The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-05-31
HOMER'S LEGACY TO MANKIND.
in THREE PARTS.

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most equaled Achilles in bravery, and
who was, in many respects, the noblest
of all of Homel's characters. He was
son of King Priamus and his wife
Hecuba, and was, like his brother
Troilus, Polydorus and two others,
slain by Achilles. The royal couple of
Ilium had fifty sons and as many
daughters; but only part of these re-
ceived special mention BY Homer. Of
the other Trojan heroes, Aeneas and
Paris, the latter also son of Priamus,
distinguished themselves by their
bravery and other accomplishments
The Trojan women played great and
interesting part in the story.
The way in which Homer has as
signed positions to the gods, is inter-
esting. They play as prominent role
as the mortals. In his convictions,
based on the belief of his day, Homer
was evidently sincere. He intended to
demonstrate, that all human actions
were controlled by divine force, and he
did this in a fascinating, beautiful
manner. We should not judge his
views from the standpoint of religion,
which had no existence at that time.
Theology or metaphysics are outside
the pale of this article; but the reader
will not 60 wrong, if he assumes that
Grecian mythology is based on far
deeper thought than appears on the
surface-a surface which, indeed. is
bound to appear ludicrous at first sight.
AS the cause OF this war had been IN
directly attributed to quarrel between
three goddesses, Homer makes these
take the side they themselves had
chosen. Aphrodite, who had helped
Paris to the possession of Helena, was
of course, bound to support the Trojans
and with her were all those gods who
belonged to her coterie in Olympus
The principal of these were Poseidon
god of the sea, and Ares, god of war
Naturally, it would seem that the god
of war would exercise the decisive in
fluence in contest of arms. But the
stanchest and most faithful supper
ter of the Greek cause, Athene, was
not only the goddess of wisdom
, science and invention, but also of the
higher sciences of warfare, and her!
more than outweighed the influence O
somewhat blunt Ares. 1t would leat
too far to define the positions int
which Homer has placed the othe
: prominent deities; it will suffice t.
state that the manner in which Home
has treated this part of his theme, is a
beautiful as it is indicative of a mas
ter mind.
3 Having briefly described the materi
Q al which Homer employed in his work
! we shall now try to portray the use b
q has made of it. It is not alone hi
: superb description of valiant deeds
:. which fascinate the reader. There
}. not great virtue, not grea
a passion, not great wrong doing; nc
:. any other noteworthy human trai
: that has not been portrayed in th
s poem. The anger of Achilles; his obst
8 macy when, after his quarrel wit
Q Agamemnon, he refuses to participat
Y further in the war; when he shu
# himself up in his tent, sulking thel
@ for months and months, refusing
r come to the assistance of his cOmrade
IS even at the moment of supreme nee
s. when they were being driven back
It their ships by the exultant Trojan
IS when he finally allows his below
f. friend Patroclus to don his (Achllle
n armor, as its aspect alone carried te
O. ror into the ranks of the enemy; b
n- frenzy when Patroclus is slain
Q, Hector; the wrath with which he tn
rt precipitates himself into the thicke
i'd of the fight, looking for the valia
r. Hector, whom he finally kills, and tn
Rs drives hurriedly three times aroul
c. Ilium, with Hector's body tied to /
ed chariot; all this is told by Homer In
st vivid and natural q manner that
almost imagine seeing 1t with our oy
IN eyes. And, yet, these lively scenes
a. almost surpassed by the narration