by Bacchus—Expedition sent by Cambyses—Ruins still existing—Fons Solis—Account given by Belzoni—Oracle of Esculapius at Epidaurus—Remarkable Embassy sent to Epidaurus by the Roman Senate—Treatment of Votaries in the different Oracles of Esculapius—Oracle of the Castalian Fount—Anecdote of the Emperor Hadrian—Opinions entertained with regard to these Oracles—Quotation from Milton

180 CHAPTER XL. Classic Games—Why connected with Mythology—Olympic Games—By Whom instituted—Time and Manner of their celebration—Olympiads—Nature of the Contests—Qualifications required of the Competitors—Prize awarded to the Victors—Honors bestowed—Horse and Chariot Races—Philip of Macedon—Alcibiades—Cynisca—Intellectual Contests—Herodotus—Dionysius—Pythian Games—By whom instituted—Time of their Celebration—Prize—Nemean Games—Crowns bestowed—Isthmian Games—Why so called—Instituted in Honor of Melicertes—Garland bestowed on the Victor 191 CHAPTER XLI. The Greek Drama—Peculiarities of the Greek Theatre—Description of the Theatre of Bacchus at Athens—Stage Machinery—Dress of the Actors—Masks—The Chorus—Measures of the Choral Dance—Chorus of the Furies—Story of Ibycus—Attempt made to revive the Ancient Chorus—Time occupied by Theatrical Entertainments—Their cost—Comparison with the Roman Amphitheatre 197 CHAPTER XLII. Celebrated Statues—The Olympian Jupiter—Minerva of the Parthenon—Subsequent Fate of this Temple—Apollo Belvidere—Diana à la Biche 206 PART II. CHAPTER I. Egyptian Divinities—Osiris—Apis and Serapis—Parentage of Osiris—His Death and Sepulture—Isis—Attributes—Emblematic representation—Rites of Isis forbidden at Rome—Condemned by Juvenal—Apis—Manner of transmigration—Festivals in Honor of Apis—Discovery of a Successor—Oracles obtained from this Divinity—Germanicus—Harpocrates—Quotation 209 CHAPTER II. Eastern Mythology—Divinities of the Assyrians—Baal or Bel—Tower of Babel—Proper Names of the Phœnicians and Carthaginians—Worship of Baal introduced among the Israelites by Achab—Reproaches of Jeremias—Moloch—Nations devoted to his Worship—Human Sacrifices—Representation of this God—His Worship forbidden by Moses—Valley of Hinnom—Quotation from Milton—Astaroth or Astarte—Sacrifices in Honor of this Goddess—Abuses attending her Festivals—Thammuz identical with Adonis—Mourned by the Assyrian Women—Lines from Milton—Vision of Ezekiel—Oannes—Dagon 213 CHAPTER III. Persia—The Zend-avesta—Doctrines of Zoroaster—Ormuzd or Ormasdes—Ahriman—Worship of Fire—The Guebers—Perpetual Fires—Bakoo—Magic and Astrology—Parsees of Hindostan 218 CHAPTER IV. Hindoo Mythology—Brahma—The Vedas—Doctrine of the Vedas—Brahma, Vishnu and Siva—Offices of these Deities—Avatars of Vishnu—Krishna—Siva—Doctrines regarding the Soul—Metempsychosis—Castes—Buddha—His Doctrines—Buddhism suppressed in India 222 CHAPTER V. China—Absence of any State Religion in China—Doctrine of the Lettered—Confucius—His Writings—Honors paid him in China—Difficulties occasioned among Christian Missionaries—Lao-tze, founder of the Religion of Tao or Reason—His Writings—Chinese Buddhists—Temple of Buddha at Pou-tou—General Feeling of the Chinese with regard to Religion 229 CHAPTER VI. Thibet—The Grand Lama—Prevailing Religion of Thibet and Tartary—Lamaseries—The Grand Lama, a Perpetual Incarnation of Buddha—His transmigrations—Mode of discovering his Successor 236 CHAPTER VII. Mythology of Scandinavia—Compared with that of Greece and Rome—The Eddas—Account of the Creation—Form of the Earth—Asgard, Odin—Names of this Deity—Valhalla—Thor—Recovery of Thor’s Hammer—Frey and Freya—Bragi—Heimdall—Vidar—Hodur—The Valkyrior—Loki and his Progeny—Death of Baldur—His Funeral—Loki’s Punishment—The Elves—Runic Letters—Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods 238 CHAPTER VIII. Celtic Mythology—Druidism—Derivation of the Word Druid—Origin of Druidical Worship—Account given by Cæsar—Characteristics—Divinities worshipped by the Druids—Esus—His Attributes—Bel—Teutates—Camul—Tarann—Priests—Their Duties—Bards—Their Influences—Druids, properly so called—Sacred Plants—Mystic Writing of the Druids—Their Political Authority—Druidesses—Of the Loire—Of the Island of Sena—Human Sacrifices offered by Druidesses—Virgins of Tara—Sacrifices offered by the Druids—Victims chosen—Belief of the Druids in a Future State—Festivals of the Druids—Festival—Solstices—Beltane or Beal-Tinne—Ceremonies observed in Ireland—St. Patrick at Tara—First of November—Breton Legend—Superstitious Practices belonging to the Day—Suppression of Druidism in Gaul—In England—Mona—Iona—Druidical Monuments—Menhirs—Dolmens—Cromlechs—Stonehenge—Carnac—Popular Superstitions 257