[186] For δικασπόλος see Il.1. 238, and cp. Callim. h. in Iov. 3 “δικασπόλος οὐρανίδῃσι”. The “γέροντες” might collectively be called “δικασπόλοι”, the king especially so, as head of the “βουλή”. See Buchholz. Hom. Real. vol. 2nd, part 1, § 3. This invitation to public banquets was a regular part of the royal prerogatives, which are summed up in Il.12. 310 foll., where Sarpedon says to Glaucus, “Γλαῦκε, τίη δὴ νῶι τετιμήμεσθα μάλιστα”
“ἕδρῃ τε κρέασίν τε ἰδὲ πλείοις δεπάεσσιν”“ἐν Λυκίῃ, πάντες δὲ θεοὺς ὣς εἰσορόωσι”;
“καὶ τέμενος νεμόμεσθα”, etc. The description given by Anticlea of the state of things in Ithaca shows that she must have died before the suitors began their molestation of Penelope; otherwise she could not have said, “Τηλέμαχος ἕκηλος νέμεται τεμένεα”.
ἀλεγύνειν. Seiler points out that here ἀλεγύνειν has the force of ‘taking interest in,’ ‘busying oneself about;’ not in the sense, generally assigned, of preparing the meal, but of partaking of it. He compares “μεμνῆσθαι δαιτός” Od.20. 246, “μεμνῆσθαι πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος” Il.19. 231, “μνήσασθαι δόρπου” Od.4. 213, etc. The same meaning is found in “ἄλλας δ᾽ ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτας” Od.1. 374, etc., and “θοὴν ἀλεγύνετε δαῖτα” Od.8. 38, where the Schol. gives “εὐτρεπίζετε”, unnecessarily. This view of ἀλεγύνειν renders Nitzsch's proposed alteration for “καλέουσι” (see crit. note) needless.
