he dreadful head of Med{=u}sa, turned him
into the mountain which still bears his name.

The Abbe la Pluche has given a very clear and ingenious explication of
this fable. Of all nations the Egyptians had, with the greatest
assiduity, cultivated astronomy. To point out the difficulties attending
the study of this science, they represented it by an image bearing a
globe or sphere on its back, which they called _Atlas_, a word
signifying _great toil or labor_; but the word also signifying
_support_, the Phoenicians, led by the representation, took it in this
sense, and in their voyages to Mauritania, seeing the high mountains of
that country covered with snow, and losing their tops in the clouds,
gave them the name of _Atlas_, and thus produced the fable by which the
symbol of astronomy used among the Egyptians became a Mauritanian king,
transformed into a mountain, whose head supports the heavens.

The rest of the fable is equally obvious to explanation. The annual
inundations of the Nile obliged the Egyptians to be very exact in
observing the motions of the heavenly bodies. The Hyades, or Huades,
took their name from the figure V, which they form in the head of
Taurus. The Pleiades were a remarkable constellation and of great use to
the Egyptians in regulating the seasons: hence they became the daughters
of Atlas; and Orion, who arose just as they set, was called their lover.

By the golden apples that grew in the gardens of the Hesperides, the
Phoenicians expressed the rich and beneficial commerce they had in the
Mediterranean, which being carried on during three months only of the
year, gave rise to the fable of the Hesperian sisters. The most usual
way of representing Atlas, among the ancient artists, was as supporting
a globe; for the old poets commonly refer to this attitude in speaking
of him.

PROMETHEUS was son of Jap{)e}tus, but it is doubtful whether his mother
were Asia, or Themis. Having incurred the displeasure of Jupiter, either
for stealing some of the celestial fire, or for forming a man of clay,
Jupiter, in resentment, commanded Vulcan to make a woman of clay, which,
when finished, was introduced into the assembly of the gods, each of
whom bestowed on her some additional charm or perfection. Venus gave her
beauty, Pallas wisdom, Juno riches, Mercury taught her eloquence, and
Apollo music. From all these accomplishments she was styled Pand{=o}ra,
that is, loaded with gifts and accomplishments, and was