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[267] θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται. Eustath. ad loc. “ὅτι ἐπὶ πραγμάτων ἀποβάσεως ἀδήλου οἰκεῖον εἰπεῖν τὸ ταῦτα θεοῦ ἐν γούνασι κεῖται, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐν δυνάμει ἢ ἱκεσίᾳ θεοῦ”. Now, as the phrase is used not to denote the “ἀπόβασις ἄδηλος”, but rather something which man cannot influence by wish or prayer, we must, with Nitzsch, reject the interpretation which turns upon “ἱκεσία”, and which is connected with the gods' character as receivers of suppliants (who clasped them by the knees), or of gifts (which were laid on the knees of their statues). But Nitzsch's own interpretation, equivalent to Eustath.'s “ἐν δυνάμει”, is far-fetched, for it is unnatural to say that the strength of the body is in the knees (cp. Il.9. 610“καί μοι φίλα γούνατ᾽ ὀρώρῃ Il., 19. 354 μή μοι λιμὸς ἀτερπὴς γούναθ̓ ἵκοιτο”). Perhaps the proverb “πέντε κριτῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται” may give a clue to the meaning (Plut. Proverb. Alex. 76), by referring to the prerogative of the gods as judges, or umpires, on whose knees are placed the prizes for the successful combatants.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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