[445] οὐλοχύτας κατήρχετο. The coarse-ground grain called “οὐλαί” (sup. 441) is here called “οὐλοχύται”, which word is used proleptically, as the meal is not really sprinkled yet, but only raised from the basket. The word “κατάρχεσθαι” belongs technically to ritual, signifying to ‘perform preliminary rites.’ Compare “κατάρχομαι μὲν, σφάγια δ᾽ ἄλλοισιν μέλει” Eur. I. T.40; in later Greek it is construed with the genitive, as Hdt.2. 45; Eur. Phoen.573, etc.; here with the accusative, as if equivalent to “καταρχόμενος ἀνείλετο”, on the analogy of Il.1. 449“χερνίψαντο δ᾽ ἔπειτα καὶ οὐλοχύτας ἀνέλοντο”, which means ‘lifted up a handful ready for sprinkling.’ Translate, ‘Nestor began the rite with the lustral water and meal for sprinkling, and earnestly prayed to Athena, as he commenced the sacrifice by casting the forelock into the fire.’ The actual sprinkling of the meal is given by the word προβάλοντο, ‘cast forth.’ Compare with the whole passage Soph. Elect.791 foll. “λούτρ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα τοῖς ξένοις τις αἰρέτω”,
“ὡς ἀμφὶ βωμὸν στῶσι χερνίβων πέλας”. . “οἱ μὲν σφαγεῖον ἔφερον, οἱ δ᾽ ᾖρον κανᾶ., λαβὼν δὲ προχύτας μητρὸς εὐνέτης σέθεν”
“ἔβαλλε βωμούς . . ἐκ κανοῦ δ᾽ ἑλὼν”
“Αἴγισθος ὀρθὴν σφαγίδα, μοσχίαν τρίχα”
“τεμὼν, ἐφ᾽ ἁγνὸν πῦρ ἔθηκε δεξιᾷ”. With “ἀπαρχόμενος . . βάλλων” compare Il.19. 254“κάπρου ἀπὸ τρίχας ἀρξάμενος”, which the Schol. interprets by the words “ἀπαρξάμενος τρίχας, τεμὼν ὡς ἀπαρχήν”.
