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

[325] The word “εὐμιλίη” or “εὐμυλίη” is not known to exist; in J. H. S. xvii. p. 261, the latter form was defended, as probably connected with “μὺ μῦ” Eq.10, “μυλιόωντες” Hes. Op.530.“μύω μοιμύλλω” etc., of a muttering sound produced by closing the lips. The sense suggested was “a pleasant hum,” which, however, does not seem particularly suited to the present context. Pending the production of fresh evidence, another attempt may be made to derive the word. “ὅμιλος”, formerly connected with “ὁμός”, is now divided “ὅ-μιλ-ος”, as cognate with Sanscr. milati, Lat. miles, mille (Johansson I. F. ii. 34 n., Fick Wörterbuch^{4} i. 177, 723, iv. 235, Stokes B. B. xi. 293, Petr B. B. xxv. 143). From the same stem a formation “εὐμιλία” would not be impossible, and the sense “good fellowship” or merely “company” would be equivalent to “ἠγερέθοντο” in the next line. For the metre cf. Anth. Pal. ix. 573 “κλαιωμιλίη” and “γελοωμιλίη”. This attempt preserves the spelling of M, as the derivation from “μύλλω”, etc., that of the other MSS. Either meaning seems in accordance with the light tone of the scene, which D'Orville recognised by conjecturing “στωμυλίη”. On the other hand, if there is corruption, no emendation commands assent; of the conjectures, those which depart from the letters of the MSS. are too violent, while those that resemble them (“εὐμελίη ἐμμελίη”) do not account for the loss of such familiar words. A rare word is required, and perhaps “εὐκηλίη” satisfies the conditions (the confusion of “κ” and “μ” is common in minuscules). This would involve a rare synizesis, which may have helped the corruption. “εὐκηλία” is attested by Hesychius, and the sense is excellent: the “quiet” of dawn held Olympus— zeus was not thundering. Cf. Theocr. ii. 166 “εὐκήλοιο νυκτός”, “stilly night”; and for the stillness of a mountain, Callim. h. v.72 “μεσαμβρινὰ δ᾽ εἷχ᾽ ὄρος ἁσυχία”; ib. 74.