Thomas W. Allen, E. E. Sikes, Commentary on the Homeric Hymns

[496] δελφίνιος: “δέλφειος” is an unknown word, the form of which is hardly supported by a Thessalian inscr. “τες βελφαιο”=“τα ες δελφαιο” (Ath. Mitth. xxi. p. 249); it may be explained as due to the metrical difficulty in “δελφίνιος”, just as in Nicand. Ther.238“θαμι_νός” has become “θαμειός”. With regard to “δελφίνιος” the editors raise two objections: (1) that it is unmetrical, (2) that it is unsuitable to the context, and cannot be paired with “ἐπόψιος”. There are two possible solutions of the first difficulty. We may assume “δελφι?́νιος”, in spite of the preceding “δελφι_νίῳ”: adjectives formed from nouns with gen. in “-ῖνος” vary in quantity; “Ἐλευσι?́νιος” is short, as in h. Dem. 266, Soph. Ant.1120; cf. h. Dem. 105 “Ἐλευσι^νίδαο”, while “Σαλαμι?νιος Τραχι?νιος” appear to be always long (see Schulze Quaest. Ep. p. 11). The doubtful quantity of “δελφι_?́νιος” is not therefore impossible; the Doric form is presumably “δελφι?́διος”, and, although this can hardly be substituted, it may help to account for “δελφι?́νιος”. More probably, however, the “ι” preserves its length, as in 495, and there is a synizesis of “-ιο-”, which is not very uncommon; cf. Il. 2.811 “ πόλι_ο_ς” (as in Anth. Pal. ix. 569. 4) and other exx. in Christ Metrik p. 29. In 495 “δελφινίῳ” is no doubt quadrisyllabic, as the synizesis forming the quantity - - would be very harsh in the fourth foot, before a pause; but the variation in the two lines is not worse than “θεός, θε^ούς” in the same line of Euripides (Troad. 1280).

(2) “δελφίνιος” and “ἐπόψιος” are not incompatible in sense: the latter is usually translated by “conspicuous,” but it may rather be active, the “over-seer,” a title transferred from Apollo himself to his altar, like “δελφίνιος”. Cf. “προόψιος” as a title of Apollo Paus.i. 32. 2, “ἐπόπτης” of the Sun C. I. G. addend. 4699. The wording of the passage suggests that the altar is to have the same name or names as the god. A harbour of Oropus was also called “δελφίνιος” (“ὁ ἱερὸς λιμὴν ὃν καλοῦσι δελφίνιον” Strabo 403, see Lolling in Ath. Mitth. x. p. 350 f.), which is a further argument for applying the adj. to the altar on the shore.

On Apollo Delphinius see PrellerRobert l.c., Pauly-Wissowa art. “Apollon” 5 and 47, art. “Delphinios” 2513 f. There can be little doubt that the title is here rightly connected with the dolphin. Apollo, as the patron of mariners and colonization, travelled over many seas in the form of a dolphin; cf. oneir. ii. 35. As “Δελφίνιος” he reached Pytho, which drew its later name Delphi from the title. Dolphins playing in front of a vessel are a familiar sight in the Mediterranean, as in ancient times; cf. Anth. Pal. ix. 83. 1 “νηὸς ἐπειγομένης ὠκὺν δρόμον ἀμφεχόρευον”

“δελφῖνες”.