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[281] ὡς ὅτε ῥινόν. If we adopt this reading (see crit. note), the simile of the shield must mean that the low land of Phaeacia seemed to form the circumference, while the mountains rising inland resembled the boss. It is doubtful whether the final syllable of “ὅτε” could remain short before the digammated “ῥινόν” or “ῥινός”. Cp. inf. 426 “ἔνθα κ᾽ ἀπὸ ῥινοὺς δρύφθη”, also Od.22. 278.It is difficult to understand the meaning of the division of letters said to represent the reading of Aristarchus, “ὡς ὅτ᾽ ἐρινόν”, unless we can suppose that the sight of a large fig-tree (on the far horizon, so that its stem would not be in view) resembled the mass of a mountain-group. And if the word “ἐρινόν” really exists, it means a fig, not a fig-tree. Besides, it is more natural to supply “γαῖα” as the subject to “εἴσατο” than “ὄρεα”. The interpretation of the Scholl. “ῥινόν” (Hesych. “ἐρινόν”)=“ἀχλύς” ‘mist’ looks no better than a makeshift. The easiest solution in every way is to read “ὥς τε ῥινόν”. If “ὡς ὅτε” be retained, it must be taken as a condensed expression equivalent to “εἴσατο ὡς ῥινὸν ὅτε εἴδεται”. For this use of “ὡς ὅτε” cp. Od.19. 494; Il.2. 394; 4.462; 12.132; 13. 471, 571; 18. 219.

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

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