Bulfinch's Mythology
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Classical mythology popularization

Bulfinch's Mythology: The Age of Fable; The Age of Chivalry; Legends of Charlemagne

Thomas Bulfinch1881
Introductorycomplete

A comprehensive compilation of myths and legends designed to make classical literature and ancient history accessible to the general public. This complete edition includes the three foundational volumes: The Age of Fable (Greek/Roman gods), The Age of Chivalry (Arthurian and romantic legends), and Legends of Charlemagne (medieval French epics).

Also known asThe Complete Bulfinch
This edition1881
EditionS. W. Tilton & Co., Boston
Comparative MythologyWestern / ClassicalCreation MythsMythologyClassical mythologyNorse magicRoman MythologyClassical heroesritual documentationGreek MythologyNorse mythology

Contents380 chapters

  1. 01STORIES OF GODS AND HEROES
  2. 02CHAPTER I
  3. 03INTRODUCTION
  4. 04ROMAN DIVINITIES
  5. 05CHAPTER II
  6. 06PROMETHEUS AND PANDORA
  7. 07CHAPTER III
  8. 08APOLLO AND DAPHNE—PYRAMUS AND THISBE—CEPHALUS AND PROCRIS
  9. 09APOLLO AND DAPHNE
  10. 10PYRAMUS AND THISBE
  11. 11CEPHALUS AND PROCRIS
  12. 12CHAPTER IV
  13. 13JUNO AND HER RIVALS, IO AND CALLISTO—DIANA AND ACTÆON—LATONA AND THE RUSTICS
  14. 14CALLISTO
  15. 15DIANA AND ACTÆON
  16. 16LATONA AND THE RUSTICS
  17. 17CHAPTER V
  18. 18PHAËTON
  19. 19CHAPTER VI
  20. 20MIDAS—BAUCIS AND PHILEMON
  21. 21BAUCIS AND PHILEMON
  22. 22CHAPTER VII
  23. 23PROSERPINE—GLAUCUS AND SCYLLA
  24. 24GLAUCUS AND SCYLLA
  25. 25CHAPTER VIII
  26. 26PYGMALION—DRYOPE—VENUS AND ADONIS—APOLLO AND HYACINTHUS
  27. 27DRYOPE
  28. 28VENUS AND ADONIS
  29. 29APOLLO AND HYACINTHUS
  30. 30CHAPTER IX
  31. 31CEYX AND HALCYONE: OR, THE HALCYON BIRDS
  32. 32CHAPTER X
  33. 33VERTUMNUS AND POMONA
  34. 34CHAPTER XI
  35. 35CUPID AND PSYCHE
  36. 36CHAPTER XII
  37. 37CADMUS—THE MYRMIDONS
  38. 38THE MYRMIDONS
  39. 39CHAPTER XIII
  40. 40NISUS AND SCYLLA—ECHO AND NARCISSUS—CLYTIE—HERO AND LEANDER NISUS AND SCYLLA
  41. 41ECHO AND NARCISSUS
  42. 42CLYTIE
  43. 43HERO AND LEANDER
  44. 44CHAPTER XIV
  45. 45MINERVA—NIOBE MINERVA
  46. 46NIOBE
  47. 47CHAPTER XV
  48. 48THE GRÆÆ OR GRAY-MAIDS—PERSEUS—MEDUSA—ATLAS—ANDROMEDA THE GRÆÆ AND THE GORGONS
  49. 49PERSEUS AND MEDUSA
  50. 50PERSEUS AND ATLAS
  51. 51THE SEA-MONSTER
  52. 52THE WEDDING FEAST
  53. 53CHAPTER XVI
  54. 54MONSTERS GIANTS, SPHINX, PEGASUS AND CHIMÆRA, CENTAURS, GRIFFIN, AND PYGMIES
  55. 55THE SPHINX
  56. 56PEGASUS AND THE CHIMÆRA
  57. 57THE CENTAURS
  58. 58THE PYGMIES
  59. 59THE GRIFFIN, OR GRYPHON
  60. 60CHAPTER XVII
  61. 61THE GOLDEN FLEECE—MEDEA THE GOLDEN FLEECE
  62. 62MEDEA AND ÆSON
  63. 63CHAPTER XVIII
  64. 64MELEAGER AND ATALANTA
  65. 65ATALANTA
  66. 66CHAPTER XIX
  67. 67HERCULES—HEBE AND GANYMEDE HERCULES
  68. 68HEBE AND GANYMEDE
  69. 69CHAPTER XX
  70. 70THESEUS—DÆDALUS—CASTOR AND POLLUX THESEUS
  71. 71OLYMPIC AND OTHER GAMES
  72. 72DÆDALUS
  73. 73CASTOR AND POLLUX
  74. 74CHAPTER XXI
  75. 75BACCHUS—ARIADNE BACCHUS
  76. 76ARIADNE
  77. 77CHAPTER XXII
  78. 78THE RURAL DEITIES—ERISICHTHON—RHŒCUS—THE WATER DEITIES—CAMENÆ—WINDS THE RURAL DEITIES
  79. 79ERISICHTHON
  80. 80RHŒCUS
  81. 81THE WATER DEITIES
  82. 82NEPTUNE
  83. 83AMPHITRITE
  84. 84NEREUS AND DORIS
  85. 85TRITON AND PROTEUS
  86. 86THETIS
  87. 87LEUCOTHEA AND PALÆMON
  88. 88THE CAMENÆ
  89. 89THE WINDS
  90. 90CHAPTER XXIII
  91. 91ACHELOUS AND HERCULES—ADMETUS AND ALCESTIS—ANTIGONE—PENELOPE ACHELOUS AND HERCULES
  92. 92ADMETUS AND ALCESTIS
  93. 93ANTIGONE
  94. 94PENELOPE
  95. 95CHAPTER XXIV
  96. 96ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE—ARISTÆUS—AMPHION—LINUS—THAMYRIS—MARSYAS—MELAMPUS—MUSÆUS ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE
  97. 97ARISTÆUS, THE BEE-KEEPER
  98. 98AMPHION
  99. 99LINUS
  100. 100THAMYRIS
  101. 101MARSYAS
  102. 102MELAMPUS
  103. 103MUSÆUS
  104. 104CHAPTER XXV
  105. 105ARION—IBYCUS—SIMONIDES—SAPPHO
  106. 106ARION
  107. 107IBYCUS
  108. 108SIMONIDES
  109. 109SAPPHO
  110. 110CHAPTER XXVI
  111. 111ENDYMION—ORION—AURORA AND TITHONUS—ACIS AND GALATEA DIANA AND ENDYMION
  112. 112ORION
  113. 113AURORA AND TITHONUS
  114. 114ACIS AND GALATEA
  115. 115CHAPTER XXVII
  116. 116THE TROJAN WAR
  117. 117“THE ILIAD”
  118. 118CHAPTER XXVIII
  119. 119THE FALL OF TROY—RETURN OF THE GREEKS—ORESTES AND ELECTRA THE FALL OF TROY
  120. 120MENELAUS AND HELEN
  121. 121AGAMEMNON, ORESTES, AND ELECTRA
  122. 122TROY
  123. 123CHAPTER XXIX
  124. 124ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES—THE LOTUS-EATERS—CYCLOPES—CIRCE—SIRENS—SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS—CALYPSO RETURN OF ULYSSES
  125. 125THE LÆSTRYGONIANS
  126. 126SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS
  127. 127CALYPSO
  128. 128CHAPTER XXX
  129. 129The PHÆACIANS—FATE OF THE SUITORS THE PHÆACIANS
  130. 130FATE OF THE SUITORS
  131. 131CHAPTER XXXI
  132. 132ADVENTURES OF ÆNEAS—THE HARPIES—DIDO—PALINURUS ADVENTURES OF ÆNEAS
  133. 133DIDO
  134. 134PALINURUS
  135. 135CHAPTER XXXII
  136. 136THE INFERNAL REGIONS—THE SIBYL THE INFERNAL REGIONS
  137. 137ELYSIUM
  138. 138THE SIBYL
  139. 139CHAPTER XXXIII
  140. 140CAMILLA—EVANDER—NISUS AND EURYALUS—MEZENTIUS—TURNUS
  141. 141OPENING THE GATES OF JANUS
  142. 142CAMILLA
  143. 143EVANDER
  144. 144INFANT ROME
  145. 145NISUS AND EURYALUS
  146. 146MEZENTIUS
  147. 147PALLAS, CAMILLA, TURNUS
  148. 148CHAPTER XXXIV
  149. 149PYTHAGORAS—EGYPTIAN DEITIES—ORACLES PYTHAGORAS
  150. 150SYBARIS AND CROTONA
  151. 151EGYPTIAN DEITIES
  152. 152MYTH OF OSIRIS AND ISIS
  153. 153ORACLES
  154. 154ORACLE OF TROPHONIUS
  155. 155ORACLE OF ÆSCULAPIUS
  156. 156ORACLE OF APIS
  157. 157CHAPTER XXXV
  158. 158ORIGIN OF MYTHOLOGY—STATUES OF GODS AND GODDESSES—POETS OF MYTHOLOGY ORIGIN OF MYTHOLOGY
  159. 159STATUES OF THE GODS
  160. 160THE OLYMPIAN JUPITER
  161. 161THE MINERVA OF THE PARTHENON
  162. 162THE VENUS DE’ MEDICI
  163. 163THE APOLLO BELVEDERE
  164. 164THE DIANA A LA BICHE
  165. 165THE POETS OF MYTHOLOGY
  166. 166VIRGIL
  167. 167CHAPTER XXXVI
  168. 168MODERN MONSTERS—THE PHŒNIX—BASILISK—UNICORN—SALAMANDER MODERN MONSTERS
  169. 169THE PHŒNIX
  170. 170THE COCKATRICE, OR BASILISK
  171. 171THE UNICORN
  172. 172THE SALAMANDER
  173. 173CHAPTER XXXVII
  174. 174EASTERN MYTHOLOGY—ZOROASTER—HINDU MYTHOLOGY—CASTES—BUDDHA—GRAND LAMA ZOROASTER
  175. 175HINDU MYTHOLOGY
  176. 176VISHNU
  177. 177SIVA
  178. 178JUGGERNAUT
  179. 179CASTES
  180. 180BUDDHA
  181. 181THE GRAND LAMA
  182. 182PRESTER JOHN
  183. 183CHAPTER XXXVIII
  184. 184NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY—VALHALLA—THE VALKYRIOR NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY
  185. 185OF THE JOYS OF VALHALLA
  186. 186THE VALKYRIE
  187. 187OF THOR AND THE OTHER GODS
  188. 188OF LOKI AND HIS PROGENY
  189. 189HOW THOR PAID THE MOUNTAIN GIANT HIS WAGES
  190. 190THE RECOVERY OF THE HAMMER
  191. 191CHAPTER XXXIX
  192. 192THOR’S VISIT TO JOTUNHEIM THOR’S VISIT TO JOTUNHEIM, THE GIANT’S COUNTRY
  193. 193CHAPTER XL
  194. 194THE DEATH OF BALDUR—THE ELVES—RUNIC LETTERS—ICELAND—TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY—NIBELUNGEN LIED THE DEATH OF BALDUR
  195. 195THE FUNERAL OF BALDUR
  196. 196THE ELVES
  197. 197RAGNAROK, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
  198. 198RUNIC LETTERS
  199. 199THE SKALDS
  200. 200ICELAND
  201. 201TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY
  202. 202THE NIBELUNGEN LIED
  203. 203THE NIBELUNGEN HOARD
  204. 204WAGNER’S NIBELUNGEN RING
  205. 205CHAPTER XLI
  206. 206THE DRUIDS—IONA DRUIDS
  207. 207IONA
  208. 208KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS
  209. 209CHAPTER I
  210. 210INTRODUCTION
  211. 211THE TRAINING OF A KNIGHT
  212. 212FREEMEN, VILLAINS, SERFS, AND CLERKS
  213. 213TOURNAMENTS
  214. 214MAIL ARMOR
  215. 215HELMETS
  216. 216ROMANCES
  217. 217METRICAL ROMANCES
  218. 218CHAPTER II
  219. 219THE MYTHICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND
  220. 220BLADUD
  221. 221LEIR
  222. 222FERREX AND PORREX
  223. 223DUNWALLO MOLMUTIUS
  224. 224BRENNUS AND BELINUS,
  225. 225ELIDURE
  226. 226LUD
  227. 227CASSIBELLAUNUS
  228. 228KYMBELINUS, OR CYMBELINE
  229. 229ARMORICA
  230. 230CHAPTER III
  231. 231MERLIN
  232. 232CAER-MERDIN, OR CAERMARTHEN (IN WALES), MERLIN’S TOWER, AND THE IMPRISONED FIENDS.
  233. 233CHAPTER IV
  234. 234ARTHUR
  235. 235KING ARTHUR
  236. 236ARTHUR CHOSEN KING
  237. 237GUENEVER
  238. 238CHAPTER V
  239. 239ARTHUR (Continued)
  240. 240KING ARTHUR SLAYS THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL’S MOUNT
  241. 241KING ARTHUR GETS A SWORD FROM THE LADY OF THE LAKE
  242. 242CHAPTER VI
  243. 243SIR GAWAIN
  244. 244SIR GAWAIN’S MARRIAGE
  245. 245CHAPTER VII
  246. 246CARADOC BRIEFBRAS; OR, CARADOC WITH THE SHRUNKEN ARM
  247. 247CHAPTER VIII
  248. 248LAUNCELOT OF THE LAKE
  249. 249SIR LAUNCELOT
  250. 250CHAPTER IX
  251. 251THE ADVENTURE OF THE CART
  252. 252CHAPTER X
  253. 253THE LADY OF SHALOTT
  254. 254CHAPTER XI
  255. 255QUEEN GUENEVER’S PERIL
  256. 256CHAPTER XII
  257. 257TRISTRAM AND ISOUDE
  258. 258CHAPTER XIII
  259. 259TRISTRAM AND ISOUDE (Continued)
  260. 260CHAPTER XIV
  261. 261SIR TRISTRAM’S BATTLE WITH SIR LAUNCELOT
  262. 262SIR TRISTRAM AS A SPORTSMAN
  263. 263CHAPTER XV
  264. 264THE ROUND TABLE
  265. 265CHAPTER XVI
  266. 266SIR PALAMEDES
  267. 267CHAPTER XVII
  268. 268SIR TRISTRAM
  269. 269CHAPTER XVIII
  270. 270PERCEVAL
  271. 271CHAPTER XIX
  272. 272THE SANGREAL, OR HOLY GRAAL
  273. 273SIR GALAHAD
  274. 274SIR GAWAIN
  275. 275CHAPTER XX
  276. 276THE SANGREAL (Continued) SIR LAUNCELOT
  277. 277SIR PERCEVAL
  278. 278CHAPTER XXI
  279. 279THE SANGREAL (Continued) SIR BOHORT
  280. 280SIR LAUNCELOT (Resumed)
  281. 281SIR GALAHAD
  282. 282CHAPTER XXII
  283. 283SIR AGRIVAIN’S TREASON
  284. 284CHAPTER XXIII
  285. 285MORTE D’ARTHUR
  286. 286THE MABINOGEON
  287. 287INTRODUCTORY NOTE
  288. 288CHAPTER I
  289. 289THE BRITONS
  290. 290THE WELSH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
  291. 291THE WELSH BARDS
  292. 292THE TRIADS
  293. 293CHAPTER II
  294. 294THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN KYNON’S ADVENTURE
  295. 295CHAPTER III
  296. 296THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued) OWAIN’S ADVENTURE[58]
  297. 297CHAPTER IV
  298. 298THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued) GAWAIN’S ADVENTURE
  299. 299THE ADVENTURE OF THE LION
  300. 300CHAPTER V
  301. 301GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN
  302. 302CHAPTER VI
  303. 303GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued)
  304. 304CHAPTER VII
  305. 305GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued)
  306. 306CHAPTER VIII
  307. 307PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED
  308. 308CHAPTER IX
  309. 309BRANWEN, THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR
  310. 310CHAPTER X
  311. 311MANAWYDDAN
  312. 312CHAPTER XI
  313. 313KILWICH AND OLWEN
  314. 314CHAPTER XII
  315. 315KILWICH AND OLWEN (Continued)
  316. 316CHAPTER XIII
  317. 317TALIESIN
  318. 318HERO MYTHS OF THE BRITISH RACE
  319. 319BEOWULF
  320. 320CUCHULAIN, CHAMPION OF IRELAND
  321. 321HEREWARD THE WAKE
  322. 322ROBIN HOOD
  323. 323LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE
  324. 324INTRODUCTION
  325. 325THE PEERS, OR PALADINS
  326. 326ORLANDO
  327. 327ROLAND AND FERRAGUS
  328. 328A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER
  329. 329RINALDO
  330. 330THE TOURNAMENT
  331. 331THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA
  332. 332ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO
  333. 333THE INVASION OF FRANCE
  334. 334THE INVASION OF FRANCE (Continued)
  335. 335BRADAMANTE AND ROGERO
  336. 336ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS
  337. 337THE ORC
  338. 338ASTOLPHO’S ADVENTURES CONTINUED, AND ISABELLA’S BEGUN
  339. 339MEDORO
  340. 340ORLANDO MAD
  341. 341ZERBINO AND ISABELLA
  342. 342ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA
  343. 343THE WAR IN AFRICA
  344. 344ROGERO AND BRADAMANTE
  345. 345THE BATTLE OF RONCESVALLES
  346. 346RINALDO AND BAYARD
  347. 347DEATH OF RINALDO
  348. 348HUON OF BORDEAUX
  349. 349HUON OF BORDEAUX (Continued)
  350. 350HUON OF BORDEAUX (Continued)
  351. 351OGIER, THE DANE
  352. 352OGIER, THE DANE (Continued)
  353. 353OGIER, THE DANE (Continued)
  354. 354PROVERBIAL EXPRESSIONS
  355. 355No. 1. Page 39.
  356. 356No. 2. Page 39.
  357. 357No. 3. Page 42.
  358. 358No. 4. Page 45.
  359. 359No. 5. Page 123.
  360. 360No. 6. Page 230.
  361. 361No. 7. Page 232.
  362. 362No. 8. Page 245.
  363. 363No. 9. Page 260.
  364. 364No. 10. Page 261.
  365. 365No. 11. Page 263.
  366. 366No. 12. Page 263.
  367. 367No. 13. Page 265.
  368. 368No. 14. Page 265.
  369. 369No. 15. Page 265.
  370. 370No. 16. Page 282.
  371. 371No. 17. Page 285.
  372. 372LIST OF ILLUSTRATIVE PASSAGES
  373. 373QUOTED FROM THE POETS
  374. 374INDEX AND DICTIONARY
  375. 375THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
  376. 376"Cover"
  377. 377The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
  378. 378The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
  379. 379The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch
  380. 380The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch

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