What few authorities exist on the subject, are summarily dismissed, although the arguments appear to run in a circle.

"This cannot be true, because it is not true; and, that is not true, because it cannot be true." Such seems to be the style, in which testimony upon testimony, statement upon statement, is consigned to denial and oblivion.
It is, however, unfortunate that the professed biographies of Homer are partly forgeries, partly freaks of ingenuity and imagination, in which truth is the requisite most wanting.

Before taking a brief review of the Homeric theory in its present conditions, some notice must be taken of the treatise on the Life of Homer which has been attributed to Herodotus.
According to this document, the city of Cumae in AEolia, was, at an early period, the seat of frequent immigrations from various parts of Greece.
Among the immigrants was Menapolus, the son of Ithagenes.

Although poor, he married, and the result of the union was a girl named Critheis.

The girl was left an orphan at an early age, under the guardianship of Cleanax, of Argos.