from aperr [arete,]" virtue ;" for heroes are endued with many virtues. But let us speak particularly concerning some of these heroes, of whom the most famous was Hercules. There were many heroes called Hercules, but (as * Cicero says) the famous actions of them all are ascribed to him who was the son of Japiter, by Alcmena, the wife of Amphytrio, king of Thebes. When Amphytrio was absent, Jupiter put on his shape and dress, and came to Alcmena; who, thinking that her husband was returned, entertained the deceitful god, and had by him a son, whose limbs were extraordinary and wonderfully large, bis constitution robust, and his body full of vigor. Before this, Alcmena had conceived a son by her husband. This son and Hercules were twins; his name was Iphiclus; he was wonderfully swift in running: "Nam super extremas segetum currebat aristas, Orph. in Hymn. He over standing corn would run, and ne'er When Juno had discovered the conduct of Jupiter, she began to hate Hercules so violently, that she endeavoured to ruin him. First, she obtained an edict from Jupiter, which she endeavoured to turn to his utter destruction; for the wife of Sthenelus, king of Mycena, was pregnant with Euristheus, at the same time when Alcmena was with Hercules. Jupiter ordained, that whichever of the two children was born first, he should be superior to the other: Juno accelerated Euristheus' birth, so that he was born after seven months, and came into the world before Hercules. Again, she sent two vipers to destroy him when he lay crying in the cradle: but it De Nat. Deor. 2. |