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[432] καταβήμεναι, an appositional infinitive, epexegetical of κακῶν τούτων. With καταβήμεναι ἐς μέγαρον we may compare “καταδῦναι πόλιν” Od.4. 246, “καταδῦναι Διὸς δόμον” Il.8. 375, “καταβαίνειν θάλαμον” Od.2. 337.It would seem that there is therefore no need to press the force of “κατά” in such passages anymore than in “καθικέσθαι” or “κατελθεῖν”. Some however think that “καταβήμεναι” here reminds us that Circe's house was “ἐν βήσσῃσι”, into which one must descend from the “ἄκριες” over which Odysseus had to walk. This is possible enough, but Eustath. is merely fanciful when he says, “ἀστειότερον, ὡς εἴπερ ἔφη εἰς ᾁδου καταβῆναι διὰ τὸν ἐλπιζόμενον ὄλεθρον”.

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

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