[132] “κεκράαντο, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀπήρτιστο ἢ κεκέραστο” Schol. H. Q. The latter, which refers to the mixture of the two metals, is supported by Cobet, Var. Lect. 227, saying, “‘neque κραίνειν de huiusmodi opificio dici potuit, neque haec significatio locis poetae apta est.’” But it is difficult to see why “κραίνω” in its regular meaning of ‘complete’ is out of place here, as the poet is not speaking of the general fashioning of the cup, but of the rim of gold added as a finish.
Helen was famous as a workwoman; compare “οὔτε τις ἐν ταλάρῳ πανίσδεται ἔργατοιαῦτα”, “οὔτ᾽ ἐν δαιδαλέῳ πυκινώτερον ἄτριον ἱστῷ”“κερκίδι συμπλέξασα μακρῶν ἔταμ᾽ ἐκ κελεόντων” Theocr. 18. 32. The basket was full of ‘dressed yarn,’ which lay ready for the weaver in balls, or on spools (“πηνία” Il.23. 762, cp. “πανίσδεται” sup.). The distaff, charged with ‘dark blue wool,’ which had yet to be spun, was ‘laid across’ the basket; “τετάνυστο, δηλοῖ μὴ ὀρθὴν ἵστασθαι τὴν ἠλακάτην, ἀλλὰ περὶ τὸν τάλαρον κεῖσθαι, ἀπὸ χείλους ἐς χεῖλος διήκουσαν, ἴσως δὲ καὶ μῆκος αὐτῆς ἡ λέξις δηλοῖ” Eustath. This interpretation does not imply that the distaff did not reach beyond the edge on either side.
