PANTHEUM MYTHICUM
François Pomey
1659
translated by Andrew Tooke (1698)
FRANÇOIS POMEY (1619-1673) was a seventeenth century Jesuit priest from Lyons and a scholar of consderable repute, author of a French-Latin dictionary and several works of classical learning. Among them was the Pantheum mythicum seu fabulosa deorum historia, a manual of mythology written in Latin in the form of questions asked by Paleophilus (= "lover of antiquity") and answered by Mystagogus (= "teacher of secrets"). Pomey's Pantheum was translated into English in 1698 as the Pantheon of the Heathen Gods and the Illustrious Heroes by Andrew Tooke, who acknowledge it was a translation but of whom he spoke not. Tooke's version became the standard manual of mythology in Britain for a century, and continued to serve as such, in an expurgated version, down until 1859, when Thomas Bulfinch's Age of Fable (1855) supplanted it. Pomey's work is the last of the medieval mythographies, following Boccaccio, Giraldi, Conti, and the medieval mythographers rather than classical sources. This is most evident, for our purposes, in his discussion of the Argonauts, which leaves out the adventures en route to Colchis, as Dares Phrygius and Vatican Mythographers had done, and which also mistakes the dragon of Colchis for the one whose teeth yield Spartoi. After Pomey would come the scholarly mythography of Anotine Banier and eventually full-fledged critical investigation.
CHAPTER II.
Jason.
JASON, Son of Æson, King of Thessalia and Alcimede, was an Infant when his Father died, so that his Uncle Pelias administered the Government. When he came to Age, he demanded Possession of the Crown; But Pelias advised him to go to Colchis, under Pretence of gaining the Golden Fleece thence, but indeed to kill him with the Labour and Danger of the Journey.
P[aleophilus]. What Golden Fleece was that?
M[ystagogus]. It was the Hide of a Ram, of a white or a purple Colour, which was given to Phryxus, Son of Athamas and Nephele, by his Mother. Phryxus and his Sister Helle, fearing the Designs of their Step-Mother lno, got on this Ram to save themselves by Flight. But, while they swam over the narrowest Part of Pontus, Helle, affrighted at the Tossing of the Waves, fell down; whence the Sea was named the Hellespont. Phryxus was carried over safe, and went to Æta, King of Colchis, a Country of Asia, near the Pontus, where he was kindly received, and sacrificed the Ram to Jupiter, or Mars, who afterwards placed it among the Constellations. Only his Hide or Fleece was hung up in a Grove sacred to Mars. It was called the Golden Fleece, because, it was of a Golden Colour, and guarded by Bulls, that breathed Fire from their Nostrils, and by a vast and watchful Dragon, as a sacred and Divine Pledge, and as a Thing of the greatest Importance.
P. Did Jason carry away that Fleece?
M. Yes. He went on board a Ship called Argo, from the Builder of that Name; and, chusing forty-nine noble Companions, who, from the Ship, were called Argonautae, (among whom were Hercules, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux) in his Voyage he visited Hypsiphile, Queen of Lemnos, who had Twins by him. Then, after a long Voyage, and many Dangers, he arrived at Colchis, and demanded the Golden Fleece of King Æta, who granted his Request, on Condition that he tamed the Bulls that guarded it, whose Feet were of Brass, and who breathed Fire; and killed the Dragon, and sowed his Teeth in the Ground; and, lastly, destroyed the Soldiers, which sprung from the Ground where these Teeth were sown. Jason undertook the Thing on these Conditions, and was delivered from manifest Destruction, by the Assistance of Medea, the King's Daughter, who was in Love with him. For, observing her Directions, he overcame the Bulls, laid the Dragon asleep, carried away the Fleece, and fled by Night, carrying Medea with him, whom he after married.
P. What did King Æta do then?
M. He pursued them; but Medea, to stop his Pursuit, tore her Brother Absyrtus (who went with her) in Pieces, and scattered his Limbs on the Road. When her Father saw the torn Members of his Son, he stopped to gather them up: So Jason and the Argonautae returned to their own Country, where Medea by her Charms restored Jason's Father, the old decrepid Æson, to Youth again; though some say that Æson died before their Return. The Daughters of Pelias were affected, so by this miraculous Cure, that (desiring that their Father might receive the like Benefit) they were easily induced, through mistaken Duty, and unskilful Kindness, to tear their Father in Pieces; foolishly and ridiculously hoping that he, like Æson, would become young again. After this Jason hated Medea, and divorcing himself from her, he married Creusa, the Daughter of Creon, King of Corinth: And Medea, to revenge his Perfidiousness, not only murdered the two Children, that she had by him, in his own Sight; but in the next Place, inclosing Fire in a little Box, she sent it to Creusa, who opened the Box, and by the Fire, which burst out of it, was burnt, together with the whole Court. After she had done this, the admirable Sorceress flew by Magic Art to Athens. Some write, that she was again reconciled to Jason. But what has been said is enough for this Hero; let us proceed to another.
Source: Andrew Tooke, The Pantheon (London: Bathurst, Rivington et al., 1778), 303-305.
Jason.
JASON, Son of Æson, King of Thessalia and Alcimede, was an Infant when his Father died, so that his Uncle Pelias administered the Government. When he came to Age, he demanded Possession of the Crown; But Pelias advised him to go to Colchis, under Pretence of gaining the Golden Fleece thence, but indeed to kill him with the Labour and Danger of the Journey.
P[aleophilus]. What Golden Fleece was that?
M[ystagogus]. It was the Hide of a Ram, of a white or a purple Colour, which was given to Phryxus, Son of Athamas and Nephele, by his Mother. Phryxus and his Sister Helle, fearing the Designs of their Step-Mother lno, got on this Ram to save themselves by Flight. But, while they swam over the narrowest Part of Pontus, Helle, affrighted at the Tossing of the Waves, fell down; whence the Sea was named the Hellespont. Phryxus was carried over safe, and went to Æta, King of Colchis, a Country of Asia, near the Pontus, where he was kindly received, and sacrificed the Ram to Jupiter, or Mars, who afterwards placed it among the Constellations. Only his Hide or Fleece was hung up in a Grove sacred to Mars. It was called the Golden Fleece, because, it was of a Golden Colour, and guarded by Bulls, that breathed Fire from their Nostrils, and by a vast and watchful Dragon, as a sacred and Divine Pledge, and as a Thing of the greatest Importance.
P. Did Jason carry away that Fleece?
M. Yes. He went on board a Ship called Argo, from the Builder of that Name; and, chusing forty-nine noble Companions, who, from the Ship, were called Argonautae, (among whom were Hercules, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux) in his Voyage he visited Hypsiphile, Queen of Lemnos, who had Twins by him. Then, after a long Voyage, and many Dangers, he arrived at Colchis, and demanded the Golden Fleece of King Æta, who granted his Request, on Condition that he tamed the Bulls that guarded it, whose Feet were of Brass, and who breathed Fire; and killed the Dragon, and sowed his Teeth in the Ground; and, lastly, destroyed the Soldiers, which sprung from the Ground where these Teeth were sown. Jason undertook the Thing on these Conditions, and was delivered from manifest Destruction, by the Assistance of Medea, the King's Daughter, who was in Love with him. For, observing her Directions, he overcame the Bulls, laid the Dragon asleep, carried away the Fleece, and fled by Night, carrying Medea with him, whom he after married.
P. What did King Æta do then?
M. He pursued them; but Medea, to stop his Pursuit, tore her Brother Absyrtus (who went with her) in Pieces, and scattered his Limbs on the Road. When her Father saw the torn Members of his Son, he stopped to gather them up: So Jason and the Argonautae returned to their own Country, where Medea by her Charms restored Jason's Father, the old decrepid Æson, to Youth again; though some say that Æson died before their Return. The Daughters of Pelias were affected, so by this miraculous Cure, that (desiring that their Father might receive the like Benefit) they were easily induced, through mistaken Duty, and unskilful Kindness, to tear their Father in Pieces; foolishly and ridiculously hoping that he, like Æson, would become young again. After this Jason hated Medea, and divorcing himself from her, he married Creusa, the Daughter of Creon, King of Corinth: And Medea, to revenge his Perfidiousness, not only murdered the two Children, that she had by him, in his own Sight; but in the next Place, inclosing Fire in a little Box, she sent it to Creusa, who opened the Box, and by the Fire, which burst out of it, was burnt, together with the whole Court. After she had done this, the admirable Sorceress flew by Magic Art to Athens. Some write, that she was again reconciled to Jason. But what has been said is enough for this Hero; let us proceed to another.
Source: Andrew Tooke, The Pantheon (London: Bathurst, Rivington et al., 1778), 303-305.
