Page:History of Greece Vol I.djvu/26

xviii legends respecting Dêmêtêr elsewhere.—Expansion of the legends.—Hellenic importance of Dêmêtêr.—Legends of Apollo.—Delian Apollo.—Pythian Apollo.—Foundation legends of the Delphian oracle.—They served the purpose of historical explanation.—Extended worship of Apollo.—Multifarious local legends respecting Apollo.—Festivals and Agônes.—State of mind and circumstances out of which Grecian mythes arose.—Discrepancies in the legends little noticed.—Aphroditê.—Athênê.—Artemis.—Poseidôn.—Stories of temporary servitude imposed on gods.—Hêrê.—Hêphaestos.—Hestia.—Hermês.—Hermês inventor of the lyre.—Bargain between Hermês and Apollo.—Expository value of the Hymn.—Zeus.—Mythes arising out of the religious ceremonies.—Small part of the animal sacrificed.—Promêtheus had outwitted Zeus.— Gods, heroes, and men, appear together in the mythes.

Structure and purposes of Grecian genealogies.—To connect the Grecian community with their common god.—Lower members of the genealogy historical—higher members non-historical.—The non-historical portion equally believed, and most valued by the Greeks.—Number of such genealogies pervading every fraction of Greeks.—Argeian genealogy.—Inachus.—Phorôneus.—Argos Panoptês.—Iô.—Romance of Iô histhoricized by Persians and Phoenicians.—Legendary abductions of heroines adapted to the feelings prevalent during the Persian war.—Danaos and the Danaïdes.—Acrisios and Prœtos.—The Proetides cured of frenzy