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[550] πῖαρ recurs again (besides 17.659) in Od. 9.135 “μάλα πῖαρ ὑπ᾽ οὖδας”, and also in Hymn. Ap. 60, Hymn. Ven. 30. It seems more natural in Od. 9.135 to take it as an adjective, than as a substantive with Buttmann. The form “πῖαρ” with fem. “πίειρα” will be analogous to “μάκαρ, μάκαιρα”. Hesych. and Lex. explain “πῖαρ” by “λιπαρόν”, and Solon Lex., 36. 21, has “πῖαρ ἐξέληι γάλα”, ‘rich cream.’ (See F. G. Allinson in A. J. P. i. 458.) The difficulty here, if we wish to understand it as meaning ‘to pick out a fat one from the kine,’ is that the neuter is very harsh immediately after “βοῶν”. We may, however, compare the instances given in the note on 5.140 “ἐρῆμα”. On the other hand, the substantival use is possible in all cases, and simpler here (see L. and S. s.v.), the ‘cream of the herd.’

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

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