[125, 126] Prima acies probably to be taken literally, not (with Serv.) metaphorically of the foremost warriors. “Antaeum et Lucam, prima agmina Turni” v. 561 below. The name of Clarus for a Lycian warrior may have been suggested to Virg. by the association of the town of Clarus with the Lycian Apollo. So he makes ‘Anxur’ into the name of a person, 10. 545. Bachofen, ‘Lykier’ p. 37, notices that the Lycian warriors go in pairs in Hom. and Virg.: besides the case of Glaucus and Sarpedon, see Il. 16. 326 foll., and in Virg. A. 12. 343, 516. ‘Alta’ may mean lofty, which would agree with the real features of Lycia: on the other hand the epithet of Lycia in Hom. (Il. 6. 188., 17. 172 &c.) is εὐρείη and ἐριβῶλαξ. ‘Alta’ may therefore perhaps = ‘noble:’ comp. “Sarpedonis alti” 9. 697, “patria alta” 10. 374., 11. 797, “nomina alta” Juv. 8. 131. ‘Ab Ida’ Pal. and Gud., originally a reminiscence, perhaps, of 5. 254., 12. 412. Clarus and Themon probably stand behind the others as a second rank.
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John Conington. P. Vergili Maronis opera. P. Vergili Maronis Opera. The works of. Virgil. , with a Commentary by John Conington, M.A. and Henry Nettleship, M.A. London. Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane;. George Bell and Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. 1876.
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