* Midas was a king who was both rewarded and punished for his actions.

* Aesculapius was worshiped afterward by the Greeks and the Romans as a god of healing.

* The Danaïds were fifty women who killed their husbands on the wedding night, with the exception of Hypermnestra. They were punished in Tartarus.

* Scylla was a beautiful nymph who was turned into a hideous monster by Circe due to feelings of jealousy.

* Erysichthon was punished for cutting down a tree sacred to the goddess Ceres.

* Pomona was a nymph of orchards who was loved by Vertumnus; he visited her in many guises until he eventually persuaded her to marry him.

* These are mainly moral tales that taught Greeks the danger of greed, stupidity, and lack of respect for the gods.

* The chapter "Brief Myths Arranged Alphabetically" gives brief summaries of thirty-one more myths.

* Many myths were origin myths, explaining the origin of certain plants, creatures, and star constellations.

* These were early ways of understanding the world, attaching a mythological connection to everything; this is what the author refers to as 'early science.'

* Other myths explained the background of various holy places.

* Other myths held morals, often about the importance of respecting nature and the gods.

* Finally, some myths were merely entertainment.
Last modified: Tuesday, 24 June 2014, 9:15 AM