Identifier: grecianromanmyth00dwi (find matches)
Title: Grecian and Roman mythology
Year: 1876 (1870s)
Authors: Dwight, M. A. (Mary Ann), 1806-1858 Lewis, Tayler, 1802-1877
Subjects: Mythology, Classical
Publisher: New York Chicago : A.S. Barnes
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
braveDeath himself in his own dominions—to descend into the open gulfthat leads to his territories, and to contend in direful fight with theking of terrors. Before Hercules went on his way to the lower world, he was initiatedin the Eleusinian mysteries, to be as it were prepared for any event,whether life or death: he then boldly entered the cavern at the Prom-ontory of Taenarus, which led to the abode of the shades. He com-pelled Charon to row him across the Styx, and when reaching the op-posite shore, he first beheld the three-headed dog Cerberus, and therchained to a rock, two well-known heroes, Theseus and Pirithoos, whohad ventured to descend into Orcus, with the intention of deliveringProserpine, the Queen of the dead, from Plutos dominions. Theywere overpowered, fastened to an enchanted rock, and doomed neveragain to see the light of the sun. Hercules, nevertheless, succeeded in delivering Theseus. Fictionsays, that when Hercules was pursuing Cerberus, whose fierceness was 21
Text Appearing After Image:
322 GRECIAN AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY. broken after a desperate struggle, and who was now flying with anxiouswailings to the palace of Pluto, the chaplet of mallow leaves which hewore upon his head turned black. Hercules fought with Pluto himself;seized upon the triple-headed watch-dog of his dominions, loosenedTheseus bonds, and hastened out of the land of terrors. He had alsoendeavored to free Pirithoos from his fetters, but in vain, for Plutodefended his prey with his whole power. Hercules brought Cerberus in triumph to the upper world. Theterrified Eurystheus could not bear the sight of the monster, and Her-cules, after having kept him tamed between his knees, delivered himfrom the pain of beholding the light of day, and the black monsterslunk back to the lower world to resume his watch at its gates. These are the proofs which Hercules gave of his strength, his perse-verance, invincible courage, and patient submission to the decrees ofFate, in performing the most difficult tasks at the

Note About Images