These epochal figures represented lives hard to imitate, but to be acknowledged as possessing higher authority than mere mortals.
1. 这个句子有误。应把 to be acknowledged as possessing higher authority than mere mortals，改为 were acknowledged as possessing higher authority than mere mortals. 这样， represented 与 were acknowledged 并列。
2. acknowledge sb. as...，在这个结构中，as 为介词表示“身份”，整个 as 词组作宾语补足语。被动语态时，as 词组作主语补足语。
