Mrs. Ellen Conrad
Latin teacher
Quia
Bethel Park School District
Bethel Park, PA
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Welcome to the Mythology Page! Here you will find information, links and lessons about Greek, Roman and other world mythologies.
                                  
                                          
Sorry about not coming through with the last topic; let's stick with something more accessable.  

How about Jupiter's mistresses?  these poor, long suffering ladies begat him many a child but had face Juno's wrath.

Among them:

Europa: this princess of Crete was carried away by Jupiter, disguised as a white bull.  He left her in a strange land to which she gave her name.

Maia: also of Crete, this nymph (likely once a fertility goddess) gave birth to Mercury and named a spring month for us.

Io: this poor girl was changed into a heifer to hide her from the jealous Juno. Juno wasn't fooled and tied her up with a hundred-eyed beast to watch her.  Jupiter sent Mercury to put it to sleep and released Io.  The angry Juno stole the hundred eyes and hurled them in the air where they were caught on the tail of her favorite bird, the peacock.

Echo: not really his mistress, but a conspirator to his dallying.  Juno found that this talkative nymph was distracting her with conversation from his misbehavior. Therefore, she took her voice away.  Afterward, she could only repeat someone's last word.  Here grief at this fate caused her to fade away into the rocks of the forest.

Alcmene: this queen was tricked by Jupiter who came to her in the guise of her husband. Then the husband himself came home!  The result was that she gave birth to twins, one mortal and one a demi-god, the famous Hercules.

Semele: this Thracian lady was wooed by Jupiter but tricked into asking to see him in his godly splendor.  He had promised her anything, so he was obliged.  His magnificence caused her to burst into flames.  Jupiter saved the infant she was carrying by sewing it into his thigh.  Thus was born the god Bacchus.

  Here is the scoundrel himself!
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  • Mercury
    http://www.quia.com/jg/1070218.html
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