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[404] ἀπορραίσει σε κτήματα. This construction with the double accusative —a power which the verb gains by composition, as the simple “ῥαίειν”=‘to strike’—is analogous to the usage with “ἀφαιρεῖσθαι”. The older interpreters regarded it as an archaism; cp. Schol. A. on Il.1. 275“ὅτι ἀρχαϊκῶς τόνδ᾽ ἀφαιροῦ οὐχὶ τοῦδε”, and Herodian is quoted as saying that the case is “αἰτιατικὴν ἀντὶ γενικῆς” (Schol. L. B. on Il.16. 59), while Schol. V. strangely enough describes the construction as ‘“Ἀττικῶς”’ (Schol. on Il.22. 18; 15. 427).

This usage is found not only with “ἀφαιρεῖσθαι” (cp. Il.1. 182, 275; 8. 108; 16. 689; 17. 177; 20. 436), but also with “ἀπαυρᾶν” Il.6. 17; 10.495; 16.827; 20. 290; 23. 560, 808, etc.; Od.11. 202; 13.270; “ἐξαιρεῖσθαι” Il.15. 460; 16.58; 17.678; “συλᾶν” Il.6. 70; 13.201; 15.427; 16. 499; 17. 59; 22. 258; “ἐξαίνυσθαι” Il.5. 155; 20.458; “ἐναρίζειν” Il.15. 343; 17.187; 22.323.

To the same usage belongs the construction of verbs of ‘cleansing’ with a double accusative, as “λούειν” Il.23. 41, “καθαίρειν” Il.16. 667, “νίζεσθαι” Od.6. 224.

ναιετάω is sometimes used of the countries or houses, by a sort of impersonation, as if they stood for the dwellers in them, compare “ναιετάουσι πόληες” Il.4. 45, “νῆσοι” Od.9. 23; so “ναίειν” is used with “νῆσοι” Il.2. 626; “δόμος” Od.7. 29(note); cp. Soph. Aj.596“ὦ κλεινὰ Σαλαμὶς, σὺ μέν που ναίεις ἁλίπλαγκτος εὐδαίμων”. Here the word does not mean much more than ‘while Ithaca stands;’ though there is a tendency in meaning towards the interpretation of Schol. “ᾠκις μένης οὔσης”.

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

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