th his swift team, always overtook them before they reached the goal, and
killed them with his spear. But the love of Pelops for Hippodamia overcame
all fears, and, undeterred by the terrible fate of his predecessors, he
announced himself to Oenomaus as a suitor for the hand of his daughter.

On the eve of the race, Pelops repaired to the sea-shore and earnestly
implored Poseidon to assist him in his perilous undertaking. The sea-god
heard his prayer, and sent him out of the deep a chariot drawn by two
winged horses.

When Pelops appeared on the course, the king at once recognized the horses
of Poseidon; but, nothing daunted, he relied on his own supernatural team,
and the contest was allowed to proceed.

Whilst the king was offering his sacrifice to Zeus Pelops set out on the
race, and had nearly reached the goal, when, turning round, he beheld
Oenomaus, spear in hand, who, with his magic steeds, had nearly overtaken
him. But in this emergency Poseidon came to the aid of the son of Tantalus.
He caused the wheels of the royal chariot to fly off, whereupon the king
was thrown out violently, and killed on the spot, just as Pelops arrived at
the altar of Poseidon.

As the hero was about to return to Pisa to claim his bride, he beheld, in
the distance, flames issuing from the royal castle, which at that instant
had been struck by lightning. With his winged horses he flew to rescue his
lovely bride, and succeeded in extricating her uninjured from the burning
building. They soon afterwards became united, and Pelops reigned in Pisa
for many years in great splendour.

{234}

HERACLES (HERCULES).

Heracles, the most renowned hero of antiquity, was the son of Zeus and
Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus.

At the time of his birth Alcmene was living at Thebes with her husband
Amphitryon, and thus the infant Heracles was born in the palace of his
stepfather.

Aware of the animosity with which Hera persecuted all those who rivalled
her in the affections of Zeus, Alcmene, fearful lest this hatred should be
visited on her innocent child, intrusted him, soon after his birth, to the
care of a faithful servant, with instructions to expose him in a certain
field, and there leave him, feeling assured that the divine offspring of
Zeus would not long remain without the protection of the gods.

Soon after the child had been thus abandoned, Hera and Pallas-Athene
happened to pass by the field, and were attracted by its cries.