A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

96 Myth and Religion
autumnal convention Pylasan, because it was held at Pylae,
which has the name also of Thermopylae. The Pylagorae
sacrificed to Demeter. In the beginning, only the persons
in the neighborhood assembled, or consulted the oracle,
but afterwards people repaired thither from a distance
for this purpose, sent gifts, and constructed treasuries,
as Croesus, and his father Alyattes, some of the Italians
also, and the Sicilians.
STUDIES
1. Enumerate the deities mentioned in this selection, with the
functions of each. What are the Roman equivalents? What must
have been the mental condition of men which created these ideas of
the gods?
2. a. What classes of people did Odysseus find in the home of the
dead? What means had he of restoring their spirits to consciousness?
What was the normal state of their minds? What was the peculiar
condition of Elpenor? What was necessary to give his spirit peace?
b. What information did Odysseus' mother give him concerning
his family at home? Did the dead, then, know what was going on in
this world? What was the condition of his family? How, as his
mother explains, does the spirit separate itself from the body?
3. What were the Delphic treasure-houses? By what means did
Apollo give his oracles? Why did this oracle become the most important
in Hellas? Describe the organization of the amphictyony.
Who were the Pylagorae? Mention all the authors represented in
this chapter and the source of Information of each. What is the
historical value of each selection?