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[92] ἁδινά, ‘thick-thronging.’ A descriptive epithet of sheep and goats. This is better than Buttm.'s view, ‘that “ἁδινός” is here a particular epithet for a particular case; the cattle which the suitors slaughtered were always (“αἰεί”) driven thither in herds or numbers,’ Lexil. p. 35. It is of course true, as Buttm. says, that it is not necessary for “ἀδινά” to be a generally descriptive epithet because “εἰλίποδας” is one, but the interpretation given in the note keeps closer to the fundamental meaning assigned by Buttm. himself to “ἁδινός”, sc. ‘compactness.’ See on Od. 4.721.

εἰλίποδας. Buttmann's interpretation, ‘heavy-treading,’ seems doubtful on three grounds. (1) It is probable that the senses assigned by him to the root should be transposed, and that the meaning of ‘roll’ is primary, and that of ‘thrust’ secondary; (2) we do not find it applied in the sense of ‘thrusting’ to the simple vertical pressure of a dead weight. (3) The meaning he gives to “εἰλίπους” does not suit its use in other contexts, as Eupol. Com. 5, where it is applied to women, and the passage quoted by Buttm. himself (Hippocr. de Artic. 7) where the epithet is applied to oxen because their joints are loose set (“χαλαρά”). The explanation of the Schol. is nearer the truth, “ὡς ποιοῦντες τὴν τῶν ποδῶν κίνησιν ὥσπερ ἑλικοειδῆ”, meaning that each foot as it is set forward describes a segment of a circle; a movement made necessary by its being so slightly lifted. Translate, ‘shambling;’ and cp. Lobeck, Path. Elem. 2. 362, who speaks of ‘illa pedum posticorum fluctuatio, qua boves ab aliis animantibus differunt.’ “εἰλίποδες” as an epithet of oxen thus forms a graphic contrast to the word “ἀερσίποδες” applied to horses, Il.3. 327.

ἕλικας. Two interpretations are given by Apoll. “ηομ. ἤτοι τὰ κέρατα ἑλικοειδῆ ἐχούσας ἢ ὡς ἔνιοι ἀπὸ τοῦ κατὰ τοὺς πόδας ἑλιγμοῦ”. The former seems to be supported by the phrase in Hymn. ad Mercur. 192 “βόας . . κεράεσσιν ἑλικτάς”. Cp. Hom. Od.12. 348Hom. Od., 355.Others refer “ἕλιξ” to root “σελ”, as in “σέλας”, and render, ‘bright;’ either of colour or sleekness. Or, if we compare the epithet “ἀμφιέλισσαι”, which, as applied to ships, means ‘well-rounded,’ we may interpret ἕλικες as meaning ‘well-rounded,’ i. e. ‘fat,’ ‘goodly’ kine.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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