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[25] ἐξ ἀπίης γαίης. These words form the epexegesis to “τηλόθεν”, as, sup. 22, “Ἀλκινόου” does to “ἀνέρος”. Translate, ‘from after, from a distant land.’ So Eustath. “ἐκ τῆς μακρὰν ἀπεχούσης γῆς”. The name “γῆ Ἀπία” (“α_”) for the Peloponnese is a different word according to Buttm. Lexil. s. v. The accentuation of “ἄπιος”, however, as compared with “ἀντίος”, seems to suggest some other etymology than “ἀπό”. It is therefore proposed to refer it to root ap, as in Skt. Ap-as, Lat. aqu-a. We might then compare “Ἀπιδανός, Μεσσ-άπ-ιοι”, and even “Ἀπία γῆ” Aesch. Supp.777, which last word may suggest the modern name Morea (mare); cp. Ar-mor-ica. Thus ἐξ ἀπίης γῆς would mean ‘from a land over the water.’ Cp. Il.1. 270.

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

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens, 777
    • Homer, Iliad, 1.270
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