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has grown over the ruins of most of them； and in later years； men
believed that those walls must have been built by giants； the
stones are so enormous。 Each king had nobles under him； rich men；
and all had their palaces； each with its courtyard； and its long
hall； where the fire burned in the midst； and the King and Queen
sat beside it on high thrones； between the four chief carved
pillars that held up the roof。 The thrones were made of cedar wood
and ivory； inlaid with gold； and there were many other chairs and
small tables for guests； and the walls and doors were covered with
bronze plates； and gold and silver； and sheets of blue glass。
Sometimes they were painted with pictures of bull hunts； and a few
of these pictures may still be seen。 At night torches were lit；
and placed in the hands of golden figures of boys； but all the
smoke of fire and torches escaped by a hole in the roof； and made
the ceiling black。 On the walls hung swords and spears and helmets
and shields； which needed to be often cleaned from the stains of
the smoke。 The minstrel or poet sat beside the King and Queen；
and； after supper he struck his harp； and sang stories of old wars。
At night the King and Queen slept in their own place； and the women
in their own rooms； the princesses had their chambers upstairs； and
the young princes had each his room built separate in the
courtyard。
There were bath rooms with polished baths； where guests were taken
when they arrived dirty from a journey。 The guests lay at night on
beds in the portico； for the climate was warm。 There were plenty
of servants； who were usually slaves taken in war； but they were
very kindly treated； and were friendly with their masters。 No
coined money was used； people paid for things in cattle； or in
weighed pieces of gold。 Rich men had plenty of gold cups； and
gold…hilted swords； and bracelets； and brooches。 The kings were
the leaders in war and judges in peace； and did sacrifices to the
Gods； killing cattle and swine and sheep； on which they afterwards
dined。
They dressed in a simple way； in a long smock of linen or silk；
which fell almost to the feet； but was tucked up into a belt round
the waist； and worn longer or shorter； as they happened to choose。
Where it needed fastening at the throat； golden brooches were used；
beautifully made； with safety pins。 This garment was much like the
plaid that the Highlanders used to wear； with its belt and
brooches。 Over it the Greeks wore great cloaks of woollen cloth
when the weather was cold； but these they did not use in battle。
They fastened their breastplates； in war； over their smocks； and
had other armour covering the lower parts of the body； and leg
armour called 〃greaves〃； while the great shield which guarded the
whole body from throat to ankles was carried by a broad belt slung
round the neck。 The sword was worn in another belt； crossing the
shield belt。 They had light shoes in peace； and higher and heavier
boots in war； or for walking across country。
The women wore the smock； with more brooches and jewels than the
men； and had head coverings； with veils； and mantles over all； and
necklaces of gold and amber； earrings； and bracelets of gold or of
bronze。 The colours of their dresses were various； chiefly white
and purple； and； when in mourning； they wore very dark blue； not
black。 All the armour； and the sword blades and spearheads were
made； not of steel or iron； but of bronze； a mixture of copper and
tin。 The shields were made of several thicknesses of leather； with
a plating of bronze above； tools； such as axes and ploughshares；
were either of iron or bronze； and so were the blades of knives and
daggers。
To us the houses and way of living would have seemed very splendid；
and also； in some ways； rather rough。 The palace floors； at least
in the house of Ulysses； were littered with bones and feet of the
oxen slain for food； but this happened when Ulysses had been long
from home。 The floor of the hall in the house of Ulysses was not
boarded with planks； or paved with stone： it was made of clay； for
he was a poor king of small islands。 The cooking was coarse： a
pig or sheep was killed； roasted and eaten immediately。 We never
hear of boiling meat； and though people probably ate fish； we do
not hear of their doing so； except when no meat could be procured。
Still some people must have liked them； for in the pictures that
were painted or cut in precious stones in these times we see the
half…naked fisherman walking home； carrying large fish。
The people were wonderful workers of gold and bronze。 Hundreds of
their golden jewels have been found in their graves； but probably
these were made and buried two or three centuries before the time
of Ulysses。 The dagger blades had pictures of fights with lions；
and of flowers； inlaid on them； in gold of various colours； and in
silver； nothing so beautiful is made now。 There are figures of men
hunting bulls on some of the gold cups； and these are wonderfully
life…like。 The vases and pots of earthenware were painted in
charming patterns： in short； it was a splendid world to live in。
The people believed in many Gods； male and female； under the chief
God； Zeus。 The Gods were thought to be taller than men； and
immortal； and to live in much the same way as men did； eating；
drinking； and sleeping in glorious palaces。 Though they were
supposed to reward good men； and to punish people who broke their
oaths and were unkind to strangers； there were many stories told in
which the Gods were fickle； cruel； selfish； and set very bad
examples to men。 How far these stories were believed is not sure；
it is certain that 〃all men felt a need of the Gods；〃 and thought
that they were pleased by good actions and displeased by evil。
Yet； when a man felt that his behaviour had been bad； he often
threw the blame on the Gods； and said that they had misled him；
which really meant no more than that 〃he could not help it。〃
There was a curious custom by which the princes bought wives from
the fathers of the princesses； giving cattle and gold； and bronze
and iron； but sometimes a prince got a wife as the reward for some
very brave action。 A man would not give his daughter to a wooer
whom she did not love； even if he offered the highest price； at
least this must have been the general rule； for husbands and wives
were very fond of each other； and of their children； and husbands
always allowed their wives to rule the house； and give their advice
on everything。 It was thought a very wicked thing for a woman to
like another man better than her husband； and there were few such
wives； but among them was the most beautiful woman who ever lived。
THE WOOING OF HELEN OF THE FAIR HANDS
This was the way in which people lived when Ulysses was young； and
wished to be married。 The worst thing in the way of life was that
the greatest and most beautiful princesses might be taken
prisoners； and carried off as slaves to the towns of the men who
had killed their fathers and husbands。 Now at that time one lady
was far the fairest in the world： namely； Helen； daughter of King
Tyndarus。 Every young