Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/33

 THE GREEK GODS 19 of the productive force of the cornfield, Persephone (Lat. Proserpina), the subterranean protectress, and representa- tive, of the seed corn. The same idea is expressed in the theogonic poetry by the relation of Uranus (' heaven ') to Gaea ('earth'). In similar manner, according to an Argive legend, Zeus was united with Danae under the guise of golden rain, and, according to a Thebaii legend, with Semele, who died in his embrace when, at her re- quest, he approached her as he approaches Hera, i.e. as the god of the thunderstorm. 25. Zeus is also collector of the clouds (Nephelegeretes) and god of the winds (Euanemos and Urios). As such, however, he afterwards has associated with him Hermes, his son born of Maia (Pleias), the goddess of the rain cloud. To Zeus belong prodigies, birds of omen, and especially thunder and lightning themselves, and the eagle darting down upon its prey like a flash of lightning out of the clouds ; and so he becomes a most important oracular god. The oak is sacred to him probably because it is an especially tall tree and is therefore frequently struck by lightning. 26. As thunderclouds settle about the mountain peaks, so Zeus as AJcraios or Korypliaios makes his dwelling place upon them, his chief abodes being on Olympus on the borders of Thessaly and Macedonia, and on Lycaeus in Arcadia (which also is often called Olympus). On_ Mount Lycaeus human beings were offered to him. The legendary founder of this form of worship, Lycaon, was said to have slain here his own son, or grandson, and placed him before Zeus as a repast, i.e. offered him up. In punishment for this act he was changed into a wolf.