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[556] ἴφια: this adjective occurs only in the phrase “ἴφια μῆλα”. Unlike “ἶφι” (for which see note on 6.478) the word shews clear traces of “ϝ” (Knös p. 128). The nom. may be “ϝίφιος” or “ϝῖφις”. It might be supposed that “ἴφια” was formed by a mistake from “ἶφι”, wrongly supposed to be a neuter; but this is highly improbable in view of the fact that “ἶφι” has lost the “ϝ”, and that the adj. occurs only in a single stereotyped phrase, which therefore presumably is a part of the original furniture of Epic poetry. The whole question of the relation of the two words is very puzzling. Cf. also note on “ἴφθιμος,” 1.3.

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

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    • Homer, Iliad, 1.3
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