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[92] The words ἐπὶ γούνασι seem to imply a seated image; that is, a rude wooden “ξόανον” such as survived in many Greek temples to historic times. Later legend connected such an image, the Palladium, with the fate of Troy. In view of the objection that such Palladia were always standing, not sitting, figures, Schol. B after explaining “ἐπί” as = “παρά”, which is obviously wrong, quotes the authority of Strabo — who says (xiii. 601) that ancient sitting images of Athene were found in Phokaia, Massalia, Rome, Chios, and several other places. Mr. Ramsay has found such archaic sitting figures in Phrygia (J. H. S. iii. 43). This is the only allusion to a cultstatue in H. Compare 17.514θεῶν ἐπὶ γούνασι κεῖται. θεῖναι”: the only instance in H. of the infin. for imper. in the 3rd person with its subject in the nom. (“” 87); as they are so distant from one another, it may be questioned if we ought not to assume an anacoluthon; i.e. that when the poet began with “” he was thinking of continuing with “θέτω”. Cf. on 3.285, 7.79.

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