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[3] ὀρθοκραιράων, of ships, as 19.344; used also in 8.231, 18.573 in the literal sense, of oxen. “λέγει δὲ διὰ τὸ τὰς πρώιρας καὶ πρύμνας ἀνατετάσθαι, ἐκ μεταφορᾶς τῶν βοῶν”, Schol. A, rightly. The oldest Greek ships, before the introduction of the beaked prow, ran up into vertical “ἄφλαστα” or “κόρυμβα” (see on 9.241, 15.717), which naturally suggested the comparison to a cow's horns. Cf. Helbig H. E. 157. The word, like “ἐύκραιρος” (Hym. Merc. 209, Aisch. Supp. 300) and “τανύκραιρος”, both epithets of oxen, and “δίκραιρος Πάν”, must be referred to “κέρας”, while “ἡμίκραιρα”, Ar. Thesm. 227, evidently belongs to “κάρα”.

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

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hide References (8 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (8):
    • Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens, 300
    • Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae, 227
    • Homer, Iliad, 15.717
    • Homer, Iliad, 18.573
    • Homer, Iliad, 19.344
    • Homer, Iliad, 8.231
    • Homer, Iliad, 9.241
    • Homeric Hymns, Hymn 4 to Hermes, 209
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