Classic Myths by Mary Catherine Judd
page 17 of 143 (11%)
page 17 of 143 (11%)
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powder. No one dared to disobey him but his wife, Juno, and sometimes
even she had to suffer for doing so. "Jupiter's father was Saturn, who was kind and good in every way but one. He did not love his children, and, at the end of each year, one went away never to return. Jupiter, in some way, was stronger than the rest and refused to go when the order came. He even fought with the messenger and made him beg for mercy. [Illustration: JUPITER AND HIS EAGLE] [Illustration: THE HEAD OF JUPITER. From a Greek Coin of about 280 B.C.] Then Jupiter sent this messenger to Saturn, who agreed to bring back to life Jupiter's brothers and sisters. They all rose up and sent Saturn away forever, and gave the kingdom to the three bravest sons. Neptune took the ocean, Pluto the center of the earth, and Jupiter the skies. They reigned until men had learned wisdom and had become too wise to be ruled by so many gods. "Now Jupiter is the name of the largest planet, and when you see a great beautiful star in the sky, shining almost like the moon, you may be sure it is Jupiter. You can fancy he is looking down to see if Neptune is holding his unruly winds and waves in check, or if Pluto is still keeping guard over the watch-fires in the center of the earth. "So Jupiter still reigns, but no one now is afraid of his power." "How wicked of Saturn to put away his children! How could he?" |
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