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[500] αὐτοῖο: cf. “αὐτοῦ” in 47. For the suppliant's attitude cf. 8.371 “γούνατ᾽ ἔκυσσε καὶ ἔλλαβε χειρὶ γενείου”: in 10.454 the touching of the chin only is mentioned. This act perhaps symbolises the last resource of the disarmed and fallen warrior, who can only clasp his enemy's legs to hamper him, and turn aside his face so that he cannot see to aim the final blow, until he has at least heard the prayer for mercy.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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