The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-05-24
HOMER'S LEGACY TO MANKIND.
in THREE PARTS.

Part Introductory.



~~~.
always take into consideration that,
not only Christ, but also the Jehovah
of the Israelites, were in those times
unknown to Greeks and Romans. On
the other hand it is easy to understand
that the fortunes and iadversities of
life, Detailing alike the wicked and the
righteous, should have led those an
clients to conclude that their destiny
and actions were controlled by powers,
often in conflict with each other. AS
we are dealing with Greek literature,
and as the deities of that nation did
not in all respects possess the same
attributes as those of the Romans, we
shall call them by their Grecian
names; as Zeus (Jupiter), Hera Juno,
Pallas Athene (Minerva), Ares MARS,
Aphrodite CVenus), Poseidon (Nep-
tune), Hades pluto, ETC., etc. Gre
clan names shall also be used for the
mortals, as Odysseus for Ulysses, etc.
The first of Homer's works, the
"Iliad"-from Ilium Troy or Troja)-
treats of the ten years siege and des-
|truction of that ancient city, which
took place sometime between 1900 and
1000 b. G. Tho number of Greek
authors, living later than Homer,
referred repeatedly to this siege, several
modern, would-be authorities have
questioned the authenticity of the
occurrence. This caused DR.. Heinrich
Schliemann to investigate in person,
and he commenced excavations on
exactly the same spot, so minutely de-
scribed by Homer: A mistake was
hardly possible, as the small bay with
island (Tenedos), furnished excellent
indications to the explorer. Homer
already told us, that the city had been
completely razed after its capture by
the Greeks, and over thirty centuries of
rain, heat, dust and wind, are not pro-
ductive of leaving traces, even of
stone. For all that, DR.. Schliemann
has proved beyond doubt, that large
city really had existed on that spot
for, after tons of accumulated sand.
dust had been removed, the founda'
tions of the city's walls, and OF
numerous large halls, or castles, were
plainly discernible. Tho the work al
the time had not progressed very far
the writer has seen part of it with his
own eyes. as he stopped two days with
the Schliemann party in 1883, when he
travelled from Egypt to Constantinople
via Asia Minor.
The cause of the war was the abduc
tion of Helena. wife of King Menelau'
of Sparta (?), by Paris, one of tht
many sons of King Priams of Ilium
Helena, daughter of King Tyndaru'
and the goddess Leda, was the mos
beautiful woman in all Greece, an(
there were so many ardent suitors fo
her hand, that her father was afraid tt
bestow her on any one, as he antici
} pated that the favored one would b.
slain by his many rivals. In this di
: lemma, he invited the suitors, includ
, ing practically all the heroes of Greece
to his castle, and told them that tn
oracle should decide which of then
should have his daughter. But befor
consulting the oracle, he made every
body pledge himself to protect Helen
during her life with all the strengt
and power at their command. WheI
therefore, Helena had absconded wit
Paris, the noblest and bravest prince
of all Greece were bound to, come
the rescue. A large army of warrior
? was gathered, King Agamemnon 9
? Lacedaemon, brother of Menelau
? was chosen as leader, and the exped
: tion set sail for Ilium.
:. The entire matter, however, as usus
r in Greece in those days, was attribute
!, to a primary and ulterior cause-to q
action taken by the gods. This is tt
It story: Hera, Pallss Athene an
d Aphrodite, were conversing in one
q the halls of Olympus, the seat of Il
d gods. Prompted by mischief, Eris, tt
: goddess of quarrel and discord, thre
% an apple amongst the three goddess
it named, remarking that this apple b