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[341] ἐπέλειβον. There is some uncertainty about the force of the preposition in this compound. It may possibly contain the notion of successive action, as in “ἐποίχεσθαι, ἐπάρχεσθαι”, see above, or the addition may merely express that the libation was an adjunct to the sacrifice proper. The use of “ἀνιστάμενοι” however suggests that they actually rose, went to the “ἐσχάρη”, and poured the libation over the burning meats. Cp. inf. 459 “καῖε δ᾽ ἐπὶ σχίζῃς γέρων, ἐπὶ δ᾽ αἴθοπα οἶνον

λεῖβε”, and Od.12. 362, where the sacrificers were obliged to use water, because “οὐδ᾽ εἶχον μέθυ λεῖψαι ἐπ᾽ αἰθομένοις ἱεροῖσιν”.

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