Page:Modern Greek folklore and ancient Greek religion - a study in survivals.djvu/188

 *—as, to my own knowledge, in Aetolia, and, on Schmidt's own showing, in Zacynthos —proves that two divine persons, in type and in character essentially different, are here involved, and not merely two accidental and local differentiations of the same deity. Doubtless in the more 'civilised' parts of Greece (to use the word beloved of the half-educated town-bred Greek), in the parts where old beliefs and customs are falling into decay and contempt while nothing good is substituted for them, even the lower classes have lost or are losing count and memory of many of those powers whom their forefathers acknowledged; but in the more favourably sequestered villages, let us say, of Aetolia, where superstition still fears no mockery, no peasant would commit the mistake of confounding his Demeter with his Artemis. Between majestic loneliness and frolicsome throng, between dignified beauty and bewitching loveliness, between gentleness and lightness, between love of good and wanton merriment, between justice and caprice, the gulf is wide.

But while the modern Artemis is the leader of her nymphs in mischief and even in cruelty, it must not be thought that she is always a foe to man. In Aetolia 'the lady Beautiful' is quick to avenge a slight or an intrusion; but for those who pay her due reverence she is a ready helper and a giver of good gifts. Health and wealth lie in her hand, to bestow or to withhold, as in the hands of the Nereids. Hence even he whom her sudden anger has once smitten may regain her favour by offerings of honey and other sweetmeats on the scene of his calamity. And probably peace-offerings with less definite intent have been or still are in vogue; for it is reported that presents used to be brought to the cross-roads in Zacynthos at midday or midnight simply to appease 'the great lady' and her train, a survival surely of the ancient banquets of Hecate surnamed [Greek: Trioditis], 'Goddess of the Cross-*roads.'

In some cases hesitation may be felt in pronouncing an opinion whether it is for Artemis and the nymphs or for the Fates ([Greek: Moirai]) that these gifts are intended; and in the category of the doubtful must be included all those cases where the dedi-*