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[390] ὅπλα, from root “ἑπ” as in “ἕπομαι, ἐφ-έπω”. Thus “ὅπλα” signifies all appliances in the widest sense, and gains its ordinary meaning of ‘arms’ only, in so far as they are the ordinary appliances of a fighting man. Thus “ὅπλα” includes mast, sails, rigging and oars. Cp. Od.4. 781-783; 6. 268; 12. 410. “τεύχεα”, ‘arms,’ were not included, although we have them mentioned in connection with “ὅπλα”, in Od.4. 784; and they are spoken of as being on board, Od.9. 156; 10.145; 15. 218 “ἐγκοσμεῖτε τὰ τεύχἐ, ἑταῖροι, νηὶ μελαίνῃ”, and Od.16. 326, 474“βεβρίθει δὲ [νηὺς] σάκεσσι καὶ ἔγχεσιν ἀμφιγύοισιν”.

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

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