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

[296] Either this passage, or the Telegonia of Eugammon (Kinkel Ep. gr. fragm. i. p. 57) is the first mention of Trophonius and Agamedes as early builders; see Kern in Pauly-Wissowa art. “Agamedes.” For other accounts of their parentage and relationship see Paus.ix. 37. 3, Charax ap. schol. Nub. 508=F. H. G. iii. p. 637. They occupy a position in architecture similar to that of Daedalus in sculpture. For buildings attributed to them cf. Paus.viii. 10. 2(wooden temple of Poseidon), id. ix. 11. 1 (“θάλαμος” of Alcmena), l.c. (golden treasury of Augeas, or of Hyrieus, at Elis; and, by Trophonius, his own shrine at Lebadia).

According to Paus.x. 5. 9 f. it was the fourth temple that was built by Trophonius and Agamedes. The hymnwriter knows nothing of the later Delphian tradition that the earliest temple was of laurel-wood, the second of bees' wax and wings, and the third of bronze.

λάϊΝον οὐδόν: the “οὐδός” built by the sons of Erginus is here distinguished from the “νηός” built by “the tribes of men” (298). The “οὐδός” may therefore be the adytum as opposed to the cella; cf. Byz. “στεπη. Δελφοί: ἔνθα τὸ ἄδυτον κατεσκεύασται ἐκ πέντε λίθων, ἔργον Τροφωνίου καὶ Ἀγαμήδους”. Probably, however, the two architects laid the first courses (“οὐδός”) of the whole temple, on the plan traced by Apollo; the building was then finished by other workmen. In this case “ἀμφί” (298) would mean “all round,” i.e. over the whole of the foundations. “λάϊνος οὐδός” is applied to the temple at Pytho in Il. 9.404 “, Θ” 80; in the latter passage, at all events, “οὐδός” must be the threshold (“ὑπέρβη λάϊνον οὐδόν”).

For the building of the temple by Trophonius and Agamedes cf. also Pind. ap. Plutarch. consol. ad Apollon. 14, [Plato] Axioch. 367 C, Strabo 421, Cic. Tusc.i. 47.