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Things Not Generally Known: Tartarus

Sphinx, A monster, having the head and breasts of a woman, the body of a dog, the tail of a serpent, the wings of a bird, and the paws of a lion. Styx. A celebrated river of the infernal regions. The gods held it in such veneration that they always swore by it, the oath being inviolable. Tartarus. One of the regions of hell, where, according to Virgil, the souls of those who were exceptionally depraved were punished.

Terpsichore. One of the Muses, daughter of Jupiter and Mnemosyne. She presided over dancing. Thalia. One of the Muses. She presided over festivals and comic poetry. Thetis. A sea deity, daughter of Nereus and Doris. She married Pæleus, their son being Achilles.

Titanes. The Titans. A name given to the gigantic sons of Cœlus and Terra. Triton. A sea deity, son of Neptune and Amphitrite. He was very powerful, and could calm the sea and abate storms at his pleasure. Typhœus, or Typhon. A famous giant, son of Tartarus and Terra, who had a hundred heads. He made war against the gods, and was put to flight by Jupiter, who crushed him under Mount Etna.

Urania. One of the Muses, daughter of Jupiter and Mnemosyne. She presided over astronomy.

Venus. One of the most celebrated deities of the ancients; the goddess of beauty and mother of love, She sprang from the foam of the sea, and was carried to heaven, where all the gods admired her beauty.

Vesta. A goddess, daughter of Rhea and Saturn. The Palladium, a celebrated statue of Pallas, was supposed to be preserved within her sanctuary, where a fire was kept continually burning.

Vulcanus. The god who presided over fire, and who was the patron of those who worked in iron, Astronomers make use of several different kinds of time: mean solar time; true or apparent time, and sidereal time.