HYMEN
Both the Greeks and Romans worshipped him as the god of marriage, and in this regard he was connected with Hera, who among other things was the goddess of the marriage troth. He was born so delicate and beautiful that he might be mistaken for a girl, and used this appearance to get close to a young Athenian maiden whom he loved, but whom he could not marry, on account of his poverty. Joining a band of maidens with whom she was engaged in celebrating a festival of Demeter, he was captured with the rest of the girls when robbers appeared and abducted them, carrying them off to their ship.nished, and After some time, the brigands landed at an island, where they became besotted with drink, and fell asleep. Hymen, seeing the opportunity, incited his fellow captives to rise up and slay the robbers, which they did.
|
|