TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY. - Centrostudirpinia.it

330 CONDITION OF GODS.
On the other hand, delightful and salutary products of nature
are also traced to the immediate influence of the gods. Flowers
spring up where their feet have strayed ; on the spot where Zeus
clasped Here in his arms, shot up a thick growth of sweet herbs
and flowers, and glittering dewdrops trickled down, II. 14, 346 51.
So, when the valkyrs rode through the air, their horses manes
shook fruitful dew on the deep vales below, Saem. 145 b ; or it falls
nightly from the bit of Hrimfaxi s bridle 32 b (see Suppl.).
Of one thing there is scarcely a trace in our mythology, though
it occurs so often in the Greek : that the gods, to screen themselves
from sight, shed a mist round themselves or their favourites who
are to be withdrawn from the enemy s eye, II. 3, 381. 5, 776. 18,
205. 21, 549. 597. It is called rjepi KaXvirreiv, yepa ^elv, afavv or
vefos a-Tefaiv, and the contrary d^Kvv ovce8aetz> to scatter, chase
away, the mist. We might indeed take this into account, that the
same valkyrs who, like the Servian vily, favour and shield their
beloved heroes in battle, were able to produce clouds and hail in
the air or throw into the ;
reckoning our tarnkappes and helidhelms,
whose effect was the same as that of the mist. And the Norse
gods do take part with or against certain heroes, as much as the
Greek gods before Ilion. In the battle of Bravik, OSinn mingled
with the combatants, and assumed the figure of a charioteer Bruni ;
Saxo Gram., p. 146. Fornald. sog. 1, 380. The Grimnismal makes
Geirroftr the protege (fostri) of OSinn, Agnarr that of Frigg, and
the two deities take counsel together concerning them, Ssem. 39 ;
the Vols. saga cap. 42, OSinn suggests the plan for slaying the sons
of lonakr. The Greek gods also, when they drew nigh to counsel
or defend, appeared in the form of a human warrior, a herald, an
old man, or they made themselves known to their hero himself,
but not to others. In such a case they stand before, beside or
behind him (irapd, II. 2, 279. tyyvOi, Od. 1, 120. o^oO, II. 2, 172.
3, 129. 4, 92. 5, 123. Trp6v6ev 4, 129. fai6ev 1, 197) ; Athene leads
by the hand through the battle, and wards the arrows off 4, 52 ;
she throws the dreadful aegis round Achilles 18, 204; Aphrodite
shields Aeneas by holding her veil before him 5, 315; and other
heroes are removed from the midst of the fray by protecting
deities (p. 320). Venus makes herself visible to Hippomenes alone,
Ovid Met. 10, 650. Now they appear in friendly guise, Od. 7, 201
in