1000 Classical Characters Briefly Described

Who was Iphigenia? What did Cincinnatus do? A thousand gods, heroes and tyrants of the classical world, each explained in the time it takes to read a text message.

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Inferi

The gods of the nether world, in contradistinction to the Superi, or the gods of heaven. But the word Inferi is also frequently used to designate the dead, and therefore comprises all the inhabitants of the lower world, both the gods, viz., Hades or Pluto, his wife Persephone (Proserpina), the Erinnyes or Furies, etc., and also the souls of departed men.

Io. Daughter of Inachus, and a priestess of Juno at Argos. Jupiter changed her into a beautiful heifer, and eventually restored her to her own form. She was greatly persecuted by Juno. She married Telegonus, king of Egypt, or Osiris, according to others, and treated her subjects with such kindness that after death she received divine honors, and was worshipped under the name of Isis.

Iolas or Iolaus. A son of Iphiclus, king of Thessaly, who assisted Hercules in conquering the Hydra; he burnt with a hot iron the place where the monster's heads had been cut off to prevent their re-growth.

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