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[372] φήνῃ. This bird is mentioned in connection with the vulture, Od.16. 217.The description given of it by Aristot. H. A. 8. 5. is “φήνη τὸ μέγεθος ἀετοῦ μείζων τὸ δὲ χρῶμα σποδοειδής”, and the eye of the bird is represented as having a film to cover it (“ἐπάργεμός ἐστι”). It is commonly taken to be the sea-eagle, called by Linnaeus falco ossifragus, or it may be equivalent to the Lämmergeier. With the disappearance of Athena here compare particularly the note on “ὄρνις ὣς ἀνοπαῖα διέπτατο” Od.1. 320.Seiler notes that “εἰδόμενος” and “εἰδομένη” are regularly used in Homer to express not mere similarity of movement or action, but actual corporeal resemblance, as in the phrase “εἰδ. δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν” Od.1. 105; 6.22; 8.8; also “εἰσάμενος” and “εἰσαμένη” Od.6. 24; 11. 241, etc.

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

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