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[27] ἢ ἁλὸς ἢ ἐπὶ γῆς. Nitzsch quotes this as the solitary instance in Homer of a preposition that belongs to two objects being connected only with the latter, as though the sentence should have run “ἢ ἐπὶ ἁλὸς ἢ ἐπὶ γῆς”. He remarks that this usage is admissible only when there is some close inter-relation or intentional contrast between the two objects; cp. Soph. Antig.367“ποτὲ μὲν κακὸν ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἐσθλὸν ἕρπει”, ib. 1176 “πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός”; Hom. Od.3. 25. 2‘quae nemora aut quos agor in specus?’ See Lobeck, Aj.249.But it is doubtful if this use with the preposition be not later than Homer, though we find in Pindar, Pyth.8. 99“πόλιν κόμιζε Δὶ καὶ κρέοντι σὺν Αἰακῷ”. It seems better to take ἁλός here by itself as a local genitive, as “Ἄργεος” Od.3. 251, “ἠπείροιο” Od.14. 97, “γαίης” Il.5. 310; 17.373.

ἀλγήσετε, the subjunctive, with short vowel.

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

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hide References (8 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (8):
    • Homer, Iliad, 17.373
    • Homer, Iliad, 5.310
    • Homer, Odyssey, 14.97
    • Homer, Odyssey, 3.25
    • Homer, Odyssey, 3.251
    • Pindar, Pythian, 8
    • Sophocles, Ajax, 249
    • Sophocles, Antigone, 367
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