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[183] Poseidon is both chief patron of the Achaian cause, and lord of the element by which they are walking. ἐννοσίγαιος, probably for “ἐν̂ϝοσι-γαιος”, root “ϝοθ” of “ὠθέω”, Skt. vadh to smite; so “ἐν-”（“ϝ”）“οσῖχθων”: either because Poseidon is the lord of earthquakes, or simply because the waves of the sea are for ever beating the land. γαιήοχος, perhaps originally supporting the earth, regarded as floating in the sea. But more probably it means simply girdling the earth, cf. Soph. O. C. 1072.In Aisch. Supp. 816, Soph. O. T. 160 it comes to mean guardian of (a special) land, and is used of Zeus and Artemis, like “πολιοῦχος, πολισσοῦχος”. It has been proposed to take it as meaning rejoicing in chariots. But in that case the “η” could not be explained, and the close connexion with “ἐννοσίγαιος” forbids; for it is much more likely that a somewhat tautological expression should be used than that the stem “γαι” should be habitually used in two adjacent words in two quite different senses. However, we must remember that with epithets of gods we are on especially doubtful ground, as we can never be sure that the Greeks attached any very definite meaning to hieratic words whose sense may even to them have been lost in antiquity.

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

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hide References (3 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (3):
    • Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens, 816
    • Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, 1072
    • Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, 160
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