Classicsness ❧ Classical Culture

One day in springtime, some five years after the marriage of Admetus, a stranger youth came to his palace and desired to speak with the king, who received him courteously, after his wont, and asked him his name and errand.“My name is nothing to the purpose, oh, king,” answered the stranger; “I am a poor, homeless lad with my bread to earn, and I come to beg of you to make me one of your hired servants, for I hear everywhere that you are the best of masters. If you will take me into your house, I will become your bondman for a year and serve you faithfully.”👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

There was once a king in Thessaly, named Admetus, whose exemplary life and conversation were renowned throughout the land. His piety towards the gods was only less remarkable than his scrupulous fulfillment of his duties towards his fellowmen. He was an obedient son, a tender husband and father, a kind master to his household slaves and the serfs on his demesnes.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

The wise princess had her will, and the king’s mood softened in spite of himself as she plied him with the delicate fare and the noble wine set before them. And then she brought him to her chamber, where the great southern moon looked in through casements opening on the sea, and paled the radiance of seven golden lamps fed with ambergris. The lofty walls were covered with row on row of bright-hued blazonry — the wars and triumphs of bygone monarchs, the incarnations as beast or bird of the strange gods of Nile, displayed in endless processions of solemn and fantastic figures.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

The galley was no sooner out of sight than Theoclymenus hastened to the women’s quarter of the palace, eager to discuss his new happiness with his sister. He would have sought her before, but in his zeal he had himself superintended the lading of the ship with treasures worthy of his magnificence. With some vexation, he learned from her women that the princess desired to be alone. In this, however, there was nothing unusual, for Theonoe spent much of her time in seclusion, reading and meditating the mystic lore of ancient scrolls, written by the hands of priests. The king himself never ventured to disturb her at these studies; so he betook himself to the shore again, there to wait Helen’s return with what patience he could.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Menelaus had not sat long beside the tomb, pondering what Helen’s plan was to be, when a train of huntsmen with their hounds descended the flowery terraces of the cliff, headed by the king. Theoclymenus was a young man of fine presence; his features resembled his sister’s, but lacked her serenity of expression; from his lowering brow it might be guessed that the day’s sport had not pleased him. At his gesture of dismissal, the train withdrew to the rear of the palace; he himself was approaching the great doorway when Helen came forth again, in such guise that Menelaus scarcely repressed a cry of dismay. Her glorious hair was cut short, her face whitened to ghastliness, and a coarse black mantle enveloped her completely.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

As the palace doors closed behind her, Helen went forward with a beating heart to the tall figure that stood dejectedly by the tomb of Proteus. But — could that be Menelaus — that gaunt, weather-beaten man with unkempt, grizzled hair, and a single discolored garment hanging in tatters around him? Menelaus, who went ever sleek and splendid, loving to deck his florid comeliness in purple and fine linen!👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Scarcely had Teucer made good his retreat from the Egyptian king's palace, when the great bronze doors swung open, and a small group of persons advanced in procession to the tomb before the chapel. First came four small negro boys, carrying on their heads baskets of woven reeds, heaped with blue lotus flowers.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Not knowing in what part of the wide world to seek his fortune, Teucer resolved to ask counsel of Apollo's famous oracle at Delphi. So he sailed first to the port of Cirrha, whence he traveled on foot to the high mountain glen of Delphi and entered the holy temple. When he had duly sacrificed, he made known his request; and the priestess, speaking by inspiration of Apollo, bade him found a city in the far island of Cyprus and name it Salamis after his old home. There, she said, he should dwell prosperously all his days and see his children's children, who should reign as kings after him.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Everyone knows how the Greeks laid siege for ten long years to the city of Troy to win back Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, for her husband, the king of Sparta. It was Paris, a son of the old Trojan king, who stole her away from home; and because of her beauty, neither king nor folk would heed the warnings of the seers and wise men that the wrath of the gods would fall on Troy unless they gave up Helen. Year after year the war went on; the flower of both armies fell in battle; the losses and hardships of the besieged grew ever greater; but still they would not hear of giving Helen back. Even those who were ready to curse her forgot all the woes she had brought on Troy whenever they looked on her face. Once the elders of the city, grave and ancient men, were sitting together on the ramparts when Helen passed by, and one said to another, "Small blame to the Greeks and Trojans that they have fought and suffered those many years for the sake of such a woman as this, for she is like an immortal goddess to look upon." So great was the power of Helen's beauty on all who beheld it.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Long, long ago, in the land called Pamphylia, a brave man named Er was killed in battle, fighting for his country. The enemy won the field, and it was ten days before the fellow citizens of Er could take up the bodies of their dead to give them burial. And they buried the rest where they lay, for decay had done its work on them — but when they found Er’s body, behold, it was still fresh. So his friends carried the corpse home and laid it on a pyre of logs to be burned after the custom of the country. But even as they set light to the pyre, the dead man sat up and began to speak. And when he was taken down from the pyre and had fully come to himself, he was urgent to tell them the things he had seen and heard in the other world, for this, he said, was a charge laid upon him there. Those that then heard the tale placed it on record; thus it was preserved, and as Er told it, so it is set down here.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

But after that day, the chief butler kept away from the tavern and shunned even greetings in the marketplace when he went there, which was as seldom as he could. His fellow servants remarked that, from the most talkative and sociable of men, he had suddenly become the most silent and morose.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

“What is this outlandish cap,” said one of his tavern friends to the chief butler, “that the king has taken to wearing?”“What is it? Why, it is a cap, to be sure,” replied he, testily. “Other men wear caps, I believe. Cannot the king wear one, but all the idle tongues in the city must begin wagging?”👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Whether Midas ever met Silenus again or not is unknown to the teller of this tale. But another —and an even stranger— adventure was in store for him, as you shall hear.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

A very singular change in the temper and habits of King Midas was indeed observable from that time, and one which gave great satisfaction to his subjects. From the most avaricious and grasping of rulers, he suddenly became indifferent to gain and open-handed to the point of lavishness. It was said, moreover, that his fondness for gold, which had been proverbial, had turned to such an aversion that he could not endure the very sight of that metal. This was scarcely believed in the city until a surprising discovery was made, a few months after the memorable coming of Silenus.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

The amazing sequel to the visit of the old man called Silenus was quickly bruited in the city, and the most incredulous now agreed that the king had suffered some powerful enchantment. But a rumor soon prevailed, to the great indignation of the chief butler, that he and his fellow servants had been likewise under some kind of spell or glamour when they saw, as they declared, the king’s food and drink turning to gold at his touch, so that he could swallow neither bite nor sup.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Sleep, the merciful, came over the exhausted king; and as he slept, he dreamed a dream. He dreamed he was standing on the grassy bank of the river Pactolus, near his city, and looking with longing and despair at the cool, flowing water. Suddenly, a voice hailed him from across the stream; he looked and saw Silenus sitting on the opposite bank, dabbling his bare feet in a shallow, and gravely regarding him.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Night had fallen once more, and once more the feast was spread in the palace hall of Midas. A great and goodly supper loaded the table before him; and he had need of it, having tasted nothing since breaking his fast at sunrise in the Valley of the Roses. From thence he had hurried back to the palace, silent, and with a strange, rapt countenance; he went straight to his underground treasure chamber and remained shut up there, alone. His servants supposed him to be counting over his piles of gold and silver, which was often his pastime for hours; little could they dream that he was putting forth a miraculous power which changed the silver, the treasure jars, the very walls of the vault to gold before he quitted it…👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

The huntsmen and beaters of King Midas had gone questing through every covert, every nook, of the Valley of Roses, until the long, golden afternoon had faded into twilight. But he whom the shepherds had yesterday surprised among the rose thickets was nowhere to be found. It could not be hither, as the king fancied, that his strange guest had retreated to sleep off last night’s carouse.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

Next day, nothing was talked of in the city but the extraordinary old man who had bewitched King Midas in his own palace hall. Bewitched was the word used by eyewitnesses — slaves of the royal household who had brought the tale with them to the morning market and few of their listeners could doubt that it was the right word. A little group of elderly townsmen, given to argument and wine bibbing, professed indeed to see nothing marvelous in the matter. The king, they said, being in a favorable stage of liquor, had taken a whim to admit this tipsy trespasser to his drinking party, instead of killing him; the old fellow’s ludicrous aspect and behavior had saved his skin, and this was the only witchcraft he had used. No wonder the king was tickled; who could choose but laugh when the mad wag seized the Lord Axius’s cup and nearly sat down atop of him?… Well, it was wine had put courage in his heart and mercy in the king’s; great were the virtues of the grape, so let them all bless Bacchus for his gift of it, and be moving on to the tavern, now the market was emptying…👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

The old man called Silenus said not another word on the road to the city. The shepherds told him cheerfully that the king would assuredly put him to death, for the Valley of Roses was holy ground. They were sorry for him, but so it would be. They thought it most likely he would be flayed alive; however, he might only have his throat cut. Either way, he would not be able, unluckily, to join them in the carouse they meant to have with the handsome reward they expected for catching him. But the old man lurched along at a good round pace, saying nothing, and now and then laughing softly; so that they thought he was still too mazed with drink to understand them.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

The hush of burning noon had fallen like a spell over the Valley of Roses. The grasshoppers were silent in the long grass; the brown lizards basked motionless on sun-scorched patches of rock; even the bees were asleep, cradled each in the heart of a dreaming flower. Not a leaf stirred in the bronze-green towers of shade that beech and walnut reared, singly or in groups, on the lower slopes; above, on the sheer hillsides, the serried ranks of stone pines had the luster and the rigidity of burnished metalwork. The air, aquiver with heat, seemed curling in bluish, filmy wreaths about the pine stems, as if the trees sent forth visibly their pungent incense; and ever and again warm gusts of that heady aroma swept the valley, overpowering the sweeter breath of its leagues of bloom. From end to end, the levels of the long, narrow glen were incarnadined with the triumph of one flower — Aphrodite’s own.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Evergreen Stories (1920?) by W. M. L. Hutchinson (1868-1936).

You have come to understand, by this time, that the Shining People were the greatest magicians that ever came, with their enchantments, among the human beings who walk the world. It would take dozens of books to tell you of even half their deeds. But certainly one of the most wonderful of all was something that Aphrodite did for a king called Pygmalion.This king did not care about fighting, like other monarchs who lived near. Nor did he want to hunt, nor feast, nor show his strength in the great games that everybody played. Instead, he was always carving, either in ivory or marble. He said he would never marry, for the maidens he carved with his marvelous chisel were more beautiful than any princess he was ever likely to meet. So he shut himself up in his studio and worked at his creations in dreamy solitude.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

One dark night, a prince, young and handsome, but very worn and weary, lay fast asleep beside a fountain in a wood. The trees waved softly above him; the stars shone like distant jewels; and the sound of the water mingled with the soft stirring of the breeze. But the prince, whose name was Bellerophon, moved uneasily in his sleep. He was dreaming not of the scents and the dews of the forests, but of a horrible monster that the king of the country had ordered him to go and kill, a beast even worse than the Minotaur, for it had a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a dragon’s tail, and it breathed fire every time it opened its enormous mouth.Poor Bellerophon had not done anything to deserve such a task, but the king’s daughter, who was the queen of another country, disliked him and had plotted to get rid of him. As a result of her plot, he had been commanded to go and slay the monster, of which everybody in the country was terribly afraid. He did not think he could possibly do this, but he was brave and had made up his mind to try. While thinking of the best way to begin, he sat down by the fountain and fell asleep. Then, overhead, came the gleam of wings among the stars — wings that stretched out far, far wider than an eagle’s, and that shone, silver and beautiful, under the crescent moon. The wings belonged, not to a great bird, but to a white horse! Round and round this beautiful creature flew, now circling high above the sleeping prince’s head, now poised in the air like an enormous, glittering hawk. Never was there such a sight on any mountain as that of this bright, winged steed, hanging, starry and wonderful, between the shadowed forest and the silver-studded, purple-blue sky of night.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

Once again, then, Odysseus and his men found themselves sailing the high seas, where the halcyons called to each other across the lonely waves. Presently, all soft and silver-misted on the horizon, they caught sight of a new land; and, by the sudden hush that fell over the ocean, and by a dim sweet echo of far-away music, Odysseus knew that his vessel was drawing near to the sirens’ Enchanted Isles.This was one of the dangers from which Circe had taught him the way of escape. So, while the crew took up oars to row the ship through the calm water, the king sat in the bows, busily making little balls of soft wax. By and by, he rose from his seat and approached the sailors; and, one by one, he stopped up their ears with the wax balls, having first explained to them what they were to do when they were no longer able to hear his orders. In obedience to what he had commanded, the seamen —who were, of course, all made deaf by the rolls of wax in their ears— took their king respectfully by his royal shoulders and bound him, as tightly as they could, to the mast of the vessel. Then they lifted their oars again, and, once more, rowed steadily in the direction of the Enchanted Isles.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

After Odysseus had escaped from the cave of the terrible one-eyed giant, he and his companions went sailing onwards, hoping, yet not knowing, that they were on their way to Greece. But Poseidon was very angry, for the Cyclops whose eye had been put out by “Noman” was the son of the sea king. Odysseus, knowing that Poseidon would do all he could to raise storms about his ship, made his way to the island of Aeolus, the king of the winds, who lived in a fine brazen palace on top of the cliffs, Aeolus was so delighted with the tales of Odysseus’s bravery that he promised to help him; and, in order that no more tempests should trouble him, gave him all the strong and angry winds tied up by force in a big leather bag. Only one wind was left outside; this was Zephyr, the gentle west breeze, which had once been so kind to Psyche, and which was always ready to be nice and gracious to men.Zephyr, left alone on the sea, filled the sails of the king’s vessel; and, with songs and laughter, the lost Greeks sailed onward over the calm, blue water. Then, one night, they saw their own friendly lighthouse, and, as dawn broke, recognized the mountains of their long-lost country. How delighted they were! Odysseus, for the first time for ten days, left the helm and went below to get an hour’s sleep. But, while he slept, his companions did a shocking and treacherous thing.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

And what had Odysseus been doing through all these long years, before he came under the enchantment of Calypso in her vine-draped cave?Well, first of all, he had nearly fallen a prey to the magic of the lotus eaters. They were the laziest people in all the world, and they lived on an island where lotus trees grew everywhere, bearing fruits most lovely to look at and delicious to eat. But whoever tasted the lotus apples never wanted to do anything but sit under the shade of the trees and eat the enchanted fruit forever. Luckily for Odysseus, when he and his crew landed on the island he did not taste the fruit himself; but three of his men gathered and ate from the laden boughs, and, settling down immediately to rest on the flowery grass, declared they never intended to go home to their wives and families again. So Odysseus and the other seamen took them back to the ship by main force, and then they sailed away as fast as they could before any more of the crew could taste the fruit that was so delicious, but that made people lazy and useless for the rest of their lives.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

For many years, as you know, Odysseus fought with the other kings and captains in front of the walls of Troy. But when the city fell and the conquering armies set off in their ships for their own lands, they were all broken up and divided by quarrels among themselves, and also by violent storms at sea. Some of the kings after a time reached their homes in safety; but sweet Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, waited in vain for her husband’s return.She did her best to rule the kingdom for him and to bring up her little son, Telemachus, in the way Odysseus would have liked, but she found the task very difficult. The nobles of the country began to do just as they chose and treated the palace of Odysseus exactly as if it were their own. Not only that, but one by one they came to Penelope, and, declaring that the king was dead, made her offers of marriage. Almost every morning one or another of them would seek out the queen, and, putting on quite absurd airs and graces, would propose to her! Penelope began by refusing them all indignantly, but her refusals made no difference. They kept on proposing as regularly as before. So at last, in despair, she called these foolish suitors together and made a bargain with them.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

You have heard how Troy fell, and no doubt felt you wanted to know what all the fighting was about. Well, it is a story that began with another golden apple.There was a wedding, one day, of a sea nymph to a mortal king, and a very grand feast was going on in the caves of the sea — a feast to which all the immortals had come down from Olympus. Suddenly, at the banqueting table, appeared a being whom nobody loved, whose hair was snaky, and whose eyes were cruel and hard. She was the spirit of Discord, and she had, naturally, not been invited to the wedding, which was the last place where anyone wished to see her. With angry looks, she threw a golden apple upon the table and then vanished. When one of the guests picked up the fruit, everybody saw that on it were written the words: “For the fairest!”👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

Athena was the wisest among the immortals, just as Aphrodite was the most beautiful. The vigorous and lovely maiden who had sprung out of the king’s head was always ready to teach and help mortals who wanted to do brave and good things. The Romans called her Minerva, but the Greeks called her Athene or Pallas Athena; and, one day when she saw some people building a fine and beautiful city in Greece, she went to Zeus and said that she would like to take the city under her special protection and name it Athens, after herself.Zeus was willing, and everything was about to be settled without dispute. But, at that moment, tramping heavily up the mountainside, his crown of shells and pearls pulled down over his angry eyes, and the sea anemones dropping from his wet robes among the wood anemones that bloomed in the path, Poseidon, the sea king, himself arrived on Olympus, most terribly annoyed.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

Sailors of today who come back from far countries will often tell stories of the marvels they have seen, but these marvels are nothing compared with the wonders met with by the seamen of old Greece. Of course, they might, any day, come across Poseidon, with his green sea ladies, his blue and white horses, and his dolphins wagging their curly tails; not to speak of Aphrodite, floating along on her pretty silver shell, with her fairies playing around her. These people were generally the sailors’ friends; but there were also among the ocean folk some horrible monsters, of which the very worst were two witch-like creatures called Scylla and Charybdis.Scylla had once been a beautiful princess, but she had been turned into a monster as a punishment for a very shocking thing she had done. Her father’s country was invaded by a neighboring monarch, with whom she fell in love. She knew that, among her father’s silvery hair, one lock was colored purple and hung in this strange tint over his wrinkled forehead. She also knew that so long as the purple lock grew safely among the white hairs of the old king, his country could never be taken from him. So, because she was in love with the enemy king, she crept one night into her father’s bed chamber and cut off the purple lock while he slept. Then, with the little tuft of hair in her hand, she went to the camp of the invading king and, offering him the purple lock, told him what she had done for his sake.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

This is a story, not only about the golden apples that Heracles brought to his cousin, the king, but of other apples made of the same fairy metal. First of all, however, you shall hear about Heracles and the hidden far-off garden where the apples grew.When the king told him he must find this garden, and gather some of the glittering fruit from the tree, poor Heracles was in despair, for he knew very well that the appletree had been lost a long, long time ago, and had never been found again. It had been given to Queen Hera as a wedding present, covered, with its crop of gold; and she had put it in the care of some beautiful maidens whose father, Hesperus, carried the evening star to the sky every night in a lantern set with gems. These maidens were called the Hesperides; and, in order that the apples might never be stolen, they had taken the tree far away into Africa, had planted it in a secret garden, and had set a wary dragon to live under the branches and to guard the treasured fruit both day and night.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

Bacchus, of whom you heard in another story, was very powerful and clever and could give to human beings almost any gift for which they asked. No wonder the helmsman was pleased to be under his protection! However, Bacchus had a good deal of mischief in his nature, and here is a tale of a prank he once played upon a rich and greedy king.The king’s name was Midas. He was very wealthy indeed, but he was a shocking miser. He loved gold for its own sake, not for what he could do with it. He collected as much of it as he could, and he loved to count his coins by the hour together. Some of the treasures in his palace were made of pure gold, and he was never tired of looking at them, and handling them, and wishing from his heart that he owned many more.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

In that far country to which Jason and his band of heroes set off in their great ship with its fifty oars lived a mighty king and his beautiful daughter, Medea. This princess was dark-haired and dark-browed, and her wonderful eyes were as full of mystery as the peat pools which lie black and still on mountain moors. She knew many, many secrets that the earth hid from other people; and she would go fearlessly, at night, through the Enchanted Glade where the golden fleece gave out its mysterious light among the boughs of the oak, and the dragon swayed its high enormous head to and fro between the dim trees and the silver stars.In the shadowy forests, Medea would wander quite alone, her little white feet without sandals, her long hair streaming about her like a veil. There, in the silence of the woods, she would stand and lift her arms up to the stars, singing softly to the spirits who lived among them. Then she would turn around three times, and, stooping to the stream at her feet, throw water from it, three times, over her head. Last of all, she would give three long, low cries, weird and plaintive, like an owl that called to its mate through the night.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

You have heard that some of the Shining People could be very jealous. Even Zeus himself used to get quite angry if he thought that anyone, whether mortal or Immortal, was receiving too much admiration and praise. So, knowing that a certain man called Prometheus was very great and wise, the king of Olympus kept a careful eye on him and was always ready to interfere if Prometheus in any way usurped the royal power. Prometheus, for his part, was too busy teaching other people all he knew to give much thought to Zeus’s jealousy. He was like a clever giant among men and cared for nothing but making everybody happier and wiser than they had been before.There was one thing that, above all the rest, Prometheus wanted to present to mankind — and that was the gift of fire. He knew all about it, and the wonderful things that could be done with it. He knew that the sun itself was a ball of this beautiful and flaming mystery, which Apollo drove daily across the sky in his jeweled car drawn by glittering, winged horses. Prometheus knew, too, that there was fire in the high stars, and in the heart of the smoking volcanoes. But on the Earth itself, in the homes and workshops of men, there was no fire; for Zeus hid the secret of it and would never tell any mortal how to produce even one little tongue of living, leaping flame.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

Among the pupils of Chiron was a prince called Jason, who had been put in the care of the wise old centaur when he was not much more than a baby. He had a very wicked uncle, who had stolen the kingdom from Jason’s father and set himself upon the throne. But little Jason was hidden in the forest caves of those strange creatures, the centaurs, who were half horses, half men. There, Chiron played on a golden harp and sang songs about the heroes of the earth. Under his care, Jason grew up strong and fearless, able to wrestle and run and hunt with the best of the young princes. When he had grown into a vigorous youth, Chiron disclosed to him who he was, and said he must go into his own country and recover the lost kingdom for his father.So one morning Jason set off through the woods, a panther skin thrown over one shoulder, a hunting spear in his right hand. Singing gaily, he strode down the glades until he came to a river, swollen and rapid with rain. On the bank sat a poor, ragged old woman, looking despairingly at the rushing brown water, all creamy with foam. Jason spoke to her kindly, asking if she wanted to get to the other side.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

One bright morning, a little baby woke very early, wondering what in the world had climbed into his cradle. Opening his eyes, he saw two enormous serpents that were just going to eat him up, while his nurse sat by, stiff with horror. But this extraordinary baby only gave a shout of amusement, caught the snakes, one in each hand, as if they had been paper toys, and strangled them to death. Then he sat up on his pillows and looked around complacently; while his mother, who had darted in, shrieked for help, and his father rushed through the doorway, brandishing hissword.The baby, whose name was Heracles, grew up, and, as was only to be expected, turned out to be the strongest man in the whole world. When he was a boy, his parents sent him into the woods to the school of Chiron, the wise old centaur, who taught him that he must always use his strength right. However, in spite of this, Heracles sometimes did wrong things. He had a very hot temper; and, when he was in a rage, would strike the people who vexed him. He even killed some of them with his heavy fist or did them serious harm in other ways. And at last the Immortals —who loved this strong man and wished him to become a true hero— told him that he could only gain forgiveness for his acts of passion and fury if he became the slave of his cousin, the king, and did whatever that monarch commanded him.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

In one of the countries which Perseus had passed as he flew to the land of the Gorgons lived a king and queen who had a most beautiful daughter, called Andromeda. They loved her better than anything in the world, and the queen was so proud of her that she said she was fairer than all the fairies of the mountains and the nymphs of the sea put together. This boast was overheard by the sea nymphs, and they were very angry indeed. So they persuaded Poseidon, who was king of the sea, just as Zeus was king of Olympus, to send a great monster, like a scaly water dragon, out of the caves at the bottom of the ocean, to eat up everybody it could catch and hold in its terrible claws.One night, therefore, a sad outcry was heard among the fishermen on the beach. They said that, as they were setting their nets, they had seen the king of the sea serpents come swirling out of the waves in the moonlight, and return to the sea, carrying a fair maiden in its wicked mouth. This happened again the next night, and the next, and the next.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

One of the handsomest, cleverest, and bravest princes of those wonderful days was called Theseus. His father, who was a great king, was obliged to leave his little son to be brought up entirely by the queen, while he himself went away to rule over his kingdom of Athens. But, before he started, he lifted a big rock and placed his sword and sandals beneath it. Then he told the queen that, as soon as Theseus was big and strong enough to raise the stone, he must take the sword in his hand, fasten the sandals on his feet, and set off to join his royal father at the court in the city.Well, little Theseus grew up, and one day his mother led him to the stone and asked him if he thought he could lift it. Easily the young prince raised the big rock — and there lay the sword and sandals! Delighted at her son's strength, the queen told him why they had been left there, and to whom they belonged. So Theseus fastened the sword to his side, the sandals on his feet, and set off immediately, as his father had commanded.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).Photograph by Rama, Wikimedia Commons, Cc-by-sa-2.0-fr

Beautiful Aphrodite, the queen of love, traveled over the sea and through the sky every day of her life, looking for princes and princesses, or shepherds and shepherdesses, who wanted her help. When she went across the sea, she sailed in the great silver shell which had first carried her to land, while blue and green water nymphs sometimes played about her and sometimes rode on their dolphins, laughing and singing, with the foam sparkling like diamonds in their long hair; Tritons, too, swam like mermen through the water, blowing trumpets made of shells.When Aphrodite traveled in the air, the procession was more wonderful still. She had a golden chariot drawn by four white doves, harnessed with strings of emeralds and rubies and pearls; and hundreds of little birds flew around it in a cloud, singing with all their might. With her in the chariot went Cupid, who, as you know, could sometimes look like a fairy prince, and sometimes like a little laughing child. But, whether he was a prince or a tiny boy, he always had his beautiful wings on his shoulders and carried his bow and arrows, which he used whenever his mother told him so to do.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

Among the Immortals were several people of whom you have not yet heard, but about whom many songs were sung and numberless tales told, not only by the shepherds of the mountain pastures, but by the huntsmen who rode with their hounds through the leafy woods, in pursuit of the wild deer.First of all were the Centaurs, marvelous creatures who were half horses, half men. Very wild they were, very strong, and gay, and free. They lived in the green glades of the deep forests, and sometimes the sound of their galloping might be heard in the hush of the noonday heat; or, under the starlight, a glimpse caught of their eyes that shone like glow worms, and of their tossing manes of human hair. How startled anyone who saw them must have been! For they had strange men’s faces with which they could peer through the branches; yet, when they took to flight, their four hoofs might clearly be seen kicking up the grass and moss as they sped away!👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

In a previous story, you heard how poor Psyche, when she was the servant of Aphrodite, was made to do all kinds of difficult things and was finally sent down under the earth for a pot of Persephone’s ointment. You shall now hear exactly what these hard tasks were; and, also, the full tale of the sorrowful princess’s visit to the kingdom of Hades and his six months queen.You must know that, after Aphrodite had forced Psyche to become her servant, she prepared to set off to a grand wedding, saying that Psyche must stay at home to perform the first of the tasks that would be set for her. Leading her to a great piled-up quantity of wheat, barley, millet, poppyseed, peas, lentils, and beans, the queen of love declared that all the seeds were to be sorted into different heaps before she came back from the wedding breakfast. Then she mounted her chariot drawn by four doves, shook the jeweled reins, and was driven swiftly away.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

One fine morning, in those days of long and long ago, a beautiful baby, the son of a still more beautiful princess, was born in a little room at the top of a high tower built of brass.That was a strange birthplace for a prince, you will think, but the fact is that the whole matter was a close secret. The poor princess had been shut up in the tower for months, just because her father, the king, did not want her to get married. He had been told that someday he would be killed by his own grandson, so he decided that the best way to avoid this would be not to allow his only daughter to be married so that then he would never have any grandchildren at all.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

A certain king and queen, who lived in a wonderful land more years ago than anyone can count, had three daughters, all of whom were beautiful, while the youngest, called Psyche, was the loveliest maiden that the people of the country had ever seen.So fair was she that her father’s subjects declared she was fairer than Aphrodite herself. This made the queen of love —who, like others among the Shining Ones, could sometimes be very jealous— so angry that she decided poor Psyche must be punished for daring to become her rival. So, calling her son Cupid to her side, she told him to go at once in search of the maiden who was called Psyche, and, by wounding her with some magical arrows Aphrodite had given him, make her fall in love with the first hunchback or beggar that she met.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

One beautiful day, a maiden, pretty as spring itself, was playing with her companions in a meadow full of flowers. Sometimes they gathered great bunches of violets and lilies and made wreaths for their necks and heads; sometimes they danced; and sometimes they played at ball.The pretty maiden was called Persephone, and the meadow where she played was quite close to an enchanted pool, where fairy swans sang like nightingales. Persephone was young and happy, and never thought of anything so serious as getting married. All she wanted was to laugh and sing in the sunshine, and to gather nosegays to show her mother at night.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

In the green glades of old Greece, where anemone and crocus grew, lived the wood nymphs, who danced in the sunlight and the moonlight upon the soft moss. They did not take much notice of human beings, but were content to laugh and play with all the strange fairy creatures that lived among the flowers.One morning, however, as they chased each other through the trees, they came upon a beautiful youth named Narcissus, hunting with bow and arrows in the golden-green shadows of the forest. They peeped at him between the branches and whispered to each other, saying how handsome he was. Then all danced away again except one, who stood gazing, and gazing, and gazing at the tall, strong youth, longing, with all her heart, to speak to him.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

Long, long ago, on the top of a high mountain in Greece called Olympus, a wonderful palace stood, with its windows in the clouds and its doors in the snow. It was quite invisible to the human beings who lived in the valleys beneath, but they knew it was there, and that shining and beautiful people dwelt in it, some of them crowned like kings and queens, and some with wings on their shoulders, like birds.Now and then one or another of these fairy-like people would come floating down the side of the mountain, leaving the sound of music and the scent of violets and roses on the air as they passed. Nobody knew when the Shining People had been born, and it was said of them that they could never die, so the shepherds who minded their flocks in the meadows, and the fishers who set their crab pots in the rocky bays, called them “The Immortals”, and as The Immortals they are known to this day.👉 And that's it for now! Subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already: Classicsness.com. And if you want to know more about classics and even learn Latin online, check out LatinFromScratch.com.📚 Source: Once Upon A Time: Children’s Stories From The Classics (1920?) by Blanche Winder (1866-1930).

A podcast that invites you to embark on a fascinating exploration of Latin, Greek, classical culture, and Greek mythology.Immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of classical culture, where art, architecture, and literature flourished. We'll explore the epic tales of Greek mythology, from the mighty Olympian gods to the exploits of heroes like Hercules and Odysseus.Classicsness is not for classics scholars, but for anyone with a curious mind and a desire to uncover the roots of our shared human experience. So join us as we embark on an enlightening and engaging journey through the realms of Latin, Greek, classical culture, and Greek mythology.(Sorry, that description was generated by ChatGPT. Who cares about it? Just listen! And yes, these public domain texts are read by text-to-speech software, but it's pretty good, isn't it?) ⚡Classicsness.com is part of LatinFromScratch.com 🏺