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[63] ἀμφικύπελλον. Buttm. Lexil. s. v., seems to establish the rendering a ‘double cup;’ i. e. like two cups set base to base, and so the combination would be somewhat the shape of an hour-glass, and the cup could stand on either end. Aristarchus understands it of a cup with two handles, like the “ἀμφιφορεύς”, and Schliemann declares for this view. See Troja, pp. 155 foll., where he speaks of finding ‘long straight goblets, in the shape of a trumpet, with two enormous handles,’ which he recognises as the Homeric “δέπας ἀμφικύπελλον”. In the discussion that follows, where he quotes at length from Prof. Helbig, as supporting his view, he brings forward arguments of doubtful value, (1) that the double form of cup would not be used, because only one sort of wine was drunk; (2) that it would not be serviceable for ‘dipping’ in the “κρητήρ” (but this was generally done with the “προχόος”); (3) that the form without handles would not be well adapted for ‘passing round’ (but was this usual?). Curtius refers “κύπελλον” to “κύπη”, ‘cup;’ Helbig looks on the “υ” as Aeolic, and prefers to connect with “κώπη”, cap-io, etc., thus bringing out the meaning of ‘handle.’ The passage in Aristot. H. A. 9. 40 is interesting, as a comparison is drawn between the ‘double cup’ and the arrangement of the cells of the honey-bee: “αἱ δὲ θυρίδες καὶ αἱ τοῦ μέλιτος καὶ τῶν σχαδόνων ἀμφίστομοι: περὶ γὰρ μίαν βάσιν δύο θυρίδες εἰσὶν, ὥσπερ ἡ τῶν ἀμφικυπέλλων, ἡ μὲν ἐντὸς ἡ δ᾽ ἐκτός”.

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

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