The unicorn; a mythological investigation - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 Excerpt: ...of "The open mouth that seemed to contains A good full peck within the utmost brim, Appearing like the mouth of Orcus griesly grim." ' From this open mouth issue two huge curved teeth, the lunar horns. The protruded tongue and gnashing teeth were familiar to the author (probably Hesiod 2) of the Aspis Herakleous.8 And this leads us to the Hesiodik phase of the myth, according to which there are three Gorgones ( = Hekat Triformis), Medousa 'the Euler' ( = the King or Queen-moon), Stheino or Stheno 'the Strong' ( = the general Nocturnalpotency), and Euryale 'the Wide wandering'(= the Moon 'wandering companionless'5), a phase which corresponds with the solar Bellerophon in the same Aleian Field.6 Do not hastily charge the intricate myth with inconsistency. The Night is dark and notdark, lunar and not-lunar; and so is the Gorg6; so are the Gorgones. And that the Gorgo is one as well as three, is shown clearly by a writer as late as 1 C. C. E. ii. 221. 'The Manducus, a symbolic effigy with gaping jaws, was borne aloft in Roman games and processions to represent the underworld' (Rev. Is. Taylor, Etruscan Researches, i. 121). 2 Vide Mahaffy, Hist, of Clas. Gk. Lit. 1880, i. 112-3. 3 Alxpafav 8' Spa rayf fie'vei 8' xdpawov 686vras (v. 235). 4 Theog. 278. 5 The true poet, whether a 'modern-ancient,' as Shakspere, Shelley, or Wordsworth; or an ancientmodern, like many a Kamic, Babylonian or Vedic bard of unknown name, takes essentially the same stand-point. 6 Ale is a homeless, endless roaming, the ceaseless journey of the heavenly bodies in the field of space. Euripides.1 The home of the Gorgones lies as of course in or beyond the western darkness;2 with the Euemerism which first connected them with Libye3 as a western region, and has subsequently identifi...