Sir Richard C. Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Trachiniae

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παλίντονα, ‘back-bent,’ is a general epithet, referring to the shape of the bow; not to its being ‘drawn back’ in shooting, nor to its ‘springing back’ after the shot. It seems properly to have denoted a bow of which the curvature was in a direction contrary to that in which the archer bent the bow when drawing it. See Appendix.

λόγχας, two spears, in Homeric fashion: cp. Il.3. 17 f., where Paris is armed with “κάμπυλα τόξα, ξίφος”, and “δύο δοῦρε”. (Not, ‘pointed arrows,’ as Paley renders.)

ῥόπαλον, the club, made from a wild-olive tree which Heracles had plucked up by the roots on Mount Helicon: cp. Theocr. 25. 206 ff., where he carries this “βάκτρον” in his right hand, and his bow in the left: Apoll. Rh. 2. 34 “καλαύροπά τε τρηχεῖαν” | ...“ὀρειτρεφέος κοτίνοιο.—τινάσσων” would suit λόγχας ( Il.12. 298“δύο δοῦρε τινάσσων”) as well as ῥόπαλον, but not τόξα, for which a word such as “ἔχων” or “νωμῶν” must be supplied: cp. n. on 353.—The picture is not distinct; his right hand must wield the club; his left may hold either bow or spears,—the other weapon being slung about him. As to the archer type of Heracles, here partly blended with the hoplite, cp. Ph.727 n.