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[3] Ἑλικῶνα: cf. Il. 20.404 Ἑλικώνιον ἀμφὶ ἄνακτα”. Commentators, both ancient and modern, have doubted whether the adjective refers to Helice in Achaea, or to Helicon, the Boeotian mountain. Aristarchus (ap. E. M. 547. 16) takes the latter view, “ἀπὸ Ἑλικῶνος . . . ἐπεὶ Βοιωτία ὅλη ἱερὰ Ποσειδῶνος”; the schol. A on “Υl.c. prefers Helice, and this is strongly supported by Il. 8.203, where Helice and Aegae are mentioned together as sacred to Poseidon (for Helice cf. Il. 2.574, for Aegae Il. 13.21). The two towns were close neighbours on the Corinthian gulf. Leaf on “Υl.c., comparing this passage, suggests that Helicon was another form of Helice, and distinct from the Boeotian mountain. There is, however, no authority for Helicon=Helice. The proper epic adjective from Helice would presumably be “Ἑλικήϊος” (see E. M. l.c.); it is, however, possible that the author of “Υ” intended Helice, but used the wrongly formed “Ἑλικώνιος” which had a familiar sound; the hymn-writer translated the adjective into “Ἑλικῶνα”, regardless of Il. 8.203; so Hom. Ep. vi. 2εὐρυχόρου μεδέων ἠδὲ ζαθέου Ἑλικῶνος” (of Poseidon), a passage which disposes of Martin's “Ἑλίκην τε” here. In later times the worship of Heliconian Poseidon was connected with Helice (see Paus.vii. 24. 5 f., Strabo 384); the cult was also famous among the Ionians at Panionium ( Herod.i. 148), and at Athens (Frazer on l.c., Harrison M. M. A. A. p. 231). Helice was destroyed by an earthquake in 373 B.C. For Poseidon “Ἑλικώνιος” cf. Dittenberger Sylloge 603, 637.


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