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[248] τέγεος is explained by the scholiasts as “ὑπερῶιος”, as though built on the roof. But this is hardly likely in the case of chambers “ἔνδοθεν αὐλῆς”, where there was no roof. More probably it means ‘provided with roofs’ to sleep upon, according to the custom of eastern countries; this would imply that they were on a scale of proper magnificence. The word seems to recur in Greek only in a fragment of Empedokles from the Herculaneum papyri, which does not explain much — “τὸν δ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄρ τε Διὸς τέγεοι δόμοι αἰγ <ιόχοιο> τέρπον ἄν, κτλ.” We can only conclude that the word must express something particularly splendid.

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

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