THE MYTHOLOGY OF ANCIENT GREECE AND ITALY. BY THOMAS KEIGHTLEY, AUTHOR OF "THE HISTORY OF GREECE," "THE HISTORY OF ROME," " LEONHARD SCHMITZ, PH. D. LL.D., LATE CLASSICAL EXAMINER TO THE UNIVERSITY (F LONDON. WITH 12 PLATES FROM THE ANTIQUE. LONDON GEORGE BELL AND SONS 1902 7-26-51 EDITOR'S PREFACE. THE third edition of Mr. Keightley's 'Mythology of Ancient Greece and Italy' appeared in 1854, and he then expressed a doubt as to whether he should live long enough to witness the demand for a fourth. His life was indeed prolonged until the 4th of November, 1872, but owing to loss of sight during his latter years, he was unable to do much towards the further improvement of his work. Still, however, he made a few alterations and corrections in his own copy, which have been incorporated in the present edition. In 1857 there appeared at Göttingen the first volume of Welcker's great work 'Griechische Götterlehre,' and Mr. Keightley had the satisfaction of finding in its Preface, p. ix., the confirmation of a report which had already reached him before, that that eminent scholar and mythologist had spoken in terms of high praise of his manual of mythology; for Welcker there says, "It has gratified me much to observe that many germs scattered by me long since together with Buttmann and K. O. Müller have thriven remarkably well in Mr. Keightley's well-known and excellent manual, the only work of the kind in England, where hitherto little inclination has been shown for these studies." After praise from such a quarter, it is needless for me to add anything about the value of the book either to the student of ancient literature or to the educated among the general public. One remark only I may be allowed to make. In an addition on p. 12. made by Mr. Keightley for a fourth edition, he expresses in strong terms his disapproval of the views of those modern mythologists who endeavour to throw |