Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/57

 THE GREEK GODS 43 which with us also are frequently described as " fleecy/ 7 and among the Germans are called Schdfcihen (' lambkins '). The heliotrope, which always turns toward the sun, was believed to be his beloved Clytia metamorphosed into a flower. 55. The moon among the Greeks and Romans was given a feminine name (o-eA^v^, luna), and the power which people believed they saw exerted by it was as- cribed to goddesses, who in different tribes bore various names. During nights when the moon shines bright the dew falls more abundantly than at other times; therefore the moon goddesses were regarded as dispensers of dew, and as protectresses of the growth of plants, as well as of the abundance of game depending on vegetation for food. The relation to human fertility which is promi- nent in all these goddesses is probably based upon the influence that the moon appears to exercise upon the life of women. 56. The latter characteristic conies into the foreground in the case of Hera (Lat. Juno), who was worshiped throughout Greece, but especially in Argos. She is the protectress of wedlock (H. Zygia, Teleia), and the jealous representative of lawful wives and their rights. The goddess of birth, Ilithyia, was considered to be her daughter. The festivals in honor of Hera always came on the day of the new moon, and likewise the celebra- tions of her marriage with Zeus (tepos ya/zos), at Argos in the spring, at Athens in the month of weddings, Gamelion (January February). Being spouse and sister of Zeus, she was the queen of the gods, and as such Polyclitus represented her (about 420 B.C.) in his statue of gold and ivory made for her restored temple, which was situated