STUDIES ON HOMER AND THE HOMERIC AGE. BY THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE, D.C.L. M. P. FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. Plenius ac melius Chrysippo et Crantore.--HORACE. OXFORD: AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. M.DCCC.LVIII. STUDIES ON HOMER AND THE HOMERIC AGE. OLYMPUS: OR, THE RELIGION OF THE HOMERIC AGE. BY THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE, D.C.L. M. P. FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. Plenius ac melius Chrysippo et Crantore.--HORACE. OXFORD: AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. M.DCCC.LVIII. [_The right of Translation is reserved._] THE CONTENTS. OLYMPUS: OR THE RELIGION OF THE HOMERIC AGE. SECT. I. _On the mixed character of the Supernatural System, or Theo-mythology of Homer._ Homer’s method not systematic Page 1 Incongruities of his Theo-mythology point to diversity of sources 2 Remnants of primitive tradition likely to be found in the Poems 3 Extra-judaical relations between God and man 6 With tradition it combines invention 9 It is a true Theology corrupted 9 It has not its basis in nature-worship 10 It could not have sprung from invention only 13 Sacrifices admitted to be traditional 15 Tendency of primitive religion to decay 17 Downward course of the idea of God 18 Decline closely connected with Polytheism 20 Inducements to Nature-worship 21 The deterioration of religion progressive 23 Paganism in its old age 25 The impersonations of Homer 26 The nature of the myths of Homer 29 Tradition the proper key to many of them 30 He exhibits the two systems in active impact 32 Steps of the downward process 33 Sources of the inventive portions 35 Originality of the Olympian system 37 SECT. II. _The traditive element of the Homeric Theo-mythology._ The channels of early religious tradition 39 Some leading early traditions of Scripture 40 As to the Godhead 42 As to the Redeemer 42 As to the Evil One 43 Their defaced counterparts in Homer 43 Deities of equivocal position 46 Threefold materials of the Greek religion 48