by Homer
Eurypylus the son of Telephus arrives to aid the Trojans, shows his prowess and is killed by Neoptolemus. The Trojans are now closely besieged, and Epeius, by Athena's instruction, builds the wooden horse. Odysseus disfigures himself and goes in to Ilium as a spy, and there being recognized by Helen, plots with her for the taking of the city; after killing certain of the Trojans, he returns to the ships. Next he carries the Palladium out of Troy with help of Diomedes. Then after putting their best men in the wooden horse and burning their huts, the main body of the Hellenes sail to Tenedos. The Trojans, supposing their troubles over, destroy a part of their city wall and take the wooden horse into their city and feast as though they had conquered the Hellenes.
Fragment 2 — Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: 'I sing of Ilium and Dardania, the land of fine horses, wherein the Danai, followers of Ares, suffered many things.'
Fragment 3 — Scholiast on Aristophanes, Knights 1056 and Aristophanes ib: The story runs as follows: Aias and Odysseus were quarrelling as to their achievements, says the poet of the "Little Iliad", and Nestor advised the Hellenes to send some of their number to go to the foot of the walls and overhear what was said about the valour of the heroes named above. The eavesdroppers heard certain girls disputing, one of them saying that Aias was by far a better man than Odysseus and continuing as follows:
'For Aias took up and carried out of the strife the hero, Peleus' son: this great Odysseus cared not to do.'
To this another replied by Athena's contrivance:
'Why, what is this you say? A thing against reason and untrue! Even a woman could carry a load once a man had put it on her shoulder; but she could not fight. For she would fail with fear if she should fight.'
Fragment 4 — Eustathius, 285. 34: The writer of the "Little Iliad" says that Aias was not buried in the usual way , but was simply buried in a coffin, because of the king's anger.
Fragment 5 — Eustathius on Homer, Il. 326: The author of the "Little Iliad" says that Achilles after putting out to sea from the country of Telephus came to land there: 'The storm carried Achilles the son of Peleus to Scyros, and he came into an uneasy harbour there in that same night.'
Fragment 6 — Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. vi. 85: 'About the spear-shaft was a hoop of flashing gold, and a point was fitted to it at either end.'
Fragment 7 — Scholiast on Euripides Troades, 822: '...the vine which the son of Cronos gave him as a recompense for his son. It bloomed richly with soft leaves of gold and grape clusters; Hephaestus wrought it and gave it to his father Zeus: and he bestowed it on Laomedon as a price for Ganymedes.'
Fragment 8 — Pausanias, iii. 26. 9: The writer of the epic "Little Iliad" says that Machaon was killed by Eurypylus, the son of Telephus.
Fragment 9 — Homer, Odyssey iv. 247 and Scholiast: 'He disguised himself, and made himself like another person, a beggar, the like of whom was not by the ships of the Achaeans.'
The Cyclic poet uses 'beggar' as a substantive, and so means to say that when Odysseus had changed his clothes and put on rags, there was no one so good for nothing at the ships as Odysseus.
Fragment 10 — Plutarch, Moralia, p. 153 F: And Homer put forward the following verses as Lesches gives them: 'Muse, tell me of those things which neither happened before nor shall be hereafter.'
And Hesiod answered:
'But when horses with rattling hoofs wreck chariots, striving for victory about the tomb of Zeus.'
And it is said that, because this reply was specially admired, Hesiod won the tripod (at the funeral games of Amphidamas).
Fragment 11 — Scholiast on Lycophr., 344: Sinon, as it had been arranged with him, secretly showed a signal-light to the Hellenes. Thus Lesches writes: — 'It was midnight, and the clear moon was rising.'
Fragment 12 — Pausanias, x. 25. 5: Meges is represented wounded in the arm just as Lescheos the son of Aeschylinus of Pyrrha describes in his "Sack of Ilium" where it is said that he was wounded in the battle which the Trojans fought in the night by Admetus, son of Augeias. Lycomedes too is in the picture with a wound in the wrist, and Lescheos says he was so wounded by Agenor...
Pausanias, x. 26. 4: Lescheos also mentions Astynous, and here he is, fallen on one knee, while Neoptolemus strikes him with his sword...
Pausanias, x. 26. 8: The same writer says that Helicaon was wounded in the night-battle, but was recognised by Odysseus and by him conducted alive out of the fight...
Pausanias, x. 27. 1: Of them , Lescheos says that Eion was killed by Neoptolemus, and Admetus by Philoctetes... He also says that Priam was not killed at the heart of Zeus Herceius, but was dragged away from the altar and destroyed off hand by Neoptolemus at the doors of the house... Lescheos says that Axion was the son of Priam and was slain by Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon. Agenor — according to the same poet — was butchered by Neoptolemus.
Fragment 13 — Aristophanes, Lysistrata 155 and Scholiast: 'Menelaus at least, when he caught a glimpse somehow of the breasts of Helen unclad, cast away his sword, methinks.' Lesches the Pyrrhaean also has the same account in his "Little Iliad".
Pausanias, x. 25. 8: Concerning Aethra Lesches relates that when Ilium was taken she stole out of the city and came to the Hellenic camp, where she was recognised by the sons of Theseus; and that Demophon asked her of Agamemnon. Agamemnon wished to grant him this favour, but he would not do so until Helen consented. And when he sent a herald, Helen granted his request.
Fragment 14 — Scholiast on Lycophr. Alex., 1268: 'Then the bright son of bold Achilles led the wife of Hector to the hollow ships; but her son he snatched from the bosom of his rich-haired nurse and seized him by the foot and cast him from a tower. So when he had fallen bloody death and hard fate seized on Astyanax. And Neoptolemus chose out Andromache, Hector's well-girded wife, and the chiefs of all the Achaeans gave her to him to hold requiting him with a welcome prize. And he put Aeneas, the famous son of horse-taming Anchises, on board his sea-faring ships, a prize surpassing those of all the Danaans.'
THE SACK OF ILIUM
Fragment 1 — Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: Next come two books of the "Sack of Ilium", by Arctinus of Miletus with the following contents. The Trojans were suspicious of the wooden horse and standing round it debated what they ought to do. Some thought they ought to hurl it down from the rocks, others to burn it up, while others said they ought to dedicate it to Athena. At last this third opinion prevailed. Then they turned to mirth and feasting believing the war was at an end. But at this very time two serpents appeared and destroyed Laocoon and one of his two sons, a portent which so alarmed the followers of Aeneas that they withdrew to Ida. Sinon then raised the fire-signal to the Achaeans, having previously got into the city by pretence. The Greeks then sailed in from Tenedos, and those in the wooden horse came out and fell upon their enemies, killing many and storming the city. Neoptolemus kills Priam who had fled to the altar of Zeus Herceius (1); Menelaus finds Helen and takes her to the ships, after killing Deiphobus; and Aias the son of Ileus, while trying to drag Cassandra away by force, tears away with her the image of Athena. At this the Greeks are so enraged that they determine to stone Aias, who only escapes from the danger threatening him by taking refuge at the altar of Athena. The Greeks, after burning the city, sacrifice Polyxena at the tomb of Achilles: Odysseus murders Astyanax; Neoptolemus takes Andromache as his prize, and the remaining spoils are divided. Demophon and Acamas find Aethra and take her with them. Lastly the Greeks sail away and Athena plans to destroy them on the high seas.
Fragment 2 — Dionysus Halicarn, Rom. Antiq. i. 68: According to Arctinus, one Palladium was given to Dardanus by Zeus, and this was in Ilium until the city was taken. It was hidden in a secret place, and a copy was made resembling the original in all points and set up for all to see, in order to deceive those who might have designs against it. This copy the Achaeans took as a result of their plots.
Fragment 3 — Scholiast on Euripedes, Andromache 10: The Cyclic poet who composed the "Sack" says that Astyanax was als
o hurled from the city wall.
Fragment 4 — Scholiast on Euripedes, Troades 31: For the followers of Acamus and Demophon took no share — it is said — of the spoils, but only Aethra, for whose sake, indeed, they came to Ilium with Menestheus to lead them. Lysimachus, however, says that the author of the "Sack" writes as follows: 'The lord Agamemnon gave gifts to the Sons of Theseus and to bold Menestheus, shepherd of hosts.'
Fragment 5 — Eustathius on Iliad, xiii. 515: Some say that such praise as this does not apply to physicians generally, but only to Machaon: and some say that he only practised surgery, while Podaleirius treated sicknesses. Arctinus in the "Sack of Ilium" seems to be of this opinion when he says:
'For their father the famous Earth-Shaker gave both of them gifts, making each more glorious than the other. To the one he gave hands more light to draw or cut out missiles from the flesh and to heal all kinds of wounds; but in the heart of the other he put full and perfect knowledge to tell hidden diseases and cure desperate sicknesses. It was he who first noticed Aias' flashing eyes and clouded mind when he was enraged.'
Fragment 6 — Diomedes in Gramm., Lat. i. 477: 'Iambus stood a little while astride with foot advanced, that so his strained limbs might get power and have a show of ready strength.'
THE RETURNS
Fragment 1 — Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: After the "Sack of Ilium" follow the "Returns" in five books by Agias of Troezen. Their contents are as follows. Athena causes a quarrel between Agamemnon and Menelaus about the voyage from Troy. Agamemnon then stays on to appease the anger of Athena. Diomedes and Nestor put out to sea and get safely home. After them Menelaus sets out and reaches Egypt with five ships, the rest having been destroyed on the high seas. Those with Calchas, Leontes, and Polypoetes go by land to Colophon and bury Teiresias who died there. When Agamemnon and his followers were sailing away, the ghost of Achilles appeared and tried to prevent them by foretelling what should befall them. The storm at the rocks called Capherides is then described, with the end of Locrian Aias. Neoptolemus, warned by Thetis, journeys overland and, coming into Thrace, meets Odysseus at Maronea, and then finishes the rest of his journey after burying Phoenix who dies on the way. He himself is recognized by Peleus on reaching the Molossi.
Then comes the murder of Agamemnon by Aegisthus and Clytaemnestra, followed by the vengeance of Orestes and Pylades. Finally, Menelaus returns home.
Fragment 2 — Argument to Euripides Medea: 'Forthwith Medea made Aeson a sweet young boy and stripped his old age from him by her cunning skill, when she had made a brew of many herbs in her golden cauldrons.'
Fragment 3 — Pausanias, i. 2: The story goes that Heracles was besieging Themiscyra on the Thermodon and could not take it; but Antiope, being in love with Theseus who was with Heracles on this expedition, betrayed the place. Hegias gives this account in his poem.
Fragment 4 — Eustathius, 1796. 45: The Colophonian author of the "Returns" says that Telemachus afterwards married Circe, while Telegonus the son of Circe correspondingly married Penelope.
Fragment 5 — Clement of Alex. Strom., vi. 2. 12. 8: 'For gifts beguile men's minds and their deeds as well.'
Fragment 6 — Pausanias, x. 28. 7: The poetry of Homer and the "Returns" — for here too there is an account of Hades and the terrors there — know of no spirit named Eurynomus.
Athenaeus, 281 B: The writer of the "Return of the Atreidae" says that Tantalus came and lived with the gods, and was permitted to ask for whatever he desired. But the man was so immoderately given to pleasures that he asked for these and for a life like that of the gods. At this Zeus was annoyed, but fulfilled his prayer because of his own promise; but to prevent him from enjoying any of the pleasures provided, and to keep him continually harassed, he hung a stone over his head which prevents him from ever reaching any of the pleasant things near by.
THE TELEGONY
Fragment 1 — Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: After the "Returns" comes the "Odyssey" of Homer, and then the "Telegony" in two books by Eugammon of Cyrene, which contain the following matters. The suitors of Penelope are buried by their kinsmen, and Odysseus, after sacrificing to the Nymphs, sails to Elis to inspect his herds. He is entertained there by Polyxenus and receives a mixing bowl as a gift; the story of Trophonius and Agamedes and Augeas then follows. He next sails back to Ithaca and performs the sacrifices ordered by Teiresias, and then goes to Thesprotis where he marries Callidice, queen of the Thesprotians. A war then breaks out between the Thesprotians, led by Odysseus, and the Brygi. Ares routs the army of Odysseus and Athena engages with Ares, until Apollo separates them. After the death of Callidice Polypoetes, the son of Odysseus, succeeds to the kingdom, while Odysseus himself returns to Ithaca. In the meantime Telegonus, while travelling in search of his father, lands on Ithaca and ravages the island: Odysseus comes out to defend his country, but is killed by his son unwittingly. Telegonus, on learning his mistake, transports his father's body with Penelope and Telemachus to his mother's island, where Circe makes them immortal, and Telegonus marries Penelope, and Telemachus Circe.
Fragment 2 — Eustathias, 1796. 35: The author of the "Telegony", a Cyrenaean, relates that Odysseus had by Calypso a son Telegonus or Teledamus, and by Penelope Telemachus and Acusilaus.
NON-EPIC POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO HOMER
Due to his immense fame in the ancient world, many other poems were attributed to Homer in later years. Some survive only in fragments mentioned by other ancient writers, while others (like The Battle of Frogs and Mice and The Contest of Homer and Hesiod) survive almost complete.
The Apotheosis of Homer, by Archelaus of Priene, possibly of the 3rd century BC, now in the British Museum.
THE EXPEDITION OF AMPHIARAUS
Fragment 1 — Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: Sitting there in the tanner's yard, Homer recited his poetry to them, the "Expedition of Amphiarus to Thebes" and the "Hymns to the Gods" composed by him.
THE TAKING OF OECHALIA
Fragment 1 — Eustathius, 330. 41: An account has there been given of Eurytus and his daughter Iole, for whose sake Heracles sacked Oechalia. Homer also seems to have written on this subject, as that historian shows who relates that Creophylus of Samos once had Homer for his guest and for a reward received the attribution of the poem which they call the "Taking of Oechalia". Some, however, assert the opposite; that Creophylus wrote the poem, and that Homer lent his name in return for his entertainment. And so Callimachus writes: 'I am the work of that Samian who once received divine Homer in his house. I sing of Eurytus and all his woes and of golden-haired Ioleia, and am reputed one of Homer's works. Dear Heaven! how great an honour this for Creophylus!'
Fragment 2 — Cramer, Anec. Oxon. i. 327: 'Ragged garments, even those which now you see.' This verse ("Odyssey" xiv. 343) we shall also find in the "Taking of Oechalia".
Fragment 3 — Scholaist on Sophocles Trach., 266: There is a disagreement as to the number of the sons of Eurytus. For Hesiod says Eurytus and Antioche had as many as four sons; but Creophylus says two.
Fragment 4 — Scholiast on Euripides Medea, 273: Didymus contrasts the following account given by Creophylus, which is as follows: while Medea was living in Corinth, she poisoned Creon, who was ruler of the city at that time, and because she feared his friends and kinsfolk, fled to Athens. However, since her sons were too young to go along with her, she left them at the altar of Hera Acraea, thinking that their father would see to their safety. But the relatives of Creon killed them and spread the story that Medea had killed her own children as well as Creon.
THE PHOCAIS
Fragment 1 — Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: While living with Thestorides, Homer composed the "Lesser Iliad" and the "Phocais"; though the Phocaeans say that he composed the latter among them.
THE MARGITES
Fragment 1 — Suidas, s.v.: Pigres. A Carian of Halicarnassus and brother of Artemisia, wife of Mausolus, who distinguished herself in war... He also wrote the "Margites" attributed to Homer and the "Battle of the Frogs and
Mice".
Fragment 2 — Atilius Fortunatianus, p. 286, Keil: 'There came to Colophon an old man and divine singer, a servant of the Muses and of far-shooting Apollo. In his dear hands he held a sweet-toned lyre.'
Fragment 3 — Plato, Alcib. ii. p. 147 A: 'He knew many things but knew all badly...'
Aristotle, Nic. Eth. vi. 7, 1141: 'The gods had taught him neither to dig nor to plough, nor any other skill; he failed in every craft.'
Fragment 4 — Scholiast on Aeschines in Ctes., sec. 160: He refers to Margites, a man who, though well grown up, did not know whether it was his father or his mother who gave him birth, and would not lie with his wife, saying that he was afraid she might give a bad account of him to her mother.