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Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 3 of 3: I. Agorè: Polities of the Homeric Age. II. Ilios: Trojans and Greeks Compared. III. Thalassa: The Outer Geography. IV. Aoidos: Some Points of the Poetry of Homer. — John Shaqi

Philosophy

Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 3 of 3: I. Agorè: Polities of the Homeric Age. II. Ilios: Trojans and Greeks Compared. III. Thalassa: The Outer Geography. IV. Aoidos: Some Points of the Poetry of Homer.

Name: Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 3 of 3: I. Agorè: Polities of the Homeric Age. II. Ilios: Trojans and Greeks Compared. III. Thalassa: The Outer Geography. IV. Aoidos: Some Points of the Poetry of Homer.
Author: Gladstone, W. E. (William Ewart)

Gladstone, W. E. (William Ewart)

Civilization, Homeric; Epic poetry, Greek -- History and criticism; Homer

1. Locrians                with 40 ships.
   2. Eubœans                      40
   3. Athenians                    50
   4. Salaminians                  12
   5. Argives                      80
   6. Mycenians                   100
   7. Lacedæmonians                60
   8. Pylians                      90
   9. Arcadians                    60
  10. Dulichians &c.               40
  11. Cephallenians                12
  12. Ætolians                     40
  13. Cretans                      80
  14. Rhodians                      9
  15. Symeans                       3
  16. Myrmidons                    50
  17. Phthians of Phylace          40
  18. Phereans, &c.                11
  19. Phthians of Methone &c.       7
  20. Ormenians &c.                40
  21. Argissans &c.                40
  22. Cyphians &c.                 22
  23. Magnesians                   40
                                 -----
                                  966 ships.

Under brothers united in command, there were four more contingents:

  1. Of Aspledon and Orchomenus, with   30 ships.
  2. Of Phocians                        40
  3. Of Nisuros, Cos &c.                30
  4. Of Tricce &c.                      30
                                      -----
                                       130 ships.

In all these cases, comprising the whole armament except from two
states, the old form of government seems to have continued. The two
exceptions are:

  1. Bœotians; with 50 ships, under five leaders.
  2. Elians; with 40 ships, under four leaders.

It is quite clear that these two divisions were acephalous. As to the
Elians, because the Catalogue expressly divides the 40 ships into four
squadrons, and places one under each leader, two of these being of the
Actorid house, and a third descended from Augeias. As to the Bœotians,
the Catalogue indicates the equality of the leaders by placing the five
names in a series under the same category.

An indirect but rather strong confirmation is afforded by the passage
in the Thirteenth Book[22], where five Greek races or divisions are
engaged in the endeavour to repel Hector from the rampart. They are,

[22] Il. xiii. 685-700.

1. Bœotians.

2. Athenians (or Ionians), under Menestheus, seconded by Pheidas,
Stichios, and Bias.

3. Locrians.

4. Epeans (of Dulichium &c.) under Meges, son of Phyleus, with Amphion,
and Drakios. The addition of the patronymic to Meges seems in this
place to mark his position; which is distinctly defined as the chief
one in the Catalogue, by his being mentioned there alone.

5. Phthians, under Medon and Podarces. These supplied two contingents,
numbered 17 and 19 respectively in the list just given; and they
constituted separate commands, though of the same race.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 3 of 3: I. Agorè: Polities of the Homeric Age. II. Ilios: Trojans and Greeks Compared. III. Thalassa: The Outer Geography. IV. Aoidos: Some Points of the Poetry of Homer.

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