
audiobook
by W. E. (William Ewart) Gladstone
The eBook cover was created by adding text to the original cover and is placed in the public domain.
STUDIES ON HOMER AND THE HOMERIC AGE.
THE CONTENTS.
SECT. I. On the Mixed Character of the Supernatural System, or Theo-Mythology, of Homer.
SECT. II. The traditive Element of the Homeric Theo-mythology.
SECT. III. The inventive Element of the Homeric Theo-mythology.
SECT. IV. The Composition of the Olympian Court: and the Classification of the whole Supernatural Order in Homer.
SECT. V. The Olympian Community and its Members, considered in themselves.
SECT. VI. The Olympian Community and its Members, considered in their influence on human society and conduct.
SECT. VII. On the traces of an origin abroad for the Olympian Religion.
Delving into the world of ancient Greece, this volume explores how Homer’s epics weave together theology and myth into a complex, “theo‑mythology.” The author argues that Homer’s portrayal of the divine is deliberately non‑systematic, allowing a single story to reveal many facets of the gods and their relationship to humanity. By examining the underlying harmony—or lack thereof—within these narratives, the work reveals how Homer both preserves older traditions and actively reshapes mythic material for his own artistic purposes.
The study turns its focus to Olympus, presenting it as the central stage for the Homeric religion. It investigates how early interpreters struggled with the apparent inconsistencies, often resorting to allegory or outright rejection. Through careful analysis, the author suggests that traces of a deeper, pre‑Jewish spiritual heritage can be discerned in the poems, hinting at a broader, shared human consciousness. Listeners will gain a richer appreciation of Homer’s layered storytelling and the enduring mysteries of the ancient divine landscape.
Full title
Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 2 of 3 Olympus; or, the Religion of the Homeric Age
Language
en
Duration
~15 hours (878K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Henry Flower and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2015-09-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1809–1898
A towering figure in 19th-century British politics, this four-time prime minister brought fierce energy and moral seriousness to public life. He was also a prolific writer and speaker whose career shaped debates on reform, Ireland, empire, and the role of government.
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