[152] αἴθοπα καπνόν. This probably means ‘fire-lit’ smoke, reflecting the colour of the flame below, and so, shining with a ruddy glow, “διὰ δρυμὰ πυκνὰ καὶ ὕλην”. The word is used as an epithet of “χαλκός” Il.4. 495, etc., and of “οἶνος” Od.12. 19, where the adjective is further defined by the addition of “ἐρυθρός”. In Eurip. Suppl.1019 it is used as an epithet of “φλογμός” and in Bacch. 594 of “λαμπάς”, but, perhaps, the best parallel to the expression here is in Soph. Antig.1126“στέροψ λιγνύς”, which seems to describe the mingled flare and smoke of the torches in the Bacchanal procession. In a very different connection, we have a description of mingled flame and smoke,
“ ‘glomeratque sub antro
fumiferam noctem, commixtis igne tenebris.’
”
