10. Other minor deities Summary 狄俄尼索斯( Dionysus)与罗马人信奉的巴克斯( Bacchus)是同一位神祇, 他是古代希腊人信奉的葡萄酒之神,他不仅握有葡萄酒醉人的力量,还以布施欢 乐与慈爱在当时成为极有感召力的神,他推动了古代社会的文明并确立了法则, 维护着世界的和平。此外,他还护佑着希腊的农业与戏剧文化。在奧林匹亚圣山 的传说中他是宙斯与赛墨勒之子 珀耳塞福涅( Persephone)是希腊神话中冥界的王后,她是德墨忒尔( Demeter) 和宙斯的女儿,被哈迪斯( Hades)绑架到冥界与哈迪斯结婚,成为冥后 奥林匹斯山的众神中,最叫人无可奈何的,就是小爱神丘比特。丘比特一直 被人们喻为爱情的象征,相传他有头非常美丽的金发,雪白娇嫩的脸蛋,还有 对可以自由自在飞翔的翅膀,丘比特和他母亲爱神阿芙洛狄忒一起主管神、人的 爱情和婚姻。不过他与母亲阿芙洛狄忒不同,阿芙洛狄忒代表的是理性的爱,而 丘比特代表的是疯狂的爱。丘比特的图片多为蒙眼,以寓意 Love is blind。 除了高高在上的奥林匹斯众神之外,还有寓于世界万物中的这些小神小仙, 可谓是万物皆有灵性( animism),这便使得这个世界拥挤不堪但又妙趣横生 Selected Reading Dionysus (Dionysus) Bacchus was the son of Jupiter and Semele. As is known to all Semele was burned to ashes through Hera's cunning trap and Hermes arrived just in time to take from within her the baby bacchus Zeus took the infant Bacchus and gave him in charge to the nymphs of Mount Nysa, who nourished his infancy and childhood x4 and for their care were rewarded by Jupiter by being placed, as the hyades, among the stars. It was on Mount Nysa that dionysus invented wine for which he is chiefly celebrated. When he grew to manhood Hera recognized him as Zeus's son despite the effeminacy to which his education had reduced him and drove him mad. He went wandering all over the world, accompanied by his tutor Silenus and a wild army of Satyrs'and Maenads. In Phrygia the goddess rhea cured him and taught him her religious rites, and he set out on a progress through Asia, teaching the people the cultivation of the wine. The most famous part of his wanderings is India, which is said to have lasted several years. Returning in triumph, he undertook to introduce his worship into Greece, but was opposed by some princes, who dreaded its introduction on account of the disorders and madness it brought with it As he approached his native city Thebes, Pentheus the king, who had no respect
41 10. Other Minor Deities Summary 狄俄尼索斯（Dionysus） 与罗马人信奉的巴克斯（Bacchus）是同一位神祇， 他是古代希腊人信奉的葡萄酒之神，他不仅握有葡萄酒醉人的力量，还以布施欢 乐与慈爱在当时成为极有感召力的神，他推动了古代社会的文明并确立了法则， 维护着世界的和平。此外，他还护佑着希腊的农业与戏剧文化。在奥林匹亚圣山 的传说中他是宙斯与赛墨勒之子。 珀耳塞福涅（Persephone）是希腊神话中冥界的王后，她是德墨忒尔（Demeter） 和宙斯的女儿，被哈迪斯（Hades）绑架到冥界与哈迪斯结婚，成为冥后。 奥林匹斯山的众神中，最叫人无可奈何的，就是小爱神丘比特。丘比特一直 被人们喻为爱情的象征，相传他有头非常美丽的金发，雪白娇嫩的脸蛋，还有一 对可以自由自在飞翔的翅膀，丘比特和他母亲爱神阿芙洛狄忒一起主管神、人的 爱情和婚姻。不过他与母亲阿芙洛狄忒不同，阿芙洛狄忒代表的是理性的爱，而 丘比特代表的是疯狂的爱。丘比特的图片多为蒙眼，以寓意 Love is blind。 除了高高在上的奥林匹斯众神之外，还有寓于世界万物中的这些小神小仙， 可谓是万物皆有灵性(animism)，这便使得这个世界拥挤不堪但又妙趣横生。 Selected Reading Dionysus (Dionysus) Bacchus was the son of Jupiter and Semele. As is known to all, Semele was burned to ashes through Hera’s cunning trap and Hermes arrived just in time to take from within her the baby Bacchus. Zeus took the infant Bacchus and gave him in charge to the nymphs of Mount Nysa, who nourished1 his infancy and childhood, and for their care were rewarded by Jupiter by being placed, as the Hyades2 , among the stars. It was on Mount Nysa that Dionysus invented wine, for which he is chiefly celebrated. When he grew to manhood Hera recognized him as Zeus’s son, despite the effeminacy3 to which his education had reduced him, and drove him mad. He went wandering all over the world, accompanied by his tutor Silenus4 and a wild army of Satyrs5 and Maenads6 . In Phrygia the goddess Rhea cured him and taught him her religious rites, and he set out on a progress through Asia, teaching the people the cultivation of the wine. The most famous part of his wanderings is his expedition to India, which is said to have lasted several years. Returning in triumph7 , he undertook to introduce his worship into Greece, but was opposed by some princes, who dreaded its introduction on account of8 the disorders and madness it brought with it. As he approached his native city Thebes, Pentheus the king, who had no respect
for the new worship, forbade its rites to be performed. But when it was known that Bacchus was advancing, men and women, but chiefly the latter, young and old, poured forth to meet him and phal march It was in vain Pentheus remonstrated, commanded and threatened. "Go, said he to his attendants. "seize this vagabond o leader of the and bring him to me i will soon make him confess his false claim of heavenly parentage and renounce his counterfeit worship. It was in vain his nearest friends and wisest counselors remonstrated and begged him not to oppose the god. Their remonstrance only made him more violent But now the attendants returned whom he had d Bacchus. They had been driven away by the Bacchanals, but had prisoner, whom, with his hands tied behind him, they brought before the king. Pentheus, beholding him with wrathful countenance. said. "Fellow! you shall speedily be put to death that your fate may be a warning to others but though I grudge the delay of your punishment, speak, tell us who you are, and what are these new rites you celebrate The prisoner, unperturbed, responded, " My name is Acetes; my country is eople, who had no fields or flocks to lea they left me their fishing rods and nets and their fisherman s trade. This I followed for some time, till growing weary of remaining in one place, I learned the pilot's art and by the touched at the island of Dia and went ashore. Next morning i sent the men for fresh water,and myself mounted the hill to observe the wind, when my men returned bringing with them a prize, as they thought, a boy of delicate appearance, whom they had found asleep. They judged he was a noble youth, perhaps a kings son, and they might get a liberal ransom for him. I observed his dress, his walk, his face. There was something in them which I felt sure was more than mortal. I said to my men, What god there is concealed in that form I know not, but some one there certainly Pardon us, gentle deity, for the violence we have done you, and give success to our undertakings. Dictys, one of my best hands for climbing the mast and coming down by the ropes, and Melanthus, my steersman, and Epopeus, the leader of the sailor's cry one and all exclaimed, "Spare your prayers for us. So blind is the lust of gain! When they proceeded to put him on board I resisted them. This ship shall not be profaned by such impiety, said I. But Lycabas, a turbulent fellow, seized me by the throat and attempted to throw me overboard, and I scarcely saved myself by clinging to the ropes. The rest approved the deed
42 for the new worship, forbade its rites to be performed. But when it was known that Bacchus was advancing, men and women，but chiefly the latter, young and old, poured forth to meet him and to join his triumphal march. It was in vain Pentheus remonstrated9 ，commanded and threatened. “Go，” said he to his attendants, “seize this vagabond10 leader of the and bring him to me. I will soon make him confess his false claim of heavenly parentage and renounce11 his counterfeit12 worship.” It was in vain his nearest friends and wisest counselors remonstrated and begged him not to oppose the god. Their remonstrance only made him more violent. But now the attendants returned whom he had dispatched to seize Bacchus. They had been driven away by the Bacchanals13, but had succeeded in taking one of them prisoner, whom，with his hands tied behind him, they brought before the king. Pentheus, beholding him with wrathful countenance, said, “Fellow! you shall speedily be put to death, that your fate may be a warning to others; but though I grudge14 the delay of your punishment, speak, tell us who you are, and what are these new rites you celebrate.” The prisoner, unperturbed15, responded, “My name is Acetes; my country is Maeonia; my parents were poor people, who had no fields or flocks to leave me, but they left me their fishing rods and nets and their fisherman’s trade. This I followed for some time, till growing weary of remaining in one place, I learned the pilot’s art and how to guide my course by the stars. It happened as I was sailing for Delos we touched at the island of Dia and went ashore. Next morning I sent the men for fresh water, and myself mounted the hill to observe the wind, when my men returned bringing with them a prize, as they thought, a boy of delicate appearance, whom they had found asleep. They judged he was a noble youth, perhaps a king’s son, and they might get a liberal ransom16 for him. I observed his dress, his walk, his face. There was something in them which I felt sure was more than mortal. I said to my men, ‘What god there is concealed in that form I know not, but some one there certainly is. Pardon us，gentle deity, for the violence we have done you, and give success to our undertakings.’ Dictys, one of my best hands for climbing the mast and coming down by the ropes, and Melanthus, my steersman, and Epopeus, the leader of the sailor’s cry, one and all exclaimed, ‘Spare17 your prayers for us.’ So blind is the lust of gain！When they proceeded to put him on board I resisted them. ‘This ship shall not be profaned by such impiety,’ said I. But Lycabas, a turbulent18 fellow, seized me by the throat and attempted to throw me overboard, and I scarcely saved myself by clinging to the ropes. The rest approved the deed
Then Bacchus(for it was indeed he), as if shaking off his drowsiness exclaimed, What are you doing with me? What is this fighting about? Who brought e here? Where are you going to carry me? One of them replied, 'Fear nothing; tell us where you wish to go and we will take you there. "Naxos is my home, said Bacchus, take me there and you shall be well rewarded. They promised so to do, and told me to pilot the ship to Naxos. Naxos lay to the right, and I was trimming the sails to carry us there, when some by signs and others by whispers signified to me their will that I should sail in the opposite direction, and take the boy to egypt to sell him for a slave. I was confounded and said, ' Let someone else pilot the ship; withdrawing myself from their wickedness. They cursed me, and one of them, exclaiming, ' Don't flatter yourself that we depend on you for our safety, took my place as pilot, and bore away from Naxos Then the god, pretending that he had just become aware of their treachery 82 looked out over the sea and said in a voice of weeping,"Sailors, these are not the shores you promised to take me to; yonder island is not my home. What have I done that you should treat me so? It is small glory you will in by cheat oy. ' I wept to hear him, but the crew laughed at both of us, and sped the vessel fast over the sea. All at mid as fast as if it was fixed on the ground. The men,astonished, pulled at their oars, and read sail, trying to make www.theory the aid of both, but all in vain Ivy twined round the oars and hindered- their motion and clung to the sails, with heavy clusters of berries. A vine, laden with grapes, ran up the mast, and along the sides of the vessel. The sound of flutes was heard and the odor of fragrant wine spread all around. The god himself had a chaplet of vine leaves and bore in his hand a spear wreathed with ivy. Tigers crouched at his feet, and forms of lynxes and spotted panthers played around him. The men were seized with terror or madness; some leaped overboard; others preparing to do the same beheld their companions in the water undergoing a change, their bodies becoming flattened and ending in a crooked tail. One exclaimed, What miracle is this! And as he spoke his mouth widened, his nostrils expanded, and scales covered all his body. Another endeavoring to pull the oar, felt his hands shrink up and presently to be no longer ands but fins; another, trying to raise his arms to a rope, found he had no arms, and curving his mutilated body, jumped into the sea. What had been his legs became the wo ends of a crescent-shaped tail. The whole crew became dolphins and swam about the ship, now upon the surface, now under it, scattering the spray, and spouting the water from their broad nostrils. Of twenty men I alone was left. Trembling with
43 “Then Bacchus(for it was indeed he), as if shaking off his drowsiness19, exclaimed, ‘What are you doing with me? What is this fighting about? Who brought me here? Where are you going to carry me?’ One of them replied, ‘Fear nothing; tell us where you wish to go and we will take you there.’ ‘Naxos is my home,’ said Bacchus; ‘take me there and you shall be well rewarded.’ They promised so to do, and told me to pilot the ship to Naxos. Naxos lay to the right, and I was trimming the sails to carry us there, when some by signs and others by whispers signified to me their will that I should sail in the opposite direction, and take the boy to Egypt to sell him for a slave. I was confounded20 and said, ‘Let someone else pilot the ship;’ withdrawing myself from their wickedness. They cursed me, and one of them, exclaiming, ‘Don’t flatter yourself that we depend on you for our safety;’ took my place as pilot, and bore away from21 Naxos. “Then the god, pretending that he had just become aware of their treachery22, looked out over the sea and said in a voice of weeping, ‘Sailors, these are not the shores you promised to take me to; yonder island is not my home. What have I done that you should treat me so? It is small glory you will gain by cheating a poor boy.’ I wept to hear him, but the crew laughed at both of us, and sped the vessel fast over the sea. All at once——strange as it may seem, it is true,——the vessel stopped, in the mid sea, as fast as if it was fixed on the ground. The men, astonished, pulled at their oars, and spread more sail, trying to make progress by the aid of both, but all in vain. Ivy twined round the oars and hindered23 their motion, and clung to the sails, with heavy clusters of berries. A vine, laden with24 grapes, ran up the mast, and along the sides of the vessel. The sound of flutes was heard and the odor of fragrant wine spread all around. The god himself had a chaplet of vine leaves, and bore in his hand a spear wreathed with ivy. Tigers crouched at his feet, and forms of lynxes25 and spotted panthers played around him. The men were seized with terror or madness; some leaped overboard; others preparing to do the same beheld their companions in the water undergoing a change, their bodies becoming flattened and ending in a crooked tail. One exclaimed, ‘What miracle is this!’ And as he spoke his mouth widened, his nostrils expanded, and scales covered all his body. Another, endeavoring to pull the oar, felt his hands shrink up and presently to be no longer hands but fins; another, trying to raise his arms to a rope, found he had no arms, and curving his mutilated26 body, jumped into the sea. What had been his legs became the two ends of a crescent-shaped tail. The whole crew became dolphins and swam about the ship, now upon the surface, now under it, scattering27 the spray28, and spouting the water from their broad nostrils. Of twenty men I alone was left. Trembling with
fear, the god cheered me. ' Fear not, said he; steer towards Naxos. I obeyed, and when we arrived there. i kindled- the altars and celebrated the sacred rites of Bacchus Pentheus here exclaimed,"We have wasted time enough on this silly story him away and have him executed without delay. Acetes was led away by attendants and shut up fast in prison; but while they were getting ready the nstruments of execution the prison doors came open of their own and the chains fell from his limbs, and when they looked for him he was nowhere to be found Pentheus would take no warning, but instead of sending others, determined to himself to the scene of the solemnities the mountain citheron was all alive with worshippers, and the cries of the Bacchanals resounded on every side. The noise roused the anger of Pentheus as the sound of a trumpet does the fire of a war-horse He penetrated through the wood and reached an open space where the chief scene of the orgies"met his eyes. At the same moment the women saw him; and first among them his own mother, Agave, blinded by the god, cried out, See there the wild boar the hugest monster that prowls"in these woods! Come on, sisters! I will be the first to strike the wild boar. The whole band rushed upon him, and while he now talks less arrogantly, now excuses himself, and now confesses his crime and implores pardon, hey press upon him and wound him. In vain he cries to his aunts to protect him from his mother. Autonoe seized one arm. Ino the other and between them he was torn to pieces, while his mother shouted, Victory! Victory! We have done it; the glory is ours/" So the worship of Bacchus was established in Greece Persephone When Jupiter and his brothers had defeated the Titans and banished them to Tartarus, a new enemy rose up against the gods. They were the giants Typhon Briareus. Enceladus and others Some of them had a hundred arms. others breathed out fire. They were finally subdued and buried alive under Mount Aetna, where they still sometimes struggle to get loose, and shake the whole island with earthquakes. Their breath comes up through the mountain, and is what men call the eruption of the volcano The fall of these monsters shook the earth so that pluto was alarmed, and feared that his kingdom would be laid open to the light of day. Under this apprehension, he mounted his chariot, drawn by black horses, and took a circuit of inspection to satisfy himself of the extent of the damage. While he was thus engaged, Venus, who was sitting on Mount Eryx playing with her boy Cupid, espiedhim, and said, "My son, take your darts with which you conquer all, even Jove himself, and send one into the breast of yonder dark monarch, who rules the realm of Tartarus. Why should he alone escape? Seize the opportunity to extend your empire and mine. Do you not see that even in heaven some despise our power? Minerva the wise, and Diana the huntress, defy us, and there is that daughter of Ceres, who threatens to follow their
44 fear, the god cheered me. ‘Fear not,’ said he; ‘steer towards Naxos.’ I obeyed, and when we arrived there, I kindled29 the altars and celebrated the sacred rites of Bacchus.” Pentheus here exclaimed, “We have wasted time enough on this silly story. Take him away and have him executed without delay.” Acetes was led away by the attendants and shut up fast in prison; but while they were getting ready the instruments of execution the prison doors came open of their own and the chains fell from his limbs, and when they looked for him he was nowhere to be found. Pentheus would take no warning, but instead of sending others, determined to go himself to the scene of the solemnities30. The mountain Citheron was all alive with worshippers, and the cries of the Bacchanals resounded on every side. The noise roused the anger of Pentheus as the sound of a trumpet does the fire of a war- horse. He penetrated through the wood and reached an open space where the chief scene of the orgies31 met his eyes. At the same moment the women saw him; and first among them his own mother, Agave, blinded by the god, cried out, “See there the wild boar, the hugest monster that prowls32 in these woods! Come on, sisters! I will be the first to strike the wild boar.” The whole band rushed upon him, and while he now talks less arrogantly, now excuses himself，and now confesses his crime and implores pardon, they press upon him and wound him. In vain he cries to his aunts to protect him from his mother. Autonoe seized one arm, Ino the other, and between them he was torn to pieces, while his mother shouted, “Victory! Victory! We have done it; the glory is ours!” So the worship of Bacchus was established in Greece. Persephone When Jupiter and his brothers had defeated the Titans and banished them to Tartarus, a new enemy rose up against the gods. They were the giants Typhon33, Briareus34, Enceladus35, and others. Some of them had a hundred arms, others breathed out fire. They were finally subdued36 and buried alive under Mount Aetna, where they still sometimes struggle to get loose, and shake the whole island with earthquakes. Their breath comes up through the mountain, and is what men call the eruption of the volcano. The fall of these monsters shook the earth, so that Pluto was alarmed, and feared that his kingdom would be laid open to the light of day. Under this apprehension, he mounted his chariot, drawn by black horses, and took a circuit37 of inspection to satisfy himself of the extent of the damage. While he was thus engaged38, Venus, who was sitting on Mount Eryx playing with her boy Cupid, espied39 him, and said, “My son, take your darts with which you conquer all, even Jove himself, and send one into the breast of yonder dark monarch, who rules the realm of Tartarus. Why should he alone escape? Seize the opportunity to extend your empire and mine. Do you not see that even in heaven some despise40 our power? Minerva the wise, and Diana the huntress, defy us; and there is that daughter of Ceres, who threatens to follow their
example. Now do you, if you have any regard for your own interest or mine, join these two in one. The boy unbound his quiver, and selected his sharpest and truest arrow, then straining the bow against his knee, he attached the string, and, having made ready, shot the arrow right into the heart of Pluto In the vale of enna there is a lake embowered-* in woods. which screen it from the fervid* rays of the sun, while the moist ground is covered with flowers and Spring reigns perpetual. Here Proserpine was playing with her companions, gathering lilies and violets, and filling her basket and her apron with them when pluto saw her loved her. and for help her mother and companions and when in her fright she dropped the corners of her apron and let the flowers fall, childlike she felt the loss of them as an addition to her grief. The ravisher urged onhis steeds calling them each by name, and throwing loose over their heads and necks his iron-colored reins. When he reached the River Cyane, and it opposed his passage, he struck the river-bank with his trident, and the earth opened and gave him a passage to Ceres sought her daughter all the world over. Bright-haired aurora when she came forth in the morning, and Hesperus when he led out the stars in the evening, found her still busy in the search. But it was all unavailing#6. At length, weary and Id nights in the ir. under the sunlight and moonlight and falling showers. It was where now stands the city of Eleusis, then the home of an old man named Celeus. He was out in the field, gathering acorns and blackberries, and sticks for his fire. His little girl was driving home their two goats, and as she passed the goddess, who appeared in the guise of an old woman, she said to her, "Mother, and the name was sweet to the ears of Ceres,"why do you sit here alone upon the rocks? The old man also stopped though his load was heavy and begged her to come into his cottage such as it was#? She declined, and he urged her. " Go in peace, she replied, and be happy in your daughter; I have lost mine. As she spoke, tears-or something like tears, for the gods never weep--fell down her cheeks upon her bosom. The compassionate old man and his child wept with her. Then said he, Come with us, and despise not our humble roof, so may your daughter be restored to you in safety. ""Lead on, "said she I cannot resist that appeal! So she rose from the stone and went with them. As they walked he told her that his only son, a little boy, lay very sick, feverish, and sleepless She stoopedand gathered some poppies. As they entered the cottage, they found all in great distress, for the boy seemed past hope of recovery. Metanira, his mother received her kindly, and the goddess stooped and kissed the lips of the sick child Instantly the paleness left his face, and healthy vigor returned to his body. The whole
45 example. Now do you, if you have any regard for your own interest or mine, join these two in one.” The boy unbound his quiver, and selected his sharpest and truest arrow; then straining the bow against his knee, he attached the string, and, having made ready, shot the arrow right into the heart of Pluto. In the vale of Enna there is a lake embowered41 in woods, which screen it from the fervid42 rays of the sun, while the moist ground is covered with flowers, and Spring reigns perpetual. Here Proserpine was playing with her companions, gathering lilies and violets, and filling her basket and her apron with them, when Pluto saw her, loved her, and carried her off. She screamed for help to her mother and companions; and when in her fright she dropped the corners of her apron and let the flowers fall, childlike she felt the loss of them as an addition to her grief. The ravisher urged on43 his steeds, calling them each by name, and throwing loose over their heads and necks his iron-colored reins. When he reached the River Cyane, and it opposed his passage, he struck the river-bank with his trident, and the earth opened and gave him a passage to Tartarus. Ceres sought her daughter all the world over. Bright-haired Aurora44, when she came forth in the morning, and Hesperus45 when he led out the stars in the evening, found her still busy in the search. But it was all unavailing46. At length, weary and sad, she sat down upon a stone, and continued sitting nine days and nights, in the open air, under the sunlight and moonlight and falling showers. It was where now stands the city of Eleusis, then the home of an old man named Celeus. He was out in the field, gathering acorns and blackberries, and sticks for his fire. His little girl was driving home their two goats, and as she passed the goddess, who appeared in the guise of an old woman, she said to her, “Mother,”——and the name was sweet to the ears of Ceres,—— “why do you sit here alone upon the rocks?” The old man also stopped, though his load was heavy, and begged her to come into his cottage, such as it was47. She declined, and he urged her. “Go in peace,” she replied, “and be happy in your daughter; I have lost mine.” As she spoke, tears——or something like tears, for the gods never weep——fell down her cheeks upon her bosom. The compassionate48 old man and his child wept with her. Then said he, “Come with us, and despise not our humble roof; so may your daughter be restored to you in safety.” “Lead on,” said she, “I cannot resist that appeal!” So she rose from the stone and went with them. As they walked he told her that his only son, a little boy, lay very sick, feverish, and sleepless. She stooped49 and gathered some poppies. As they entered the cottage, they found all in great distress, for the boy seemed past hope of recovery. Metanira, his mother, received her kindly, and the goddess stooped and kissed the lips of the sick child. Instantly the paleness left his face, and healthy vigor returned to his body. The whole