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[806] 806 “ἀθετεῖται ὅτι ἐνδίνων θέλει λέγειν τῶν ἐντοσθίων σπλάγχνων. ἕως γὰρ τοῦ ἀμύξαι μόνον τὸν χρῶτα μονομαχοῦσι. καὶ “διά τ᾽ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα” ἐκ τῆς Δολωνείας” (10.298) “μετάκειται”. It is obvious that the phrase is a loose and meaningless repetition from K, where it is used of walking over the battle-field. But the line is not therefore to be rejected, as it is not out of character with the rest of the scene. Monstrous though the idea of a dangerous gladiatorial combat between two of the leading generals of the army is, yet it is evidently contemplated in 816-21. ἐνδίνων is commonly taken to mean the internal parts, though some commentators preferred to explain ‘that which was within the armour,’ i.e. any part of the body. Thus the combatants might go so far as drawing blood, but were not to pierce beyond the skin! The word does not reappear in Greek.

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

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