στ. χθονός, possessive gen. with “πεδίων.” στερνούχου, having “στέρνα”: an expressive word for the expanse of the Attic “πεδίον”, varied by gentle undulations, or by rocky knolls like Colonus itself. Suidas quotes a poet. phrase “στέρνα γῆς”: cp. the common use of “μαστοί” for round hills or knolls. Hes. Theog. 117 “Γαἶ εὐρύστερνος”:
. Both “στέρνα” and “νῶτα” were applied, says the schol., to “τῆς γῆς τὰ πεδιώδη καὶ εὐρέα”. The epithet helps, with “ὠκυτόκος”, to suggest the image of a mighty living frame, quickened by the veins of irrigation. Μουσᾶν. Paus. 1.30.2 (in the Academy, cp. on 55) “ἔστι δε καὶ Μουσῶν τε βωμὸς καὶ ἕτερος Ἑρμοῦ καὶ ἔνδον Ἀθηνᾶς”.“εὐρυκόλπου
...χθονός
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