The council of the gods

Front matter

Vvi

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Foreword

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A BACKGROUND of sympathetic understanding for Greek life and thought is an important part of every child’s social heritage. An essential ingredient of this background is some familiarity with Greek myth¬ ology. This mythology is so rich, and the gods and demigods are so numerous, that many a child finds him¬ self confused rather than entranced when he first enters this realm.

There is a need, therefore, for a book which will give children a simple but accurate understanding of the gods of ancient Greece. It must hold the children’s interest if it is to be of any value, and must have the ^savor of the Greek classics. The Council of the Gods is such a book.

The writer of the book, Ruth Harshaw, is unusually well qualified for the undertaking. Having been a teacher, principal, and supervisor in the Winnetka schools, she has seen clearly the need for it and the inade¬ quacy of extant materials. Both as teacher and mother she had the touch with childhood that is necessary to make the book fit children’s requirements and interests.

vii

FOREWORD

She has the scholarship and thoroughness to give the classicist confidence in the authenticity of her work. And fortunately she has the literary ability needed for any attempt to give children a feeling for Greek literature.

To use Mrs. Harshaw’s own words, “The story stands upon three legs like the tripods of ancient Greece. The first is interest. It is hoped that the story is interesting enough to hold any child to the end. The second is knowledge. When a child has read the story he should have a unified picture of the system of Greek mythology. The third is atmosphere. The story should give him a feeling for Homeric atmosphere, for without that these ancient deities are without meaning. If this third leg stands firmly then the child will enjoy the excerpts from the classical poetry which precede and are related to each chapter.”

By looking at the old story of Persephone through the eyes of the gods rather than those of mortals Mrs. Harshaw has found a clever means of making each god stand out as an individual.

She has not, it is true, told all about the gods, for it is her feeling, together with many other educators, that only those facts about the gods which contribute to their dignity and beauty have any place in the education of the young. What she does tell, however, is based on the best source material, is accurate in detail, and it is always interesting and vital.

viii

FOREWORD

The fifth grades in the Winnetka schools have served as a testing laboratory to determine the book’s value and interest to children. Their verdict has been enthusiastic¬ ally favorable.

The book is written in response to a genuine need. I believe it fills that need, and that children reading it will find that it makes other books and stories of Greek life and thought clearer, more interesting and meaningful.

Carleton Washburne

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I GRATEFULLY acknowledge my debt to the fol¬ lowing for the privilege of using their copyright translations:

My greatest debt is to George Allen and Unwin, Ltd., for Andrew Lang’s translations of the Homeric Hymns. This story follows as closely as possible the story as told in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, and the excerpts from Andrew Lang’s translation add greatly to the value of the book.

I am indebted to the following for more brief excerpts from copyright translations:

MacMillan for Butcher and Lang’s translation of Homer’s Odyssey; David McKay for translation of Homer’s Iliad from Murray’s Manual of Mythology, and for a translation of one of the Homeric Hymns from Bulfinch’s Age of Fable; Oxford Press for Night in the Valley, translated by J. A. Pott; J. W. McKail’s transla¬ tion of Homer’s Odyssey, and C. S. Caverly’s translation of Theocritus from Livingstone’s The Pageant of Greece.

Ruth Harshaw.

Contents

I Zeus Looks Down From Olympus 23

II Hermes, the Swift-Footed Messenger 33

III Hera in the Palace of Ivory and Gold 37

Introduction

“We will build great sharp-nosed ships,’’ the people said, “and sail this shining sea.”

And this they did. They followed their stepping stones and then journeyed beyond them to far-off places.

In far-off places these ancient Greeks found people with other thoughts than theirs, with other ways of liv¬ ing. What they saw as they traveled helped their minds to grow. Many of the people whom they visited be¬ came their subjects, and with buying and selling, with tribute from these many subject states, wealth poured into the money chests of the cities. Athens, above all the others, flourished and became the center of art and learning and the greatest city in all Greece.

The rule of tyrants had taught this country the value of freedom, so Athens was ruled by its people. Thus she became the first democracy in the history of the world. As Athens was first in the form of her govern¬ ment she became first in many other things. Among her people there came to be many leaders, and these leaders made the people of ancient Greece the most re¬ markable of all those who have yet lived upon the earth.

Great poems never since surpassed in beauty and power, known to all Greeks, filled them with pride in their heroic past and moved them to courageous living. And so followed a golden age when each great man in¬ spired greatness in those about him.

With true greatness comes questioning and wonderxviii

INTRODUCTION ing and desire for understanding. Many of these great ones wondered and questioned one another about right and wrong, about happiness and how to find it, about the world and the meaning of life. These men became the first philosophers, and today we read their works and learn that the thinkers of that far-away time thought much as do our great thinkers today.

Some of these questioners observed the happenings of nature, arranged in order the facts they gathered and tried to learn the truth about all things. These men became the first scientists.

In centuries past the ancestors of these Greeks had questioned one another about the disappearing of the sun and the falling of darkness, the gathering of the clouds, and the peal of the thunder. They had answered these questions simply, as a child might answer them. The sun was to them a golden-haired god who drove a shining chariot across the sky. To them it was a god of the heavens who gathered the thunder clouds, sent shafts of lightning, and watered the dry earth.

These simple answers, filled with beauty, made up the religion of the ancient Greeks. Though the scien¬ tists and philosophers of Athens, the center of Greek culture, found other answers to many of these questions, the people of this time believed and thought as their ancestors had done before them. And thus was our heritage from them enriched, for the beauty of these

xix

INTRODUCTION ancient myths continued to inspire painters, poets, sculp¬ tors, and architects. The creations of their hands be¬ came the foundation of all art, and the greatest of many great gifts which Greece gave to the world.

The whole glory of Greece was tied up with this an¬ cient religion. To these people the good and the beau¬ tiful were one, and so the noblest offering to the blessed gods was beauty. Magnificent shrines were built in honor of them. Down the long vistas of the marble pillared temples could be seen statues of the loved deities, made in human form in all its perfection and beauty. They made beautiful pottery and on it with skill and patience they pictured their gods as they thought of them.

If one of those great ancients could visit our country and walk among us, he would say:

“The buildings of your capital city and many of your beautiful buildings elsewhere look strangely like the temples of my day built in honor of our gods. When I look through your museums of art, everywhere I find copies of the statues made in my time, of the gods we worshiped.”

Then would this Ancient stand proudly and look toward distant Olympus remembering that though thou¬ sands of years have passed, the greatness of the age in which he lived is still undimmed, and he would raise his arms in thanksgiving to his gods that the thoughts of his people and the works of their hands had been

XX

INTRODUCTION great enough to enrich the lives of all those who have lived after them.

And so follows a story of the immortal beings to whom the ancient Greeks raised their arms in worship, and who inspired this great people to many of the creations which enrich our lives today.

XXI

OLYMPUS

For ever is the Gods’ unchanging seat,

Wet with no rain and shaken by no blast,

And by no snowflake touched; but very bright It stretches cloudless, and a splendour white Broods over all its borders, and therein The blessed Gods live ever in delight.

THE ODYSSEY

J. W. MacKail translation from Livingstone*s Pageant of Greece

Chapter I ZEUS LOOKS DOWN FROM OLYMPUS

HE gods loved by the Greeks lived upon the lofty

-L peak of Mount Olympus. This home of the gods, wrapt in clouds and mist, unseen by mortal man, was never disturbed by storms, drenched by rain, nor in¬ vaded by snow. Here shone always warm, clear light from a sky, fair and cloudless.

Upon this lofty peak were hills and meadows, green and beautiful, and here were scattered the palaces of the gods. On that hill, the highest and fairest, lived Zeus, the greatest, the most powerful, the king of mor¬ tals and immortals. It was he, a babe, who had been hidden from Cronus, his cruel father, king of the Titans, lord of the universe, who had sought to devour him. It was he who had been cared for by the nymphs of the sea. For him the bees had gathered honey, for him the strong eagle had brought ambrosia, and to him the mother goat had given of her milk. And when he was grown such power he had that with gleam of lightning, with din of thunderbolts, with shock of hundred-handed monsters he had overpowered the race of Titans. The heavens had shaken and the earth. Then turning to Atlas, the Titan of mighty bulk and terrible strength, he had spoken in thundering tones:

“Atlas, the strong, the mighty, from this time forth you shall bear upon your shoulders the weight of the heavens. Though you are wearied yet shall you hold your burden. Thus shall the earth and the sky be held apart that I may bring order to all things.”

Then to another great Titan, Prometheus (pro me' thus), he had given this command:

“To you, Prometheus, shall fall the labor of creating the animals which shall dwell upon the earth. And listen well, for of these animals man shall be the great¬ est, and of all I shall be king.”

All things had been done according to the commands of Zeus and from that time forth he had dwelt upon Olympus, and with him had dwelt the other great gods. To each had been given duties and powers, but of the twelve great gods Zeus was the most powerful, the su¬ preme lord of the wide earth below and all that dwelt therein, and of the starry heavens above.

These gods who dwelt on Olympus knew all things of the earth below and of the heavens above, and all things lay in their power. When they left their lofty peak, their immortal home, the folds of clouds which hid

ZBUS LOOKS DOWN FROM OLYMPUS them from mortal view were drawn aside by the fair goddesses of the seasons. Then on beautiful sandals, im¬ mortal, made of gold, they were carried over the wide ways of the earth and over boundless seas with the speed of the wind. Chariots were theirs, golden and well-wrought, drawn by immortal steeds, brazen-hoofed and swift. They walked among the stars and looked down upon the wide earth below. There they beheld mor¬ tals at work and at play, sorrowing or rejoicing. When all that they saw pleased them, and when the fragrance of earthly sacrifices was borne to the cloudy heights, the gods were joyous. Then they gathered in their gold and silver palaces for celestial feasting. But when they were displeased with what they saw, the thunder rolled and the mountains shook with their anger.

Often Zeus, the greatest of the gods, summoned all of the immortals to him, for his palace was the gathering place for all those who dwelt on Olympus. There they held counsel together on all affairs, mortal and immor¬ tal, and there they gathered to feast on ambrosia, and to sip nectar from golden cups.

It was on a morning of clear light and glistening fresh¬ ness on Olympus in this long ago time that Zeus, the father of gods and men, walked among the clouds and looked down upon the earth below. The Greek name, Zeus, means radiant light of heaven, and just so the great Zeus seemed as he stood among the clouds think- 25 ing joyous thoughts. His bodily strength was great and his bearing stern, and of all the celestials he was the most wise and of all the most glorious. The united strength of all the other gods could not move him, for he could draw the gods, and the earth, and the seas to himself, and having drawn them, his power was so great that, if he willed, he could suspend all from Olympus by a golden chain. The great poet Homer pictured him in all of his power and splendor:

He, whose all-conscious eyes the world behold,

The eternal Thunderer sat, enthroned in gold .

High heaven the footstool of his feet he ma\es,

And wide beneath him all Olympus shades .

He spo\e, and awful bends his sable brows,

Shades his ambrosial curls, and gives the nod,

The stamp of fate and sanction of the God:

High heaven with trembling the dread signal too\, And Olympus to the center shoo\.

HOMER Popes translation

The thoughts of the great Zeus had been for many days upon the affairs of the gods, and there had been little time for considering the needs of mortals below. It was with keen pleasure that his thoughts turned to

Zeus was called Jove by the Romans.

“High heaven the footstool of his feet he ma\es, And wide beneath him all Olympus shakes”

ZEUS LOOKS DOWN FROM OLYMPUS

them upon this day. This was the time that Zeus most loved to look upon the earth. It was the time when flowers burst freshly into bloom and fruit formed upon tree and vine. A smile came to the stern face of the god for he thought to see mortals feasting and offering sacrifices before his sacred altars. Joy filled his heart. Joy because of work accomplished for the gods and joy for the happiness he thought to find among mortals below. He would summon the other eleven great Olympian gods for a feast upon this day. The music of the flute and the harp, and the rhythm of the dance should bring them delight as they feasted in his spacious hall. It would be a festive day to welcome new life and happiness upon the earth.

Joyously the immortal king found a place from which his gaze could travel far. He bent forward his powerful head that he might better penetrate the misty light. The rays of the morning sun had not yet touched the earth. He turned his head slowly from left to right. The joy which had shone in his countenance faded. Again he turned his head slowly. A frown appeared upon his noble brow. He shook his powerful head, swaying his heavy curls. Indeed he beheld a strange sight. The earth which but a few days before had seemed ready to burst into fresh bloom was a dull and sodden brown. Not a stalk of grain, not a blade of grass, and not a flower could he see.

What was the meaning of this? Had he been too sparing of the winds and rains? It might be so. His thoughts had indeed been upon other things. As rosyfingered dawn appeared he sent a gentle wind to stir the trees, but no sign of buds appeared. He scattered sparkling raindrops on fields and meadows, but no green shoots brightened the dreary land.

The mist vanished as the sun, leaving the blue waters, rose in the brazen sky to shine upon the saddened earth. Zeus waited anxiously as its rays lightly touched the loftiest trees and the highest mountain peaks, for every¬ where these were sacred to him, but a look of old age was upon them. He gazed more anxiously as the sun lighted the faces of mortals. Before his altars he saw them. The fragrance of their sacrifices came to him. With heads turned upward and hands stretched toward Olympus they sent their prayers to the father of gods and men. The purity of their hearts pleased the great Zeus, for this above all things he required of all his worshipers. Then was the great head bent to give ear to the prayers of mortals. He listened closely.

“Life, life, dear Zeus, to our fields, our plains, our groves! We hunger! We grieve! Have mercy!”

Then the father of gods and men saw the grief and despair in their hearts. Turning to the eagle, his favorite bird, which nestled at his feet, the great Zeus spoke:

“Great eagle, most favored of all creatures of the air, 30

ZEUS LOOKS DOWN FROM OLYMPUS

spread your wings. Seek Hermes, my messenger. Bring him before me.”

There was a whirring sound and a swift movement of the air. The great eagle rose and vanished into the grayness of the clouds.

In sadness the immortal king gazed upon the earth below. Where light and happiness had dwelt there was now darkness and mourning. The cause of this grief he must learn without delay.

HERMES

Foot-feathered Mercury appear'd sublime Beyond the tall tree tops; and in less time Than shoots the slanted hail-storm, down he dr opt Toward the ground; but rested not, nor stopt One moment from his home; only the sward He with his wand light touch'd, and heavenward Swifter than sight was gone .

KEATS

Hermes was called Mercury by the Romans.

Chapter II AR HERMES, THE SWIFT

| FOOTED MESSENGER

W ITH circling flight, swift and sure, the eagle returned and Hermes stood before Zeus, beautiful, young, and full of strength. Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Fleet he was, with winged cap upon his head and winged sandals upon his feet. In his hand he carried his rod, his Caduceus, with wings, symbol of his swiftness, at the top, and two snakes, symbol of his wisdom, twined about it.

The great Zeus addressed him thus:

“Hermes, I came forth to look upon earth in the

beauty of new life. I am sorely grieved at what my

eyes behold. Instead of life, a look of death covers the earth. The sun has been following its daily course. I have sent gentle winds and sparkling rain. Tell me, Hermes, what is the meaning of this lack of fruitfulness? Hermes answered in his silvery-toned voice:

“Father, I know not. I have been in my palace working upon my flute. I would make the tones more sweet. No message has taken me to earth. It is but now that I observe its sad condition. Think you, great Zeus, that someone could have stolen the seeds of Demeter (de me' ter), giver of goodly crops?”

“Ah, swift Hermes, what god but you would think such mischief possible? Think you that for sweet mis¬ chief’s sake some god would cause the whole race of man to perish from the stress of famine? No, no, Hermes, that could not be.”

“Zeus, all wise one, if that be not true, then some one of the immortals is surely working a vengeance against the earth.”

“That thought comes also to me. But what dire cause could so move one of the celestial gods?”

There was a silence while the great Zeus pondered. Then he spoke again:

“What of fair-tressed Demeter, giver of goodly crops? Has she knowledge of this?”

“Naught have I seen of Demeter for many days, most powerful Zeus.”

“Go, swift Hermes, seek her in her Olympian palace on yonder hillock. Had she knowledge of this dread happening, surely she would have sought my aid. Make known to her that in vain have the oxen dragged the crooked plows through the furrows and that the white barley has fallen fruidess upon the land. Hermes, since you are in all things my messenger, go with the speed 34

HERMES, THE SWIFT-FOOTED MESSENGER

of light and summon Demeter to appear before me at once. I had thought to declare this a day of feasting and song, but it has become a day of fasting and mourning. I go in sadness to my palace. Let Demeter come to me there. Go, Hermes, and let nothing delay you.”

So Zeus spoke, and Hermes, the Guide, the Speedy-comer, did not disobey. Quickly he bound his beautiful winged sandals more tightly to his feet. These sandals of gold could carry him over flood and over boundless land swift as a breath of wind. He took flight and like an arrow he shot to the door of the palace of Demeter.

HERA

The white-armed Juno there enthroned was seen, Sovereign of heaven, and Jove's imperious queen; Still near his queen her watchful peacoc\ spreads His thousand eyes, his circling luster sheds; Where'er she bends the living radiance burns,

And floats majestic as the goddess turns.

LOPE de VEGA

Hera was called Juno by the Romans.

A HOMERIC PALACE

Brazen were the walls which ran this way and that from the threshold to the inmost chamber, and round them was a frieze of blue, and golden were the doors that closed in the good house. Silver were the doorposts that were set on the brazen threshold, and silver the lintel thereupon, and the hoo\ of the door was of gold. And on either side stood golden hounds and silver, which Hephaestus wrought by his cunning. . . . And within were seats arrayed against the wall this way and that, from the threshold even to the inmost chamber, and thereon were spread light coverings finely woven, the handiwor\ of women. . . . Yea, and there were youths fashioned in gold, standing on firm set bases, with flaming torches in their hands, giving light through the night to the feasters in the palace.

THE ODYSSEY Butcher and Lang translation

Chapter III HERA IN THE PALACE OF IVORY AND GOLD

T HUS Zeus, to his palace of ivory and gold, walked slowly and with no joy in his footsteps. He entered the great hall, the meeting place of the gods. He sought Hera (He' ra), his wife, the queen of the celestials. As he stood looking about his beautiful hall, a smile came to his stern face. For a moment he forgot the grief which had come to earth.

There was a blaze of gold throughout the lofty room. Inlay of silver and amber, gold and ivory, gleamed in rare design. A sheen as of the sun or moon played on every wall and graceful column.

At one end of the high-roofed spacious hall sat Hera on her throne chair of shining gold awaiting the return of Zeus. Her eyes were large and beautiful. Her broad forehead gave her a look of majesty and nobility. Upon her head she wore a crown. It was of gold and richly wrought. Beneath it her hair fell to her shoulders in full waving tresses. Her chiton (kf ton) was of gauzy linen and delicately patterned. A loose cloak of closely woven fabric, bordered with purple, fell from her shoul¬ ders. Her messenger, Iris, whose garments trailing across the sky mortals called the rainbow, stood at her right hand. At Hera’s left, her watchful peacock spread his shining circle of a thousand eyes. Lightly her hand rested upon his proud back. Hearing the footsteps of the great king, the Olympian queen raised her eyes and greeted him as he stood in the entrance.

A noble figure he was as he stood there. His beard was rich and flowing. The thick masses of hair rose from the high forehead and fell to his shoulders in clus¬ tering locks. His nose was large and finely formed. His slightly opened lips gave an air of kindliness to his stern face.

With measured step the all-powerful Zeus walked to his golden throne chair which stood near that of his queen. Designs of great beauty shone from it, the handi¬ work of Hephaestus (he fes' tus), the craftsman among the gods. Upon its lower part there was a rest for the great god’s feet. Here perched his eagle as Zeus seated himself. Upon a golden nail in the wall behind his throne hung his shield, called Aegis (e' gis). There, too, hung his sheaf of thunderbolts. For them the great Zeus hoped there would be no need upon this day, though as he thought of earth’s sad state he felt that with joy he could loose his thunderbolts and lash with light- 38

“Still near his queen her watchful peacoc\ spreads His thousand eyes, his circling luster sheds**

HERA IN THE PALACE OF IVORY AND GOLD

ning the enemy who had caused such disaster. Not without reason was he called Zeus, the Thunderer. Dark thoughts had returned to him. He took in his hand his scepter, the royal staff and emblem of his power.

Hera observed the look of brooding in Zeus’ counte¬ nance. As her thoughts were ever upon the well-being of the children of mortals, she asked if any misfortune had befallen them.

“Queen of the immortals, I fear that no mortal young or old is free from misfortune today.”

Then Zeus told her of the lack of fruitfulness upon the earth and of the grief and despair in the hearts of mortals.

In her white hand Hera held her scepter. Sadly she looked at the rainbird, the cuckoo, which was mounted upon it. This emblem of new growth to the soil was sacred to her. It was Hera’s desire that rain and mist should at all times make fertile the fields of mortals. But, alas, of what avail were rain and mist if all fruit¬ fulness had gone from the earth?

The door of the lofty hall opened suddenly and Hermes stood before them. With all haste and with no gladness in his voice he poured forth this tale:

“Most powerful Zeus and immortal Queen, give ear to my words. In vain have I sought Demeter in her Olympian palace. Naught is known of her there. Neither today nor in many days past has she been seen.

As I winged my way back to you I paused to learn news of her from the other Olympian gods. From one pillared entrance to another I sped, seeking, questioning. Zeus, most powerful king, I know not the meaning of this, but gone are the celestials from their Olympian abodes!”

“Gone indeed!” Surprise appeared upon the noble countenance and then understanding.

“Surely the Immortals have gone to try their powers against this enemy who seeks to destroy the race of mortals. Alas,” the great king continued sadly, “that I should have had no thought of the earth-dwellers these many days past. Deaf have I been to their cries.”

Suddenly decision straightened the noble figure.

“Swift-footed Hermes, wherever the Immortals may be there you must find them.” Sternly he spoke. “Summon them before me at once. A council of all the Olympian gods will disclose this hidden enemy. First summon Demeter, goddess of the harvest, that I may learn what she may know of this power which has destroyed her gift of life to the soil.”

“Far-beholding Zeus, let me give counsel.” Thus spoke immortal Hera. “Know you that Iris, my messen¬ ger, may carry divine commands with the speed of Hermes? Let her seek the fair-tressed Demeter and bring her before you. Then may the swift-footed Hermes carry with greater speed your summons to the other gods.”

HERA IN THE PALACE OF IVORY AND GOLD

“Golden-throned Hera, whom all the Blessed through¬ out high Olympus honor and revere, it is wise counsel which you offer me. Let Iris be gone. Let her seek the ways of Demeter, and so may Hermes penetrate more quickly the depths of the sea, the paths of the forest, and the caverns of distant mountains. Let Poseidon (posi'don), my brother, god of the sea, be summoned first. Seek next Artemis, goddess of the hunt and of the moon, then fare swiftly over the wide earth until you come to the Chalybes (kal' i bez)—Ares (a' reez) will be there taking keep of the works of war. Let Athene (ath e' ne), goddess of wisdom, be next to receive the summons, then Aphrodite (af ro df te), god¬ dess of love and beauty, in whatever place they may be Hephaestus, artist and craftsman, shall you seek in his loved workshop. Next fare you eastward and in his blazing palace seek Apollo, god of light. Then with swift flight return to Olympus and thence to the heart of my palace where will be found Hestia, before my hearth, ever its guardian and keeper.

And so the door of the hall flung wide and through it passed Iris of the shining wings and of the trailing rainbow garments, and Hermes of the golden wand and of the winged sandals. Forth they fared over the wide ways of the earth.