 Myths and Legends of All Nations Myths and Legends of All Nations By Logan Marshall Preface The Myths and Legends here gathered together have appealed and will continue to appeal to every age. Nowhere in the realm of fiction are there stories to compare with those which took farm centuries ago when the race was in its childhood. Stories so intimately connected with the life and history and religion of the great peoples of antiquity that they have become an integral part of our own civilization. A heritage of wealth to every child that is born into this world. The historic basis of the tale is slight, yet who can think of the Greeks without remembering the story of Troy, or of Rome without a backward glance at Aeneas, fabled founder of the race and hero of Virgil's world-famous Latin epic. Any understanding of German civilization would be incomplete without knowledge of the mythical prince Seigfried, hero of early literature of the Teutonic people, finally immortalised in the 19th century through the musical dramas of Wagner. Any understanding of English civilization will be similarly incomplete without the semi-historic figure of King Arthur, glorified through the accumulated legends of the Middle Ages and made to live again in the melodic idols of the great Victorian Lorette, and so one might go on. In many ways the mythology and folklore of a country are a truer index to the life of its people than any of the pages of actual history. But through these channels the imagination and the heart speak. All the chronicles of rulers and governing bodies are as dust in comparison. Today we read and wonder, but the child, who in his brief lifetime must live over in part at least the history of the whole race, delights in the myths and legends which made his ancestors admire our tremble. They are naturally not so real to him as they were to his forefathers, yet they open up a rich and gorgeous wonderland, without excursions into which every child must grow up the poor in mind and spirit. To the children of America, wherever they may be, this book is dedicated. It is sure to bring enjoyment because its story is after the test of time. End of Preface Chapter 1 of the Myths and Legends of All Nations This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Myths and Legends of All Nations by Logan Marshall Chapter 1 Prometheus, the Friend of Man Many, many centuries ago there lived two brothers. Prometheus, or forethoughts, and Epimetheus, or afterthoughts. They were the sons of those titans who had fought against Jupiter and had been sent in chains to the great prison house of the lower world, for some reason, had escaped punishment. Prometheus, however, did not care for idle life among the gods on Mount Olympus. Instead he preferred to spend his time on the earth, helping men to find easier and better ways of living. For the children of earth were not happy as they had been in the golden days when Saturn ruled. Indeed they were very poor and wretched and cold, without fire, without food, and with no shelter but miserable caves. With fire they could at least warm their bodies and cook their food, Prometheus thought, and later they could make tools and build houses for themselves and enjoy some of the comforts of the gods. So Prometheus went to Jupiter and asked that he might be permitted to carry fire to the earth. But Jupiter shook his head in wrath. Fire indeed, he exclaimed, if men had fire they would soon be as strong and wise as we who dwell on Olympus. Never will I give my consent. Prometheus made no reply, but he didn't give up his idea of helping men. Some other way must be found, he thought. Then one day, as he was walking among some reeds, he broke off one, and seeing that its hollow stalk was full of the dry soft pith exclaimed, at last in this I can carry fire and the children of men shall have the great gift in spite of Jupiter. Immediately, taking a long stalk in his hands, he set out for the dwelling of the sun in the far east. He reached there in the early morning, just as Apollo's chariot was about to begin its journey across the sky. Lighting his reed he hurried back, carefully guarding the precious spark that was hidden in the hollow stalk. Then he showed men how to build fires for themselves, and it was not long before they began to do all the wonderful things of which Prometheus had dreamed. They learned to cook and to domesticate animals, and to till the fields and to mine precious metals and melt them into tools and weapons. And they came out of their dark and gloomy caves and built for themselves beautiful houses of wood and stone. And instead of being sad and unhappy, they began to laugh and sing, Behold, the age of gold has come again, they said. But Jupiter was not so happy. He saw that men were gaining daily power, and their very prosperity made him angry. That young Titan, he cried out, when he heard what Prometheus had done, I will punish him! But before punishing Prometheus, he decided to vex the children of men, so he gave a lump of clay to his blacksmith, Vulcan, and told him to mould it into the form of a woman. When the work was done, he carried it to Olympus. Jupiter called the other gods together, bidding them give her each a gift. One bestowed upon her beauty, another kindness, another skill, another curiosity, and so on. Jupiter himself gave her the gift of life, and they named her Pandora, which means all gifted. Then Mercury, the messenger of the gods, took Pandora and let her down the mountainside to the place where Prometheus and his brother were living. Epimetheus, here is a beautiful woman that Jupiter has sent to be your wife, he said. Epimetheus was delighted and soon loved Pandora very deeply because of her beauty and her goodness. Now Pandora had brought with her a gift from Jupiter, a golden casket. Athena had warned her never to open the box, but she could not help wondering and wondering what it contained. Perhaps it held beautiful jewels. Why should they go to waste? At last she could not contain her curiosity any longer. She opened the box just a little to take her peep inside. Immediately there was a buzzing whirren sound, and before she could snap down the lid, ten thousand ugly little creatures had jumped out. They were diseases and troubles and very glad they were to be free. All over the earth they flew, entering into every household and carrying sorrow and distress wherever they went. How Jupiter must have laughed when he saw the result of Pandora's curiosity. Soon after this the god decided that it was time to punish Prometheus. He called strength and force and bade them to seize the titan and carry him to the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains. Then he sent Vulcan to bind them with iron chains, making arms and feet fast to the rocks. Vulcan was sorry for Prometheus, but dared not disobey. So the friend of Manley, miserably bound, naked to the winds, while the storm beat about him and an eagle tore at his liver with its cruel talons. But Prometheus did not utter a groan in spite of all his sufferings. Year after year after year he lay there in agony, and yet he would not complain, beg for mercy or repent of what he had done. Men were sorry for him, but could do nothing. Then one day a beautiful white cow passed over the mountain and stopped to look at Prometheus with sad eyes. I know you, Prometheus said. You are Io, once a fair and happy maiden drawn in Argos, doomed by Jupiter and his jealous queen to wander over the earth in this disguise. Go southward and then west until you come to the Great River Nile. There you shall again become a maiden, fairer than ever before, and shall marry the king of that country. And from your race shall spring the hero who will break my chains and set me free. Centuries passed, and then a great hero, Hercules, came to the Caucasus Mountains. He climbed the rugged peak, slew the fierce eagle, and with mighty blows broke the chains that bound the friend of Man. End of chapter one. Chapter two of Myths and Legends of All Nations. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Myths and Legends of All Nations. By Logan Marshall. Chapter two. The Labours of Hercules. Before the birth of Hercules, Jupiter had explained in the Council of the Gods that the first descendant of Perseus should be the ruler of all the others of his race. This honour was intended for the son of Perseus and Alcmene, but Juno was jealous and brought it about that Eurystheus, who was also a descendant of Perseus, should be born before Thesius. So Eurystheus became king in my scene, and the later born Hercules remained inferior to him. Now Eurystheus watched with anxiety the rising fame of his young relative, and called his subjects to him, demanding that they carry through certain great tasks our labours. When Hercules did not immediately obey, Jupiter himself sent word to him that he should full fully service to the king of Greece. Nevertheless, the hero son of a god could not make up his mind easily to render service to a mere mortal. So he travelled to Delphi and answered the oracle as to what he should do. This was the answer. The overlord of Eurystheus will be qualified on condition that Hercules perform ten labours that Eurystheus shall assign him. When this is done, Hercules shall be numbered among the immortal gods. Hereupon Hercules fell into deep trouble. To serve a man of less importance than himself hurt his dignity and self-esteem, but Jupiter would not listen to his complaints. The first labour The first labour that Eurystheus assigned to Hercules was to bring him the skin of the Nemean lion. This monster dwelt on the mountain of Peloponnesius in the forest between Cleona and Nemea and could be wounded by no weapons made of man. Some said he was a son of the giant typhon and the snake Echidna. Others said that he had dropped down from the moon to the earth. Hercules set out on his journey and came to Cleona where a poor labourer, Malarchus, received him hospitably. He met the latter just as he was about to offer a sacrifice to Jupiter. Good man, said Hercules, let the animal live thirty days longer then. If I return, offer it to Jupiter, my deliverer, and if I do not return, offer it as funeral sacrifice to me, the hero who has attained immortality. So Hercules continued on his way. His quiver of arrows over his shoulder, his bow in one hand, and in the other a club made from the trunk of a wild olive tree which had passed on Mount Helicon and pulled up by the roots. When he at last entered the Nemean wood, he looked carefully in every direction in order that he might catch sight of the monster lion before the lion should see him. It was midday and nowhere could he discover any trace of the lion or any path that seemed to lead to his lair. He met no man in the field or in the forest. Fear held them all shut up in their distant dwellings. The whole afternoon he wandered through the thick undergrowth, determined to test his strength just as soon as he could encounter the lion. At last, towards evening, the monster came through the forest, returning from his trap in a deep fissure of the earth. He was saturated with blood. Head, mane and breast were reeking and his great tongue was licking his jaw. The hero who saw him coming, long before he was near, took refuge in a thicket and waited until the lion approached. Then, with his harrow, he shot him in the side. But the shot did not pierce his flesh. Instead, it flew back as if it had struck stone and fell onto the mossy earth. Then the animal raised his bloody head, looked around in every direction and in a fierce anger showed his ugly teeth. Raising his head, he exposed his heart and immediately Hercules let fly another arrow, hoping to pierce him through the lungs. Again, the arrow did not enter the flesh but fell off at the feet of the monster. Hercules took a third arrow while the lion, casting his eyes to the side, watched him. His whole neck swelled with anger. He roared and his back was bent like a bow. He sprang toward his enemy but Hercules threw the arrow and cast off the lion skin in which he was clothed with the left hand. While with the right he swung his club over the head of the beast and gave him such a blow on the neck that, already to spring as the lion was, he fell back and came to a stand on trembling legs with a shaking head. Before he could take another breath, Hercules was upon him. Throwing down his bow and quiver that he might be entirely unencumbered, he approached the animal from behind, threw his arms around his neck and strangled him. Then, for a long time, he sought in vain to strip the fallen animal of his hide. It yielded to no weapon or no stone. At last the idea occurred to him of tearing it with the animal's own claws. And this method immediately succeeded. Later he prepared for himself a coat of mail out of the lion's skin and from the neck a new helmet. But for the present he was content to don his own costume and weapons. And with the lion's skin over his arm, took his way back to Tyranth. The Second Labour The second Labour consisted in destroying the Hydra. This monster dwelt in the swamp of Lerner, but came occasionally over the country destroying herds and laying waste to the fields. The Hydra was an enormous creature, a serpent with nine heads, of which eight were mortal and one was immortal. Hercules set out with high courage for this fight. He mounted his chariot and his beloved nephew Iolaus, the son of his step-brother Iphicals, who for a long time had been his inseparable companion, sat by his side, guiding the horses. And so they sped towards Lerner. At last the Hydra was visible on a hill by the springs of Amymoan, where its lair was found. Here Iolaus left the horses stand. Hercules leaped from the chariot and sought with burning arrows to drive the many-headed serpent from its hide-in-place. It came forth hissing, its nine heads raised and swaying like the branches of a tree in a swarm. Undismayed, Hercules approached it, seized it and held it fast. But the snake wrapped itself round one of his feet, then he began with his sword to cut off its heads. But this looked like an endless task for no sooner had he cut off one head than two grew in its place. At the same time, an enormous crab came to the help of the Hydra and began biting the hero's foot. Killing this with his club, he called to Iolaus for help. The latter had lighted a torch, set fire to a portion of the nearby wood, and with bronze therefrom touched the serpent's newly-growing heads and prevented them from living. And this way the hero was at last master of the situation and was able to cut off even the head of the Hydra that could not be killed. This he buried deep in the ground and rolled a heavy stone over the place. The body of the Hydra he cut into half, dipping his arrows in the blood, which was poisonous. From that time the wounds made by the arrows of Hercules were fatal. The Third Labour The third demand of Eurystheus was that Hercules bring to him alive the hind, Serinitis. This was a noble animal with horns of gold and feet of iron. She lived on a hill in Arcadia and was one of the five hinds which the goddess Diana had caught on her first hunt. This one, of all the five, was permitted to run loose again in the woods before it was decreed by fate that Hercules should one day hunt her. For a whole year Hercules pursued her, came at last to the River Ladden and there captured the hind, not far from the city Oenon, in the mountains of Diana. But he knew of no way of becoming master of the animal without wounding her. So he lamed her with an arrow and then carried her over his shoulder through Arcadia. Here he met Diana herself with Apollo, who scolded him for wishing to kill the animal that she had held sacred and was about to take it from him. Impaity did not move me great goddess, said Hercules and his own defence, but only the direct necessity. How otherwise could I hold my own against Eurystheus? And thus he softened the anger of the goddess and brought the animal to my scene. The fourth labour. Then Hercules set out on his fourth undertaking. It consisted in bringing a life to my scene, a bore which, likewise sacred to Diana, was laying waste the country round the mountain of Erymanthus. On his wanderings in search of his adventure he came to the dwelling of Folus, the son of silliness. Like all centaurs, Folus was half-man and half-horse. He received his guest with hospitality and set before him broiled meat while he himself ate raw. But Hercules, not satisfied with this, wished also to have something good to drink. Dear guest, said Folus, there is a cask in my cellar, but it belongs to all the centaurs jointly, and I hesitate to open it because I know how little they welcome guests. Open it with good courage, answered Hercules. I promise to defend you against all displeasure. As it happened, the cask of wine had been given to the centaurs by Bacchus, the god of wine, with the command that they should not open it until, after four centuries, Hercules should appear in their midst. Folus went to the cellar and opened the wonderful cask. But scarcely had he done so when the centaurs caught the perfume of the rare old wine and, armed with stones and pine-clubs, surrounded the cave of Folus. The first who tried to force their way in, Hercules drove back with brandy seized from the fire. The rest he pursued with bow and arrow, driving them back to Malia, where lived the good centaur, Chiron, Hercules' old friend. To him, his brother centaurs had fled for protection. But Hercules still continued shooting and sent an arrow through the arm of an old centaur, which unhappily went quite through and fell on Chiron's knee, piercing the flesh. Then, for the first time, Hercules recognized his friend at Farmer Days, ran to him in great distress, pulled out the arrow, and laid healing-outment on the wound, as the wise Chiron himself had taught him. But the wound, filled with the poison of the Hydra, could not be healed. So the centaur was carried into his cave, there he wished to die in the arms of his friend. Vain wish! The poor centaur had forgotten that he was immortal, and though wounded, could not die. Then Hercules, with many tears, bade farewell to his old teacher and promised to send to him, no matter at what price, the great deliverer, Death, and we know that he kept his word. When Hercules, from the pursuit of the other centaurs, returned to the Dwellin of Folis, he found him also dead. He had drawn the deadly arrow from the lifeless body of one centaur, and while he was wondering how so small a thing could do such great damage, the poison arrow slipped through his fingers and pierced his foot, killing him instantly. Hercules was very sad and buried his body reverently beneath the mountain, which from that day was called Floe. Then Hercules continued his hunt for the bear, drove him with cries out of the thick of the woods, pursued him into a deep snow-field around the exhausted animal, and brought him, as he had been commanded, alive to my scene. The Fifth Labour Thereupon King Eurystheus sent him upon the Fifth Labour, which was one little worthy of a hero. It was to clean the stables of Argeus in a single day. Argeus was king in Alice and had great herds of cattle. These herds were kept, according to the custom, in great enclosures before the palace. Three thousand cattle were housed there, and as the stables had not been cleaned in so many years, so much manure had accumulated that it seemed an insult to ask Hercules to clean them in one day. When the hero stepped before King Argeus, and without telling him anything of the demands of Eurystheus, pledged himself to the task, the latter measured the noble form and the lion's skin and could hardly refrain from laughing when he thought of so worthy a warrior undertaking so menial a work. But he said to himself, Necessity has driven many a brave man. Perhaps this wouldn't wish to enrich himself through me. That will help him little. I can promise him a large reward if he cleans out the stables, for he can in one day clear little enough. Then he spoke confidently, Listen, O stranger, if you clean all of my stables in one day, I will give over to you the tenth part of all my possessions in cattle. Hercules accepted the offer, and the king expected to see him begin to shovel. But Hercules, after he had called the son of Argeus to witness the agreement, tore the foundations away from one side of the stables, directed to it by means of a canal the streams of Alpheus and Pinius that flowed nearby, and let the waters carry away the filth through another opening. So he accomplished the menial work without stooping to anything unworthy of an immortal. When Argeus learned that this work had been done in the service of Aristius, he refused the reward and said that he had not promised it. But he declared himself ready to have the question settled in court. When the judges were assembled, Philius, commanded by Hercules to appear, testified against his father and explained how he had agreed to offer Hercules a reward. Argeus did not wait for the decision. He grew angry and commanded his son as well as the stranger to leave his kingdom instantly. The Sixth Labour Hercules now returned with new adventures to Aristius. But the latter would not give him credit for the task because Hercules had demanded a reward for his labour. He sent the hero forth upon a sixth adventure, commanding him to drive away the Stimphilides. These were monster birds of prey, as large of cranes with iron feathers, beaks and claws. They lived on the banks of Lake Stimphilis in Arcadia and had the power of using their feathers as arrows and piercing with their beaks even bronze coats of mail. Thus they brought destruction to both animals and men in all the surrounding country. After a short journey, Hercules, accustomed to wandering, arrived at the lake which was thickly shaded by a wood. Into this wood a great flock of the birds had flown for fear of being robbed by wolves. The hero stood and decided, when he saw the frightful crowd, not knowing how he could become master over so many enemies. Then he felt a light touch on his shoulder and glancing behind him saw the tall figure of the goddess Minerva, who gave into his hands two mighty brass rattles made by Vulcan, telling him to use these to drive away the Stimphilides. She disappeared. Hercules mounted a hill near the lake and began frightening the birds by the noise of the rattles. The Stimphilides could not enjoy the awful noise and flew, terrified out of the forest. Then Hercules seized his bow and sent arrow after arrow into pursuit of them, shooting many as they flew. Those who were not killed left the lake and never returned. The Seventh Labour King Minos of Crete had promised Neptune, Poseidon, god of the sea, to offer to him whatever animal should first come up out of the water, for he declared that he had no animal that was worthy for so high a sacrifice. Therefore the god caused a very beautiful ox to rise out of the sea, but the king was so taken with the noble appearance of the animal that he secretly placed it among his own herds and offered another one to Neptune. Angered by this, the god had caused the animal to become mad and it was bringing great destruction to the island of Crete. To capture this animal, master it, and bring it before Eurystheus was the Seventh Labour of Hercules. When the hero came to Crete and with this intention stepped before Minos, the king was not a little pleased over the prospect of ridding the island of the bull, and he himself helped Hercules to capture the raging animal. Hercules approached the dreadful monster without fear and so thoroughly did he master him that he rode home on the animal the whole way to the sea. With this work, Eurystheus was pleased and after he had regarded the animal for a time with pleasure, set it free. No longer under Hercules' management, the ox became wild again, wandered through all the Conea and Arcadia, crossed over the Isthmus to Marathon in Antica, and devastated the country there as formerly he had done on the island of Crete. Later it was given to the hero Thesius to become master over him. The Eighth Labour The Eighth Labour of Hercules was to bring the mares of the Thracian Diamede to Mycene. Diamede was a son of Mars and ruler of the Bistonians, a very warlike people. He had mares so wild and strong that they had to be fastened with iron chains. Their fodder was chiefly hay, but strangers who had the misfortune to come into the city were thrown before them. Their flesh served the animals as food. When Hercules arrived, the first thing he did was to seize the Inhuman King himself, and after he had overpowered the keepers, threw him before his own mares. With this food, the animals were satisfied and Hercules was able to drive them to the sea. But the Bistonians followed him with weapons, and Hercules was forced to turn and fight them. He gave the horses into the keeping of his beloved companion, Abduress, the son of Mercury. While Hercules was away, the animals grew hungry again and devoured their keepers. Hercules, returning, was greatly grieved over this loss and later founded a city in honour of Abduress, naming it after his lost friend. For the present, he was content to master the mares and drive them without further mishap to Eurystheus. The latter consecrated the horses to Juno. Their descendants were very powerful, and the great King Alexander of Macedonia rode one of them. The ninth labour. Returning from a long journey, the hero undertook an expedition against the Amazons in order to finish the ninth adventure and bring to King Eurystheus the sword belt of the Amazon Hippolyta. The Amazons inhabit the region of the Ribbethomodon and were a race of strong women who followed the occupations of men. From their children they slept only such as were girls. United in an army they waged great wars. Their queen Hippolyta wore, as a sign of her leadership, a girdle which the goddess of war had given to her as a present. Hercules gathered his warrior companions together into a ship, sailed after many adventures into the Black Sea, and at last into the mouth of the Ribbethomodon and the harbour of the Amazon city, the Miskria. Here the queen of the Amazons met him. The lordly appearance of the hero flattered her pride, and when she heard the objective of his visit she promised him the belt, but due now the relentless enemy of Hercules, assuming the farmer of an Amazon, mingled among the others and spread the news that a stranger was about to lead away their queen. Then the Amazons fought with the warrior of Hercules and the best fighters of them attacked the hero and gave him a hard battle. The first who began fighting with him was called, because of her swiftness, Isla, or Bride of the Wind. But she found in Hercules a swiftly opponent, was forced to yield and was, in her swift flight, overtaken by him and vanquished. A second fell at the first attack, then Prothia, the third who had come off victor in seven jewels, also fell. Hercules laid low eight others, among them three hundred companions of Diana who, although formally always certain with their weapons, today failed in their arm, and thinly covering themselves with their shield, fell before the arrows of the hero. Even Alcapie fell, who had sworn to live her whole life unmarried, the vow she kept, but not her life. After even Melaniep, the brave leader of the Amazons, was made captive, all the rest took to wild flight and Hippolyta, the queen, handed over the sword belt, which she had promised even before the fight. Hercules took it as ransom and set Melaniep free. The Tenth Labour When the hero led the sword belt of Queen Hippolyta at the feet of Eurystheus, the latter gave him no rest, but sent him out immediately to procure the cattle of the giant Geron. The latter dwelt on an island in the middle of the sea and processed a herd of beautiful red-brown cattle which were guarded by another giant and a two-headed dog. Geron himself was enormous, had three bodies, three heads, six arms and six feet. No son of earth had ever measured his strength against him, and Hercules realised exactly how many preparations were necessary for this heavy undertaking. As everyone knows, Geron's father, who bore the name Goldsword, because of his riches, was king of all Iberia, Spain. Besides Geron, he had three brave giant sons who fought for him, and each son had a mighty army of soldiers under his command. For these very reasons had Eurystheus given the task to Hercules, for he hoped that his hated existence would at last be ended in a war in such a country. Yet Hercules set out on this undertaking no more dismayed than on any other previous expedition. He gathered together his army on the island of Crete, which he had freed from wild animals and landed first in Libya. Here he met the giant Antaeus, whose strength was renewed as often as he touched the earth. He also freed Libya of birds of prey, for he hated wild animals and wicked men because he saw in all of them the image of the overbearing and unjust lord whom he had so long served. After long wandering through desert country, he came at last to a fruitful land through which great streams flowed. Here he founded a city of vast size, named Hecatonphilos, city of a hundred gates. Then at last he reached the Atlantic Ocean and planted the two mighty pillars which bear his name. The sun burned so fiercely that Hercules could bear it no longer. He raised his eyes to heaven and with raised bow threatened the sun god. Apollo wandered at his courage and lent him for his further journeys the bark in which he himself was accustomed to lie from sunset to sunrise. In this Hercules sailed to Iberia. Here he found the three sons of Goldsword with three great armies camping near each other. But he killed all the leaders and plundered the land. Then he sailed to the island Irithia where Jerome dwelt with his herds. As soon as the two-headed dog knew of his approach he sprang toward him, but Hercules struck him with his club and killed him. He killed also the giant herdsmen who came to the help of the dog. Then he hurried away with the cattle. But Jerome overtook him and there was a fierce struggle. Do you know herself offered to assist the giant but Hercules shot her with an arrow deep in the heart and the goddess wounded fled. Even the three fell body of the giant which ran together in the region of the stomach felt the might of the deadly arrows and was forced to yield. With glorious adventures Hercules continued his way home driving the cattle across country through Iberia and Italy at Regium in Lower Italy when of his oxen got away and some across the strait of Sicily. Immediately Hercules drove the other cattle into the water and swam, holding one by the horns, to Sicily. Then the hero pursued his way without misfortune through Italy, Illyria and Thrace to Greece. Hercules had now accomplished ten labours but Eurystheus was still unsatisfied and there were two more tasks to be undertaken. The eleventh labour. At the celebration of the marriage of Jupiter and Juno when all the gods were bringing their wedding gifts to the happy pair Mother Earth did not wish to be left out so she coursed the spring forth on the western borders of the Great World Sea and many branched tree for the golden apples. Four maidens called the Hesperides, daughters of night with the gardens of the sacred garden and with them watched the hundred-headed dragon whose father was Forcus, the parent of many monsters. Sleep came never to the eyes of this dragon and a fearful hissing sound warned one of his presence for each of his hundred throats had a different voice. From this monster, so was the commander of Eurystheus should Hercules seize the golden apples. The hero sat on his long and adventurous journey and placed himself in the hands of blind chance for he did not know where the Hesperides dwelt. He went first to Thessaly where dwelt the giant Tirmurus who with his skull knocked to death every travel that he met. But on the mighty cranium of Hercules the head of the giant himself was split open. Further on the hero came upon another monster in his way Cyknus, the son of Mars and Pyrene. He, when asked concerning the garden of the Hesperides instead of answering challenged the wanderer to a duel and was beaten by Hercules. Then appeared Mars, the god of war himself to avenge the death of his son and Hercules was forced to fight with him but Jupiter did not wish that his son should shed blood and sent him lightning bolts to separate the two. Then Hercules continued his way through Eyliria hastened over the river Eridonus and came to the nymphs of Jupiter and Themis who dwelt on the banks of the stream. To these Hercules put his question go to the old river god Nureus was their answer he is a seer and knows all things surprise him while he sleeps and bind him then he will be forced to tell you the right way. Hercules followed this advice and became master of the river god although the latter according to his custom assumed many different forms. Hercules would not let him go until he had learned in what locality he could find the golden apple of the Hesperides. In the form of this he went on his way towards Libya and Egypt over the latter land ruled Busseris the son of Neptune and the Lysiana to him during the period of the nine year famine a prophet had borne the oracle a message that the land would again bear fruit if a stranger was sacrificed once a year to Jupiter in gratitude Busseris made a beginning with the priest himself later he found great pleasure in the custom and killed all strangers who came to Egypt so Hercules was seized and placed on the altar of Jupiter but he broke the chains which bound him and killed Busseris and his son and the priestly herald with many adventures the hero continued his way set free as has been told elsewhere Prometheus the Titan who was bound to the Caucasus mountains and came at last to the place where Atlas stood carrying the weight of the heavens on his shoulders near him grew the tree which bore the golden apples of the Hesperides Prometheus had advised the hero not to attempt himself to make the robbery of the golden fruit but to send Atlas on the errand the giant offered to do this if Hercules would support the heavens while he went this Hercules consented to do and Atlas set out he put to sleep the dragon who lived beneath the tree and killed him then with a trick he got the better of the keepers and returned happily to Hercules the three apples which he had plucked but he said I have now found out how it feels to be relieved of the heavy burden of the heavens I will not carry them any longer then he threw the apples down at the feet of the hero and left him standing with the unaccustomed awful weight upon his shoulders Hercules had to think of a trick in order to get away let me he said to the giant just make a coil of rope to bound around my head so that the frightful way will not cause my forehead to give way Atlas found this new demand reasonable and consented to take over the birds again for a few minutes but the deceiver was at last deceived and Hercules picked up the apples from the ground and set out on his way back he carried the apples to Eurystheus who since the object of getting rid of the hero had not been accomplished gave them back to Hercules as a present the latter laid them on the altar of Minerva but the goddess knowing that it was contrary to the divine wishes to carry away the sacred fruit returned the apples to the garden of the Hesperides the twelfth labour instead of destroying his aided enemy the labours which Eurystymus had imposed upon Hercules had only strengthened the hero in the fame for which fate had selected him he had become the protector of all the wronged upon earth and the boldest adventurer among mortals but the last labour he was to undertake in the region in which his hero strength so the impious king thought would not accompany him this was a fight with the dark powers of the underworld he was to bring forth from Hades Cerberus the dog of hell this animal had three heads with frightful jaws from which incessantly poison flowed a dragon's tail hung from his body and the hair of his head and of his back formed hissing coiling serpents to prepare himself for this fearful journey Hercules went to the city of Elysus in attic territory from a wise priest he received secret instruction in the things of the upper and lower world and where also he received pardon for the murder of the centaur then with strength to meet the horrors of the underworld Hercules travelled on to Peloponus and to the Laconian city of Tenerus which contained the opening to the lower world here, accompanied by Mercury he descended through a cleft in the earth and came to the entrance to the city of King Pluto the shades which sadly wandered back and forth before the gates of the city took flight as soon as they caught sight of flesh and blood in the form of a living man only the gorgon Medusa and the spirit of Meligia remained the former Hercules wished to overthrow with his sword but Mercury touched him on the arm and told him that the souls of the departed were only empty shadows and could not be wounded by mortal weapons with the soul of Meligia the hero chattered in friendly fashion and received from him loving messages for the upper world still nearer to the gates of Hades Hercules caught sight of his friends Theseus and Perithus when both saw the friendly form of Hercules they stretched besieging hands towards him trembling with the hope that through his strength they might again reach the upper world Hercules grasped Theseus by the hand freed him from his chains and raised him from the ground a second attempt to free Perithus did not succeed for the ground opened beneath his feet at the gate of the city of the dead stood King Pluto and denied entrance to Hercules but with an arrow the hero shot the god in the shoulder so that he feared the mortal and when Hercules then asked whether he might lead away the dog of Hades he did not longer oppose him but he imposed the condition that Hercules should become master of Cerberus without using any weapon so the hero set out protected only with Curas and the lion's skin he found the dog camping near the Dwarren of Acheron and without paying any attention to the bell-wind of the three heads which was like the echo of fearful resounding thunder he seized the dog by the legs put his arm around his neck and would not let him go although the dragon-tailed the animal bit him in the cheek he held the neck of Cerberus firm and did not let go until he was really master of the monster then he raced it and through another opening of Hades returned him happiness to his own country when the dog of Hades saw the light of day he was afraid and began to spit poison from which poisonous plants sprung up out of the earth Hercules brought the monster in chains to Tyranth and led it before the astonished Eurystheus who could not believe his eyes now at last the king doubted whether he could ever rid himself of the hate of son of Jupiter he yielded to his fate and dismissed the hero who led the dog of Hades back to his owner in the lower world thus Hercules after all his labours was at last set free from the service of Eurystheus and returned to Thebes Recording by Elizabeth Klett While the men of the age of bronze still dwelt upon the earth reports of their wickedness were carried to Jupiter the god decided to verify the reports by coming to earth himself in the form of a man and everywhere he went he found that the reports were much milder than the truth one evening in the late twilight he entered the inhospitable shelter of the Arcadian king Lycaon who was famed for his wild conduct by several signs he let it be known that he was a god and the crowd dropped to their knees but Lycaon made light of the pious prayers Let us see, he said whether he is a mortal or a god Thereupon he decided to destroy the guest that night while he lay in slumber expecting death but before doing so he killed a poor hostage whom the Molossians had sent to him cooked the half-living limbs in boiling water or broiled them over a fire and placed them on the table before the guest for his evening meal but Jupiter, who knew all this left the table and sent a raging fire over the castle of the godless man frightened the king fled into the open field the first cry he uttered was a howl his garments changed to fur his arms to legs he was transformed into a blood-thirsty wolf Jupiter returned to Olympus, held council with the gods and decided to destroy the reckless race of men at first he wanted to turn his lightnings over all the earth but the fear that the aether would take fire and destroy the axle of the universe restrained him he laid aside the thunderbolt which the Cyclops had fashioned for him and decided to send rain from heaven over all the earth and so destroy the race of mortals immediately the north wind and all the other clouds scattering winds were locked in the cave of Aeolus and only the south wind sent out the latter descended upon the earth his frightful face was covered with darkness his beard was heavy with clouds from his white hair ran the flood mists lay upon his brow from his bosom dropped the water the south wind grasped the heavens seized in his hands the surrounding clouds and began to squeeze them the thunder rolled floods of rain burst from the heavens the standing corn was bent to the earth destroyed was the hope of the farmer destroyed the weary work of a whole year even Neptune, god of the sea came to the assistance of his brother Jupiter in the work of destruction he called all the rivers together and said give full rain to your torrents enter houses break through all dams they followed his command and Neptune himself struck the earth with his trident and let the flood enter then the water streamed over the open meadows covered the fields dislodged trees temples and houses wherever a palace stood its gables were soon covered with water and the highest turrets were hidden in the torrent sea and earth were no longer divided all was flood broken stretch of water men tried to save themselves as best they could some climbed the high mountains others entered boats and road now over the roofs of the fallen houses now over the hills of their ruined vineyards fish swam among the branches of the highest trees the wild boar was caught in the flood people were swept away by the water and those whom the flood spared died of hunger on the barren mountains one high mountain in the country of Phosas still raised two peaks above the surrounding waters it was the great Mount Parnassus toward this floated a boat containing Ducalion the son of Prometheus and his wife Pyrrha no man, no woman had ever been found who surpassed these in righteousness and piety when therefore Jupiter, looking down from heaven upon the earth saw that only a single pair of mortals remained of the many thousand times a thousand they were both blameless both devoted servants of the gods he sent forth the north wind recalled the clouds and once again separated the earth from the heavens and the heavens from the earth even Neptune, lord of the sea laid down his trident and calmed the flood the ocean resumed its banks the rivers returned to their beds forest stretched their slime covered treetops out of the deep hills followed finally stretches of level land appeared and the earth was as before Ducalion looked around him the country was laid waste it was wrapped in the silence of the grave tears rolled down his cheeks and he said to his wife Pyrrha beloved solitary companion of my life as far as I can see through all the surrounding country I can discover no living creature we too must people the earth all the rest have been drowned by the flood they are not yet certain of our lives every cloud that I see strikes terror to my soul and even if danger is passed what shall we do alone on the forsaken earth? oh that my father Prometheus had taught me the art of creating men and breathing life into them then the two began to weep they threw themselves on their knees before the half destroyed altar of the goddess Themis and began to pray saying tell us oh goddess by what means we can replace the race that has disappeared oh help the earth to new life leave my altar sounded the voice of the goddess uncover your heads ungird your garments and cast the bones of your mother behind you for a long time Ducalion and Pyrrha wondered over the puzzling words of the goddess Pyrrha was the first to break the silence pardon me oh noble goddess if I do not obey you and cannot consent to scatter the bones of my mother then Ducalion had a happy thought he comforted his wife either my reason deceives me he said or the command of the goddess is good and involves no impiety the great mother of all of us is the earth her bones are the stones and these Pyrrha we will cast behind us both mistrusted this interpretation of the words what harm would it do to try there upon they uncovered their heads ungirded their garments and began casting stones behind them then a wonderful thing happened the stone began to lose its hardness became malleable grew and took form not definite at once but rude figures such as an artist first hues out of the rough marble whatever was moist or earthy in the stones was changed into flesh the harder parts became bones the veins in the rock remained as veins in the bodies thus in a little while with the aid of the gods the stones which Ducalion through assumed the form of men those which Pyrrha through the form of women this homely origin the race of men does not deny they are hardy people accustomed to work every moment of the day they remember from what sturdy rock End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 of Myths and Legends of All Nations this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by David Klaperik Myths and Legends of All Nations by Logan Marshall Thessias and the Centaur Thessias the hero king of Athens had a reputation for great strength and bravery but Pyrithas the son of Ixion one of the most famous heroes of antiquity wished to put him to the test he therefore drove the cattle which belonged to Thessias away from Marathon and when he heard that Thessias weapon in hand was following him then indeed he had what he desired he did not flee but turned around to meet him when the two heroes were near enough to see each other each was so filled with admiration with the form and the bravery of his opponent that as if at a given signal both threw down their weapons and hastened toward each other Pyrithas extended his hand to Thessias and proposed that the latter act as arbitrator for the settlement of the dispute about the cattle whatever satisfaction Thessias would demand Pyrithas would willingly give the only satisfaction which I desire answered Pyrithas is that you instead of my enemy become my friend and comrade in arms then the two heroes embraced each other and swore eternal friendship soon after this Pyrithas chose that Thessalian princess Hippodemia from the race of Lapithae for his bride and invited Thessias to the wedding the Lapithae among whom the ceremony took place were a famous family of Thessalians rugged mountaineers in some respects resembling animals the first mortals who had learned to manage a horse but the bride who had sprung from this race was not at all like the men of her people she was of noble form with delicate youthful face so beautiful that all the guest praised Pyrithas for his good fortune the assembled princes of Thessaly were at the wedding feast and also the centaurs relatives of Pyrithas the centaurs were half men the offspring which a cloud assuming the form of the goddess Hera had borne to Ixian the father of Pyrithas they were the eternal enemies of the Lapithae upon this occasion however for the sake of the bride they had forgotten past grudges and come together to the joyful celebration the noble castle of Pyrithas resounded with glad tumult bridal songs were sung wine and food bounded indeed there were so many guests that the palace would not accommodate all the Lapithae and centaurs they sat at a special table in a grotto shaded by trees for a long time the festivities went on with undisturbed happiness then the wine began to stir the heart the wildest of the centaurs Ixian and the beauty of the princess Hippodemia awoken him the mad desire of robbing the bridegroom of his bride nobody knew how it came to pass nobody noticed the beginning of the unthinkable act but suddenly the guests saw the wild Ixian lifting Hippodemia from her feet while she struggled and cried for help his deed was the signal for the rest of the drunken centaurs to do likewise and before the strange heroes and the Lapithae could leave their places every one of the centaurs had roughly seized one of the Thessalian princesses who served at the court of the king or who had assembled as guests at the wedding the castle and the grotto resembled a besieged city the cry of the women sounded far and wide the friends and relatives sprang from their places what delusion is this Ixian cried Thessias to Vex, Pyrethas, while I still live and by so doing arouse the anger of two heroes with these words he forced his way through the crowd and tore the solemn bride from the struggling robber Ixian said nothing for he could not excuse his deed but he lifted his hand toward Thessias and gave him a rough knock on the chest then Thessias who had no weapon at hand seized an iron jug of embossed workmanship which stood nearby and flung it into the face of his opponent with such force that the centaurs fell backwards on the ground while brains and blood oozed from the wound in his head two arms the cry arose from all sides at first beakers, flasks, and bowls flew back and forth then one sacrilegious monster grabbed the oblations from the neighboring apartments another tore down a lamp which burned over the table while still another fought with a sacrificial deer which had hung on one side of the grotto a frightful slaughter ensued rotis, the most wicked of the centaurs after Ixian seized the large brand from the altar and thrust it into the gaping wound of one of the falling lapithae so that blood hissed like iron in a furnace an opposition to him rose dryus the bravest of the lapithae and, seizing a glowing log from the fire thrust it into the centaurs neck the fate of this centaur atoned the death of his fallen companion and dryus turned to the raging mob and laid five of them low then the spear of the brave hero Pyrethus threw forth and pierced a mighty centaur, Petraeus just as he was about to uproot a tree to use it for a club the spear pinned him against the knotted oak a second diktus fell at the stroke of the great hero and in falling snapped off a mighty ash tree a third wishing to avenge him was crushed by theseus with an oak club the most beautiful and youthful of the centaurs was Solaris his long hair and beard were golden his smile was friendly his neck, shoulders, hands the rest were as beautiful as if formed by an artist even the lower part of his body the part which resembled a horse was faultless pitch black in color with legs and the tail of light or die he had come to the feast with his wife the beautiful centaur Hyralome who at the table had leaned gracefully against him and even now united with him in the raging fight he received from an unknown hand a light wound near his heart and sank dying in the arms of his wife Hyralome nursed his dying form kissed him and tried to retain the fleeting breath when she saw that he was gone she drew a dagger from her breast and stabbed herself for a long time still the fight between the lapithae and centaurs continued but at last night put an end to the tumult then Parathas remained in undisturbed possession of his bride the following morning Thessias departed bidding farewell to his friend the common fight had quickly welded the fresh tyre of their brotherhood into an indestructible bond End of Chapter 4 Myths and Legends of All Nations This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Elizabeth Klett Myths and Legends of All Nations by Logan Marshall Chapter 5 Naiobi Naiobi, Queen of Thebes was proud of many things Amphion, her husband had received from the Muses a wonderful lyre to the music of which the stones of the royal palace had of themselves assumed place Her father was tantalus who had been entertained by the gods and she herself was the ruler of a powerful kingdom and a woman of great pride of spirit and majestic beauty but of none of these things was she so proud as she was of her fourteen lovely children the seven sons and seven daughters to whom she had given birth indeed, Naiobi was the happiest of all mothers and so would she have remained if she had not believed herself so peculiarly blessed her very knowledge of her good fortune was her undoing One day the prophetess Manto daughter of the soothsayer Tiresias being instructed of the gods called together the women of Thebes to do honour to the goddess Latona and her two children, Apollo and Diana Put laurel wreaths upon your heads were her commands offering sacrifices with pious prayers Then while the women of Thebes were gathering together Naiobi came forth clad in a gold embroidered garment with a crowd of followers radiant in her beauty though angry with her hair flowing about her shoulders she stopped in the midst of the busy women and raising her voice spoke to them Are you not foolish to worship gods of whom stories are told to you when more favoured beings dwell here among you who are making sacrifices on the altar of Latona why does my divine name remain unknown my father Tantalus is the only mortal who has ever sat at the table of the gods and my mother Dione is the sister of the Pleiades who as bright stars shine nightly in the heavens one of my uncles is the giant Atlas who on his neck supports the vaulted heavens my grandfather is Jupiter the father of the gods the people of Phrygia obey me and to me and my husband belongs the city of Cadmus the walls of which were put together by the music that my husband played every corner of my palace is filled with priceless treasures and there too are other treasures children such as no other mother can show seven beautiful daughters seven sturdy sons and just as many sons and daughters in law ask now whether I have ground for pride consider again before you honour more than me Latona the daughter of the Titans who could find no place in the whole earth in which she might rest and give birth to her children until the island of Delos and Compassion offered her a precarious shelter there she became the mother of two children the poor creature just the seventh part of my mother Joy who can deny that I am fortunate who will doubt that I shall remain happy fortune would have a hard time if she undertook to shatter my happiness take this or that one of my treasured children but when would the number of them dwindle to the sickly two of Latona away with your sacrifices take the laurel out of your hair go back to your homes and let me never see such foolishness again frightened at the outburst the women removed the wreaths from their heads left their sacrifices and slunk home still honouring Latona with silent prayer on the summit of the Delian mountain Synthes stood Latona with her two children watching what was taking place in distant thieves see my children she said I your mother who am so proud of your birth who yield place to no goddess except Juno I am held up to ridicule by an upstart mortal and if you do not defend me my children I shall be driven away from the ancient and holy altars yes you too are insulted by Naiobi and she would like to have you set aside for her children Latona was about to go on but Apollo interrupted her cease your lamentations mother you only delay the punishment then he and his sister wrapped themselves in a magic cloud cloak that made them invisible and flew swiftly through the air until they reached the town and castle of Cadmus just outside the walls of the city was an open field that was used as a race course and practice ground for horses here the seven sons of Ampion were amusing themselves the oldest dropped his reins with a cry and fell from his horse pierced to the heart by an arrow one after another the whole seven were struck down the news of the disaster soon spread through the city Ampion when he heard that all his sons had perished fell on his own sword then the loud cries of his servants penetrated to the women's quarters for a long time Naiobi could not believe that the gods had thus brought vengeance when she did how unlike was she to the Naiobi who drove the people from the altars of the mighty goddess and strove through the city with hotty mean crazed with grief she rushed out to the field where her sons had been stricken threw herself on their dead bodies kissing now this one and now that then raising her arms to heaven she cried look now upon my distress thou cruel Latona for the death of these seven bows me to the earth triumph thou his enemy now the seven daughters of Naiobi clad in garments of mourning drew near and with loosened hair stood around their brothers and the sight of them brought a ray of joy to Naiobi's white face she forgot her grief for a moment and casting a scornful look to heaven said Victor no for even in my loss I have more than thou in thy happiness hardly had she spoken to the sound of a drawn bow the bystanders grew cold with fear but Naiobi was not frightened for misfortune had made her strong suddenly one of the sisters put her hand to her breast and drew out an arrow that had pierced her then unconscious she sank to the ground another daughter hastened to her mother to comfort her but before she could reach her she was laid low by a hidden wound one after another the rest fell until only the last was left she had fled to Naiobi's lap and childlike was hiding her face in her mother's garments leave me only this one cried Naiobi just the youngest of so many but even while she prayed the child fell lifeless from her lap and Naiobi sat alone among the dead bodies of her husband her sons and her daughters she was speechless with grief no breath of air stirred the hair on her head the blood left her face the eyes remained fixed on the grief-stricken countenance in the whole body there was no longer any sign of life the veins ceased to carry blood the neck stiffened arms and feet grew rigid the whole body was transformed to cold and lifeless stone nothing living remained to her except her tears which continued flowing from her stony eyes then a mighty wind lifted the image of stone carried it over the sea and set it down in Lydia the old home of Naiobi in the barren mountains under the stony cliffs of Sisyphus here Naiobi remained fixed as a marble statue on the summit of the mountain and to this very day you can see the grief-stricken mother