Quote:
In his eagerness to find a city worthy of Priam, the German archaeologist Schliemann cut through Troy and uncovered a civilization a thousand years older as was the city Homer's heroes knew.
Intended meaning:
The sentence presents a few facts.
The German archaeologist Schliemann was eager to find a city worthy of Priam.
He did two things:
- He cut through Troy
- He uncovered a civilization a thousand years [u]older than other cities known to Homer's heroes
Quote:
(A) older as was the city Homer's heroes knew.
Incorrect comparision.
We are comparing a civilization which was a thousand years old with
verb = was knew
Also a comparative degree such as more / older is always followed by than.
E.g. Francis has more apples than Rhea. (correct)
Francis has more apples as Rhea (incorrect)
Quote:
(B) more ancient than the city known to Homer's heroes
Correct, two nouns are compared now: a civilization with a city, which is known to Homer's heroes
Quote:
(C) older than was the city known to Homer's heroes
Same problem of incorrect comparision of noun vs verb as in (A)
Correct usage of than after more.
Quote:
(D) more ancient of a city than Homer's heroes knew
Complete mess. Again the modifier ancient refers back to civilization,
but we need to compare two nouns, not a noun and a verb.
Quote:
(E) older of a city than was the one known to Homer's heroes
Incorrect comparision of verb vs noun