THE CONTENTS.

I. AGORÈ:

OR

THE POLITIES OF THE HOMERIC AGE.

Political ideas of later GreecePage 1

Their strong development in Heroic Greece2

Germ of the Law of Nations4

Grote’s account of the Heroic Polities5

Their peculiar features, Publicity and Persuasion6

Functions of the king in the Heroic Polities8

Nature of the Pelopid Empire9

Degrees in Kingship and in Lordship10

Four forms of Sovereignty12

First tokens of change in the Heroic Polities12

Shown by analysis of the Catalogue14

Extended signs in the Odyssey17

Altered sense of Βασιλεὺς or King18

New name of Queen20

Disorganization caused by the War21

Arrival of a new race at manhood22

Increased weight of the nobles24

Altered idea of the kingly office25

The first instance of a bad King27

Further change in the time of Hesiod28

Veneration long adhering to the name31

Five distinctive notes of Βασιλῆες in the Iliad32

The nine Greek Βασιλῆες of the Iliad35

The case of Meges36

Of Phœnix37

Of Patroclus and Eurypylus38

Conditions of Kingship in the Iliad39

The personal beauty of the Kings40

Custom of resignation in old age40

Force of the term αἴζηος41

Gymnastic superiority of the Kings44

Their pursuit of Music and Song45

Ulysses as artificer and husbandman46

The Kings as Gentlemen47

Achilles in particular48

Tenderness and tears of the Greek chiefs49

Right of hereditary succession50

Right of primogeniture52

The Homeric King (1) as Priest55

(2) as Judge56

(3) as General57

(4) as Proprietor: the τέμενος58

His revenues, from four sources in all59

Burdens upon them61

The political position of Agamemnon62

The governing motives of the War64

Position of Agamemnon in the army66

His personal character67

The relation of sovereign and subject a free one67

The personal attendants of the King69

The Aristocracy or chief proprietors69

The Trades and Professions70

The Slaves of the Homeric age72

The θῆτες or hired servants74

Supply of military service75

Whether there was a peasant-proprietary77

Political Economy of the Homeric age78

The precious metals not a measure of value81

Oxen in some degree a measure of value82

Relative scarcity of certain metals84

Mode of government of the Army85

Its military composition88

Chief descriptions of fighting men91

The Battle and the Ambuscade92

The Βουλὴ or Council of the Greeks94

It subsisted in peace and in war97

Opposition in the Βουλὴ98

Agamemnon’s proposals of Return99

The influence of Speech in the Heroic age102

It was a subject of regular training103

Varied descriptions of oratory in Homer104

Achilles the paramount Orator105

The orations of the poems106

The power of repartee108

The power of sarcasm109

The faculty of debate in Homer111

The discussion of the Ninth Iliad111

Function of the Assembly in the Heroic age114

The formal use of majorities unknown116

The great decisions of the War taken there117

It was not summoned exclusively by Agamemnon118

Opposition in the Agorè by the chiefs119

Opposition by Thersites120

Grote’s judgment on the case of Thersites123

How that case bears witness to the popular principle126

As does the Agorè on the Shield126

Mode of addressing the Assembly129

Its decisions in the Seventh and Ninth Iliads129

Division in the Drunken Assembly130

Appeal of Telemachus to the Ithacan Assembly132

Phæacian Assembly of the Eighth Odyssey134

Ithacan Assembly of the Twenty-fourth136

Councils or Assemblies of Olympus137

Judicial functions of the Assembly139

Assembly the central point of the Polity140

The common soul or Τὶς in Homer141

Imperfect organization of Heroic Polities143

II. ILIOS.

THE TROJANS COMPARED AND CONTRASTED WITH THE GREEKS.

Relationship of Troy and Greece twofold145

Greek names of deities found also in Troas147

Include nearly all the greater deities150

Worship of Vulcan in Troas151

Worship of Juno and Gaia in Troas153

Worship of Mercury in Troas154

Worship of Scamander155

Different view of Rivers in Troas158

Essential character of Trojan River-worship160

Trojan impersonations from Nature rare162

Poverty of Mythology among the Trojans165

Their jejune doctrine of a Future State166

Redundance of life in the Greek system168

Worship from hills169

The nations compared as to external development of religion.—

1. Temples170

2. As to endowments in land, or τεμένεα172

3. As to Groves’ ἄλσεα173

4. As to Statues of the Gods174

5. As to Seers or Diviners177

6. As to the Priesthood: Priesthood in Greece179

Priesthood in later Greece183

Priesthood among the Trojans184

Comparative observance of sacrifice187

The Trojans more given to religious observances189

Homer’s different modes of handling for Greece and Troy190

Moral superiority of his Greeks on the whole192

Homer’s account of the abduction of Helen193

The Greek estimate of Paris197

Its relation to prevailing views of Marriage200

And to Greek views of Homicide202

The Trojan estimate of Paris205

Public opinion less developed in Troy206

The Trojans more sensual and false207

Trojan ideas and usages of Marriage210

The family of Priam211

Stricter ideas among the Greeks215

Trojan Polity less highly organized216

Rule of Succession in Troy217

Succession to the throne of Priam219

Paris, most probably, was his eldest son221

Position of Priam and his dynasty in Troas223

Meaning of Τροίη and of Ἴλιος224

Evidence from the Trojan Catalogue225

Extent of his sovereignty and supremacy228

Polity of Ilios: the Βασιλεύς232

The Assembly232

The greater weight of Age in Troy234

The absence of a Βουλὴ in Troy236

The greater weight of oratory in Greece239

Trojans less gifted with self-command242

And with intelligence generally244

Difference in the pursuits of high-born youth245

Difference as to αἰδὼς246

Summary of differences247

III. THALASSA.

THE OUTER GEOGRAPHY OF THE ODYSSEY.

Why it deserves investigation249

Principal heads of the inquiry251

The two Spheres of Inner and Outer Geography252

Limits of the Inner Geography255

The intermediate or doubtful zone257

The Sphere of the Outer Geography260

The two Keys of the Outer Geography261

The traditional interpretations valueless262

Manifest dislocations of actual nature263

Postulates for examining the Outer Geography264

The Winds of Homer265

Special notices of Eurus and Notus267

Of Zephyr and Boreas268

Points of the Compass for the two last270

For the two first272

Scheme of the four Winds273

Signification of Eurus273

Homeric distances and rates of speed275

Particulars of evidence on speed277

The northward sea-route to the Euxine280

Evidence from Il. xiii. 1-6281

From Od. vii. 319-26282

From Od. v. 44-57283

From Od. xxiv. 11-13285

Amalgamated reports of the Ocean-mouth287

Open-sea passage to the Ocean-mouth289

Homeward passage by the Straits, why preferred290

Three maritime routes to the Ocean-mouth291

Its two possible originals in nature292

Straits of Yenikalè as Ocean-mouth294

Summary of facts from Phœnician reports295

Two sets of reports are blended into one296

The site of Ææa; North-western hypothesis298

North-eastern hypothesis300

Argument from the Πλαγκταὶ302

From the Island Thrinacie302

Local notes of Ææa303

Site of Ogygia304

Argument from the flight of Mercury305

From the floatage of Ulysses306

From his homeward passage308

Site of Scylla relatively to the Dardanelles309

Why Ææa cannot lie North-westward311

Construction of Od. xii. 3, 4312

Construction of Od. v. 276, 7315

Genuineness of the passage questionable316

Its real meaning317

Homer’s indications of geographical misgivings318

Stages of the tour of Ulysses to Ææa (i-vi.)320

Ææa and the Euxine (vi-viii.)325

Remaining stages (viii-xi.)327

Directions and distances from Ææa onwards329

Tours of Menelaus and Ulysses compared331

The earth of Homer probably oval334

Points of contact with Oceanus337

The Caspian and Persian Gulf belong to Oceanus338

Contraction and compression of the Homeric East340

Outline of Homer’s terrestrial system342

Map of Earth according to Homer343

EXCURSUS I.

Parentage and Extraction of Minos.

On the genuineness of Il. xiv. 317-27344

On the sense of the line Il. xiv. 321346

Collateral testimony to the extraction of Minos347

EXCURSUS II.

On the line Odyss. v. 277.

Points of the question stated349

Senses of δεξιὸς and ἀριστερὸς350

Illustrated from Il. xiii352

On the force of the Homeric ἐπὶ354

Force of ἐπὶ with ἀριστερὰ356

Illustrated from Il. ii. 353. Od. xxi. 141358

From Il. i. 597. vii. 238. xii. 239, 249359

From Il. xxiii. 335-7360

From Il. ii. 526362

Application to Od. v. 277364

Another sense prevailed in later Greek365

IV. AOIDOS.

SECT. I.

On the Plot of the Iliad.

The Theory of Grote on the structure of the poem366

Offer related in the Ninth Book and its rejection369

Restitution and gifts not the object of Achilles371

The offer was radically defective373

Apology needed in particular375

Consistency maintained in and after Il. ix377

Skilful adjustment of conflicting aims379

Glory given to Achilles380

Glory given to Greece380

Trojan inferiority mainly in the Chiefs382

But it pervades the poem384

In the Chiefs it is glaring385

Conflicting exigencies of the plan387

Greeks superior even without Achilles388

Harmony in relative prominence of the Chiefs389

Retributive justice in the two poems392

The sufferings of Achilles394

Double conquest over his will395

SECT. II.

The Sense of Beauty in Homer: human, animal, and inanimate.

His sense of Beauty alike pure and strong397

Degeneracy of the popular idea had begun398

Illustrated by the series of Dardanid traditions, (1) Ganymede398

(2) Tithonus, (3) Anchises400

(4) Paris and Venus401

Homer’s sense of Beauty in the human form402

His treatment of the Beauty of Paris402

Beauty among the Greek chieftains404

Ascribed also to the nation405

Beauty of Nireus406

Of Nastes and of Euphorbus407

Beauty placed among the prime gifts of man408

Homer’s sense of Beauty in animals409

Especially in horses410

As to their movements411

As to their form and colour413

Homer’s sense of Beauty in inanimate nature416

The instance of Ithaca417

Germ of feeling for the picturesque in Homer419

Close relation of Order and Beauty420

Causes adverse to the development of the germ421

Beauty of material objects absorbed in their Life423

SECT. III.

Homer’s perception and use of Number.

The traditional character of aptitudes425

Conceptions of Number not always definite in childhood427

Nor even in manhood428

No calculations in Homer430

Greek estimate of the discovery of Number431

Enumerative addition in Od. iv. 412, 451432

Highest numerals of the poems432

The three hundred and sixty fat hogs434

The Homeric ἑκατομβὴ435

The numerals expressive of value436

His silence as to the numbers of the armies439

Especially in the Greek Catalogue440

Case of the Trojan bivouac442

Case of the herds and flocks in Od. xiv.443

Hesiod’s age of the Nymphs444

Case of the cities of Crete445

No scheme of chronology in Homer446

Case of the three Decades of years448

Meaning of the γενεὴ of Homer449

Homer reckons time by generations451

Some difficulties of the Decades taken literally452

Uses of the proposed interpretation455

SECT. IV.

Homer’s Perceptions and Use of Colour.

Modern perceptions of colour usually definite457

Signs of immature perception in Homer458

His chief adjectives of colour459

His quasi-adjectives of colour460

Applications of ξανθὸς, ἐρυθρὸς, πορφύρεος460

Of κύανος and κυάνεος462

Of φοίνιξ465

Of πόλιος466

The quasi-adjectives of colour; χλωρὸς467

The αἰθαλόεις of Homer468

The ῥοδόεις and ῥοδοδάκτυλος469

The ἰόεις, ἰοειδὴς, ἰοδνεφὴς470

The οἴνοψ and μιλτοπάρηος472

Αἴθων and its cognates; also ἀργὸς, αἴολος473

Γλαυκὸς, γλαυκῶπις, γλαυκιόων474

Χάροπος, σιγαλόεις, μαρμάρεος, ἠεροειδὴς475

Conflict of the colours assigned to the same object475

Great predominance of white and black476

Remarkable omissions to specify colour477

In the case of the horse among others479

In the case of human beauty, and of Iris482

In the case of the heavens483

Causes of this peculiar treatment of colour483

License of poetry in the matter of colour484

Illustrated from Shakespeare485

Homer’s contracted means of training in colour487

His system one of light and dark488

Colour in the later Greek language491

Greek philosophy of colour493

Nature of our advantage over Homer495

Note on κύανος and χαλκός.

Meanings for κύανος heretofore suggested496

Probably a native blue carbonate of copper497

Χαλκὸς to be understood as hardened copper499

SECT. V.

Homer and some of his successors in Epic Poetry; particularly Virgil and Tasso.

Milton’s place among Epic poets500

Difficulty of comparing him with Homer501

The same as to Dante501

Æneid and Iliad; their resemblances and contrasts502

Contrast between form and spirit in the Æneid503

Catalogue in the Iliad and in the Æneid504

Character of Æneas in the Æneid505

Character of Æneas in the Iliad507

The fine character of Turnus508

The false position of Virgil before Augustus509

Difficulty of learning the poet from the poem510

His false position as to religion, liberty, and nationality511

Untruthfulness hence resulting512

Homer is misapprehended through Virgil513

In minor matters, e. g. Simois and Scamander513

Νεκυΐα of Homer and of Virgil515

Ethnological and genealogical dislocations516

Action of the Twelfth Æneid520

Unfaithful imitations of details521

Maltreatment of the Homeric characters522

And of the Homeric Mythology and Ethics523

Æneas and Dido in the Shades beneath525

The woman characters of Homer and Virgil527

Virgil’s insufficient care of minor proprieties528

And of the order of natural phenomena529

Use of exaggeration in Homer and in Virgil530

Contrast of principal aims respectively531

Character of the Bard; not found in Virgil532

Post-Homeric change in the idea of the Poet’s office533

Virgil’s poetical disadvantages534

Comparison of the Trojan War with the Crusades535

Rinaldo and Achilles535

Exaggerations of bulk in Homer and in Tasso536

Mr. Hallam’s judgment on the Jerusalem537

Tasso’s poetical disadvantages538

The man Achilles in relation to the Iliad539

Liberation of the Sepulchre in relation to the Gerusalemme540

Intrusion of incongruous elements542

Relative prominence of Tancredi and Rinaldo543

The Woman-characters of Tasso544

The Armida of Tasso545

Her resemblances and inferiority to Dido546

Her passion ill-sustained546

Obtrusiveness of the amatory element548

The Affront of Gernando549

Difference in modes of describing personages551

Battles and Similes of Tasso552

Inferiority of the Return in the Gerusalemme553

Tasso’s greatness except as compared with Homer554

SECT. VI.

Some principal Homeric Characters in Troy. Hector: Helen: Paris.

Homer’s character-drawing power555

Corruption of the later tradition556

Why specially destructive in his case557

Mure’s treatment of the Homeric characters558

The character of Hector set off with generalities558

It became the basis for that of Orlando559

The martial heroism of Hector second-rate559

His boastfulness his only moral fault561

Hectoring and Rodomontading562

Hector’s sense of the guilt and shame of Paris563

His responsibilities beyond his strength565

Brightness of his character as to the affections567

His piety, gentleness, and equity568

Inequality of his character as a whole569

Apparent reason for it569

Opposite views of the character of Helen571

Homer’s intention with respect to it572

Two adverse mentions of her only574

Homer’s epithets and simile for Helen575

The case of Bathsheba576

As to the free agency of Helen577

Picture of Helen in Il. iii.572

In Il. vi., Il. xxiv., Od. iv.581

The marriage with Deiphobus583

General estimate of the Homeric Helen584

The character of Paris585

His apathy, levity, and selfishness586

His place in the War587

Relation of his intellect to his morality588

SECT. VII.

The declension of the great Homeric Characters in the later Tradition.

Physical conditions of the Greek Theatre590

Absolute dependence on the popular taste592

General obliteration of the finer distinctions593

Mutilation of the Helen of Homer593

The Helen of Euripides595

Of Isocrates and of Virgil597

Characters of Achilles and Ulysses in Homer598

Mutilation of the Ulysses of Homer601

Of the Achilles of Homer602

The Achilles of Statius604

Homeric characters in Seneca605

New relative position of Trojans and Greeks606

Trojanism in England608

Imitations of Homeric characters by Tasso609

The Troilus and Cressida610

Shirley’s Ajax and Ulysses612

Racine’s Iphigénie613

Racine’s Andromaque614

Conclusion615