INTRODUCTION.


I. HOMER, THE FATHER OF POETRY.

In this book we are to tell the story of Troy, and particularly of the
famous siege which ended in the total destruction of that renowned city.
It is a story of brave warriors and heroes of 3000 years ago, about
whose exploits the greatest poets and historians of ancient times have
written. Some of the wonderful events of the memorable siege are related
in a celebrated poem called the Ilʹi-ad, written in the Greek language.
The author of this poem was Hoʹmer, who was the author of another great
poem, the Odʹys-sey, which tells of the voyages and adventures of the
Greek hero, U-lysʹses, after the taking of Troy.

Homer has been called the Father of Poetry, because he was the first and
greatest of poets. He lived so long ago that very little is known about
him. We do not even know for a certainty when or where he was born. It
is believed, however, that he lived in the ninth century before Christ,
and that his native place was Smyrʹna, in Asia Minor. But long after
his death several other cities claimed the honor of being his
birthplace.

Seven Grecian cities vied for Homer dead,
Through which the living Homer begged his bread.

LEONIDAS.