Chapter Zodiac to Zulzul of Z by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Zodiac to Zulzul

Zodiac. The twelve signs of the Zodiac are associated with the twelve Roman deities, thus—

Spring.
The Ram is wise Minerva’s sign.
The Bull to Venus we assign.
The Twins to Phœbus the divine.

Summer.
Mercury the Crab delights.
For Jupiter the Lion fights.
Ceres the Virgin’s care invites.

Autumn.
Vulcan the equal Balance brings.
For warlike Mars the Scorpion stings.
To dawn Sagittarius clings.

Winter.
The Goat to Vesta we allot.
Juno prefers the Water-pot.
And Neptune has his Fishes got.
   —E. C. B.

Zohak, the giant who keeps the “mouth of hell.” He was the fifth of the Pischdadian dynasty, and was a lineal descendant of Shedâd king of Ad. He murdered his predecessor, and invented both flaying men alive and killing them by crucifixion. The devil kissed him on the shoulders, and immediately two serpents grew out of his back and fed constantly upon him. He was dethroned by the famous blacksmith of Ispahan, and appointed by the devil to keep hellgate.—D’Derbelot: Bibliothèque Orientale (1697).

Zohara, the queen of love, and mother of mischief. When Harût and Marût were selected by the host of heaven to be judges on earth, they judged righteous judgment till Zohara, in the shape of a lovely woman, appeared before them with her complaint. They then both fell in love with her and tried to corrupt her, but she flew from them to heaven; and the two angel-judges were shut out.

The Persian Magi have a somewhat similar tradition of these two angels, but add that after their “fall,” they were suspended by the feet, head downwards, in the territory of Babel.

The Jews tell us that Shamhozai, “the judge of all the earth,” debauched himself with women, repented, and by way of penance was suspended by the feet, head downwards, between heaven and earth.—Bereshit Rabbi (in Gen. vi. 2).

Zohauk, the Nubian slave; a disguise assumed by sir Kenneth.—Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Zoilos (in Latin, Zoïlus), a grammarian, witty, shrewd, and spiteful. He was nicknamed “Homer’s Scourge” (Homeromastix), because he assailed the Iliad and Odyssey with merciless severity. He also flew at Plato, Isocratês, and other high game.

The Sword of Zoïlos, the pen of a critic.

Zoilus. J. Dennis the critic; whose attack on Pope produced The Dunciad (1657–1733).

Zoleikha , Potiphar’s wife.—Sale: Al Korân, xii. (note).

Zone. Tennyson refers to the zone or girdle of Orion in the lines—

Like those three stars of the airy giant’s zone,
That glitter burnished by the frosty dark.
   —Tennyson: The Princess, v. (1830).

Zophiel [Zo-fel], “of cherubim the swiftest wing.” The word means “God’s spy.” Zophiel brings word to the heavenly host that the rebel crew were preparing a second and fiercer attack.

Zophiel, of cherubim the swiftest wing,
Came flying, and in mid-air aloud thus cried:
‘Arm, warriors, arm for fight.”
   —Milton: Paradise Lost, vi. 535 (1665).