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[320] ἐχέθυμος is generally taken as the equivalent of “ἐχέφρων” Od.4. 111, etc., meaning ‘prudent.’ But it is against Homeric usage to make “θυμός” expressive of the ‘moral sense,’ the constant meaning of it being ‘heart,’ or ‘affections.’ Therefore ἐχέθυμος may be taken as=‘having warm feeling;’ and so “οὐκ . . ἐχέθυμος” will be ‘heartless.’ Were it not for the use of the compound “ἐχέφρων”, we should prefer to render “ἐχέθυμος” ‘quae cupiditatem cohibet,’ agreeably with the interpretation of Schol. “β. κρατοῦσα ὀρέξεως καὶ ἐπιθυμίας”. And perhaps the later compounds “ἐχενηίς” Aesch. Ag.149, and “ἐχέμυθος” may serve to confirm this meaning.

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

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hide References (2 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Aeschylus, Agamemnon, 149
    • Homer, Odyssey, 4.111
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