Homer and the Dark Age

1
Homer and the Dark Age
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A leaders honours

• Glaukos, why is it you and I are honoured before
  others
• With pride of place, the choice meats and the
  filled cups
• In Lykia, and all men look to us as if we were
  immortals,
• And we are appointed a great piece of land
• Good land, orchard and vineyard, and ploughland.
• Therefore it is our duty in the forefront of the
  Lykians
• To take our stand and bear our part of the battle
• So that a man.may say
• Indeed, these are no ignoble men who are lords
  of Lykia,
• These basileis of ours.

3

• Athena came to the land of Ithaca to the outer
  gate of Odysseus and the threshold of the court.
  In her hand she held a spear of bronze. There she
  found the proud wooers playing dice in front of
  the doors and sitting on hides of oxen which they
  themselves had slain  some heralds and busy
  squires were mixing wine and water for them in
  bowls, others were washing the tables, while
  still others were sharing out meats in abundance.
  Telemachus was first to see her, for he was
  sitting among the wooers, sad at heart, thinking
  of his noble father coming and scattering the
  suitors in the palace, while he won honour and
  rule over his own house. As he thought of these
  things, he saw Athena, and went straight to the
  outer door he thought it shameful for a stranger
  to stand long at the gates. So, drawing near, he
  clasped her right hand, and took the spear of
  bronze and he addressed her with winged words
  Hail, stranger in our house you will find
  entertainment and then, when you have eaten, tell
  us what you need.

4

• There then I stayed seven years, and much wealth
  did I gather among the Egyptians, for all men
  gave me gifts. But when the eighth circling year
  was come, then there came a man of Phoenicia,
  well versed in guile, a greedy knave, who had
  already wrought much evil among men.  He
  prevailed upon me by his cunning, and took me
  with him, until we reached Phoenicia, where lay
  his house and his possessions. There I remained
  with him for a full year. But when at length the
  year rolled round and the seasons came on,  he
  set me on a seafaring ship bound for Libya,
  having lied that I should convey a cargo with
  him, but in truth that, when there, he might sell
  me and get a vast price.. The ship ran before
  the North Wind, blowing fresh and fair, on a
  mid-sea course to the windward of Crete, and Zeus
  devised destruction for the men.

5

• Then he depicted two beautiful cities of mortal
  men. In one there were marriages and feastings,
  and by the light of the blazing torches they were
  leading the brides from their homes through the
  city.. Young men were whirling in the dance, and
  ..flutes and lyres sounded continually the women
  stood each before her door and marvelled.
• But the menfolk gathered in the place of
  assembly for there a quarrel had arisen, and two
  men were striving about the blood-price of a man
  slain the one declared he had paid all, speaking
  his cause to the people, but the other refused to
  accept anything each wanted to win the issue.
  Moreover, the people were cheering both, showing
  favour to this side and to that. And heralds held
  back the people, while the elders sat upon
  polished stones in the sacred circle, holding in
  their hands the heralds staves. With them they
  would spring up and give judgment, each in turn.
  And in the midst lay two talents of gold, to be
  given to the man among them who gave the most
  righteous judgment.