government.
It was neither master nor slave.--E.P.P.

13. A district of Thessaly forming a part of the larger district of
Phthiotis. Phthiotis, according to Strabo, included all the
southern portion of that country as far as Mount OEta and the
Maliac Gulf. To the west it bordered on Dolopia, and on the east
reached the confines of Magnesia. Homer comprised within this
extent of territory the districts of Phthia and Hellas properly so
called, and, generally speaking, the dominions of Achilles,
together with those of Protesilaus and Eurypylus.

14. {Kynopa}.

15. {meganaides}.

16 Agamemnon's anger is that of a lover, and Achilles' that of a
warrior. Agamemnon speaks of Chryseis as a beauty whom he values
too much to resign. Achilles treats Briseis as a slave, whom he is
anxious to preserve in point of honor, and as a testimony of his
glory. Hence he mentions her only as "his spoil," "the reward of
war," etc.; accordingly he relinquishes her not in grief for a
favorite whom he loses, but in sullenness for the injury done
him.--DACIER.

17. Jupiter, in the disguise of an ant, deceived Eurymedusa, the
daughter of Cleitos. Her son was for this reason called Myrmidon
(from {myrmex}, an ant), and was regarded as the ancestor of the
Myrmidons in Thessaly.--SMITH.

18. According to the belief of the ancients, the gods were supposed to
have a peculiar light in their eyes. That Homer was not ignorant of
this opinion appears from his use of it in other places.

19. Minerva is the goddess of the art of war rather than of war
itself. And this fable of her descent is an allegory of Achilles
restraining his wrath through his consideration of martial law and
order. This law in that age, prescribed that a subordinate should
not draw his sword upon the commander of all, but allowed a liberty
of speech which appears to us moderns rather out of order.--E.P.P.

20. [The shield of Jupiter, made by Vulcan, and so called from its
covering, which was the skin of the goat that suckled him.--TR.]

21. Homer magnifies the ambush as the boldest enterprise of war. They
went upon those parties with a few only, and generally the most
daring of the army, and on occasions of the greatest hazard, when
the exposure was greater than in a regular battle. Idomeneus, in
the 13th book, tells Meriones that the greatest courage appears in
this way of service,