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Πολύμνηστος. The name of the father of Battus is common to both stories, as being certain (cf. Pind. P. iv. 104). For the bar sinister in the pedigree of a colonist cf. Arist. Pol. 1306 b.

ἰσχνόφωνος: originally ‘thin-voiced’, has come to = ‘stammering’; cf. L. & S. s. v.

μετωνομάσθη. Battus' real name was Aristoteles (Pyth. v. 116), as H. must have known; ‘Battus’ is a title (v. i.) that has become a name; cf. Augustus. It is a Libyan word, though it occurs later as a Greek name (Thuc. iv. 43. 1). The legend of his stammering is probably an invention based on the likeness of Βάττος and βατταρίζω.

Πυθίη. The oracle is no doubt post eventum, otherwise the familiarity with the Libyan title, ‘Battus,’ would confirm the oracle's claim in 157. 2.

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hide References (3 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (3):
    • Aristotle, Politics, 5.1306b
    • Pindar, Pythian, 4
    • Thucydides, Histories, 4.43.1
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