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[115] ἔπειτα, ‘so then;’ introducing the first stage in the carrying out of Athena's intention. On this passage Eustathius speculates as to what particular sort of ball-play this might be, and suggests that it is “ἡ λεγομένη ἐφετίνδα”, in which the thrower made a show of tossing the ball to one of the players, and then suddenly flung it to another: this form of the game was also called “φεννίς” (“φενακίζειν”). He further tells us that the Lacedaemonians excelled all other people in ball-play; that Alexander the Great was the most expert of all kings; and that of private individuals the most skilful was Sophocles the tragedian, who wrote a satyric drama called “Πλύντριαι”, or ‘washerwomen,’ in which he himself took the part of Nausicaa.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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