Myths and Legends of the Greeks

By Nicola Ann Sissons and Rafaello Busoni

Myths and Legends of the Greeks is a fascinating collection of those classic tales which contribute to the understanding of the literature of today. Simple, clear-cut language enhances these beloved favourites.

Richly illustrated throughout by Rafaello Busoni.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Muriwai Books
• Release date: Dec 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781789128208

Nicola Ann Sissons

RAFAELLO BUSONI (1900-1962) was a graphic artist, painter and illustrator, as well as the author of several books. He illustrated numerous classic juvenile and adventure books, including as Robinson Crusoe, Tom Sawyer, David Copperfield, and Robin Hood. Busoni was born on February 1, 1900 in Berlin, Germany, the son of an Italian musician and composer, Ferruccio Busoni, and Gerda Sjöstrand, the daughter of a Swedish sculptor. Busoni was self-taught in his artistic career, and exhibited his works for the first time in 1917 in the Zurich gallery, Tanner. He remained in Switzerland for five years and then worked in Paris and Berlin, where he made his mark as an illustrator. In 1935, he and his young family emigrated to Madeira, where they remained until the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. In October 1939, they travelled from Norway to New York, where they remained and Busoni continued his career as a painter and illustrator until his death in March 1962, aged 62.

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Text originally published in 1960 under the same title.

© Muriwai Books 2018, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE GREEKS

BY

NICOLA ANN SISSONS

Illustrations by Rafaello Busoni

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 5

THE WINGED HORSE 7

The killing of a Chimaera 7

THE GOLDEN APPLE 10

A Prize for the Fairest 10

THE FAITHFUL COUPLE 13

A Tale of Kindness Regarded 13

THE GOLDEN RAM 16

The Rescue of Two Children 16

ORPHEUS THE SINGER 18

A Visit to the Underworld 18

PYRAMUS AND THISBE 22

A Wall Between Two Lovers 22

THE TROJAN HORSE 26

The Trick that Won a War 26

THE GOLDEN FLEECE 29

The Voyage of the Argonauts 29

THE STORY OF THESEUS 38

Young Liberator of a Kingdom 38

DAEDALUS AND ICARUS 46

The Men Who Flew Like Birds 46

PANDORA’S BOX 49

The Gift of the Gods 49

THE GOLDEN TOUCH 51

The King Who Worshipped Gold 51

THE GORDIAN KNOT 56

The Destiny of Alexander 56

ECHO AND NARCISSUS 58

The nymph and the Vain Youth 58

SWORD OF DAMOCLES 61

The Man Who Would Be King 61

ATALANTA’S RACE 63

A Contest for Love or Death 63

PROMETHEUS 66

The Giver of Fire 66

ARACHNE 68

The Story of the Spider 68

CIRCE 70

The Outwitting of an Enchantress 70

PHAETON 75

A Boy in the Sun God’s Chariot 75

DAMON AND PYTHIAS 81

The Most Faithful of Friends 81

PROSERPINE AND PLUTO 84

A Visit of Springtime to Earth 84

THE CYCLOPS 89

The Death Battle of a Monster 89

THE RETURN OF ULYSSES 93

A King Metes Out Retribution 93

CUPID AND PSYCHE 97

The Immortal Lovers 97

PERSEUS 107

The Quest for the Gorgon’s Head 107

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 113

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

...Pegasus swooped down quickly...

...the goddesses ranged themselves to be judged...

They fell on their knees...

...a golden-fleeced ram bore them away.

...all the inhabitants of the Underworld...

Slowly she slipped back—back—back

The lovers could talk through this chink.

Thisbe saw the lioness approaching...

Silently, they lowered ladders...

Chiron consulted an oracle for advice...

Slowly Jason pulled himself to safety...

Jason commissioned Argus to build him a ship...

A roaring sound filled their ears...

Then Jason cut off the dragon’s head.

...Theseus sent the clumsy giant sprawling.

...the door of Theseus’ prison cell creaked open.

...the Minotaur...charged.

As the two of them flew across the sky...

...hundreds of horrible little creatures...

He plucked an apple from a bough. Oh joy!

Then Midas felt that his ears were growing long...

...he drew his sword from its scabbard...

Narcissus plunged his arms into the water...

Why is that sword hanging above me?

The maiden stooped to scoop it up.

...Jupiter ordered Prometheus to be chained...

...furious at Arachne’s insult...

Instantly, they were changed into swine.

...Ulysses...rushed upon the wicked Circe.

...even my fiery steeds can scarcely climb it...

...Jupiter...hurled a lightning bolt...

...Thank God I am not too late!

Pluto drove his plunging black horses...

Finally, Arethusa...interceded...

Polyphemus...seized two of Ulysses’ men.

In a towering rage, Polyphemus tore a huge stone...

While everyone watched in astonishment...

The suitors rushed for their weapons...

...Cupid became so confused...

Their words began to torment her.

...when her husband had fallen asleep...

...how to persuade the ferryman...

...he saw Psyche lying as if dead on the hillside...

...left to the mercies of the winds and the waves.

The Gorgons were three terrible sisters...

..."Behold Medusa’s Head!

THE WINGED HORSE

The killing of a Chimaera

IN ANCIENT DAYS there was a wonderful white horse called Pegasus. He spent most of his time on the slopes of Mount Helicon, but he could fly through the air like an eagle, for he had beautiful silver wings. He was wild and swift, and had never been ridden or bridled by anyone.

One moonlight night, Pegasus came down to the meadows which lay at the foot of Mount Helicon. Here he struck the ground with his hoof, and immediately a beautiful fountain gushed forth. Pegasus drank of its magic water, and then flew off again above the clouds.

People called it the Fountain of Hippocrene, and often shepherds used to come there at full moon to catch a glimpse of the wonderful Pegasus, who came from time to time to drink at the fountain.

Now a certain country was being laid waste in Asia by a terrible monster called a chimaera. It had three heads—those of a lion, a goat, and a snake—and its body and feet were like those of a dragon. Fire and smoke came from its three great mouths, which were so huge that they looked like enormous caves.

The king of that country had asked a young hero called Bellerophon to catch the Winged Pegasus, so that with this wonderful horse he might kill the hateful chimaera. So, night after night, Bellerophon watched at the fountain for Pegasus; but he was never fortunate enough to see the horse, though once he fancied he heard the sound of his silver wings.

One night, however, he arrived later than usual at the fountain, having taken a little lost child to a shepherd’s hut for safety from wild animals. To his joy he saw Pegasus alight on the meadow. After drinking some of the water, the horse began to caper about in a playful mood.

Presently Pegasus caught sight of Bellerophon and flew off immediately, far above the clouds. To catch him was impossible, so Bellerophon, weary with watching, lay down to sleep.

As he slept, the Goddess Minerva brought a wonderful golden bridle, set with precious stones, and placed it in his hand. When he awoke he knew that with this magic bridle he would be able to tame Pegasus.

That night he hid himself again by the fountain. Soon Pegasus came winging in great circles towards the earth, and alighted so gently that scarcely a blade of grass moved.

He came towards Bellerophon and lowered his head for the bridle, which was soon put in its place. Then Pegasus became suddenly tamed and Bellerophon sprang quickly on to his back. In a moment they soared up and above the clouds.

Bellerophon soon grew used to flying through the air, and he guided his swift steed to the mountain of the monster, chimaera, which lay in the midst of waste land.

Smoke and fire were coming from its hideous mouths, but Pegasus swooped down quickly, and Bellerophon struck the goat’s head a mighty blow with his sword.

In a flash it had rolled on to the ground, while Pegasus shot upward again out of reach of the other two heads, which roared and hissed in a dreadful way.

One more dash down, and the lion’s head was cut off. A third time Pegasus swooped down, and Bellerophon slashed off the snake’s head.

So the