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[116] ἔπειτα, ‘now,’ merely marking the transition from one part of the description to another.

λάχεια. The reading “ἔπειτ᾽ ἐλαχεῖα [ἐλάχεια”] is distinctly stated to have been that of Zenodotus, which probably implies that Aristarchus adopted the v. l. “λάχεια”, in which he is followed by Eustath. Apoll. Lex. Hom. and Etym. Magn. λάχεια is referred by the Scholl. to “λαχαίνω”, and interpreted by “εὔγεως” and “εὔσκαφος”. Nitzsch understands it to mean ‘rough,’ that is, ‘overgrown with brushwood and scrub,’ connecting it with such words as “λάχνη” and “λάχανον”, and “λαχύφλοιος” Alex.1. 269, or “λαχειδής” ibid. 581; but against this we have “ἄροσις λείη” inf. 134. Döderl. refers the word to the root “λεχ”, and understands by it ‘lowlying.’ But it is very doubtful if the “ε” could change to “α.” The reading “ἐλάχεια” (“ἐλαχύς”) the Schol. translates by “βραχεῖα”, which some commentators (Hesych. Etym. Magn. 558. 10) find incompatible with the idea of length suggested by τετάνυσται. Perhaps Döderlein's rendering might reconcile the two interpretations if “βραχεῖα” be an antithesis not so much to “μακρά” as to “ὑψηλή”: cp. Od.10. 509.Bekk. reads “ἐλάχεια” here, and so does Baumeister in h. Hom. Ap. 197 “τῇσι μὲν οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὴ μεταμέλπεται, οὔτ᾽ ἐλάχεια”,

“ἀλλὰ μάλα μεγάλη τε ἰδεῖν”, spoken of Artemis; here there seems a distinct contrast between “ἐλάχεια” and “μεγάλη”. Those who endeavour to localise all this scene in Sicily look for the island in some one of the Aegates Insulae off Cape Lilybaeum. Cluver decides for one of them, viz. Aegusa, as satisfying the Homeric description. The comma is best placed after Κυκλώπων, though some editors put it after τετάνυσται, so making the genitive depend upon the adverbs σχεδόν and ἀποτηλοῦ.

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):
    • Homer, Odyssey, 10.509
    • Homeric Hymns, Hymn 3 to Apollo, 197
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