τοὶ δ̓. The Doric (and Homeric) “τοὶ” occurs in tragic lyrics ( Aesch. Pers. 584 etc.), and once in a trimeter, Aesch. Pers. 424“τοὶ δ᾽ ὥστε θύννους κ.τ.λ.”, where it is a trait of epic style in the narrative. Sophocles uses it only here. The v.l. τὸν δ̓ is not only weaker, but untenable, since a pronoun is needed which shall answer to οἱ μέν: the “λουτρά” are to be prepared while the grave is being dug. ὑψίβατον τρίποδ̓, the caldron, supported on a high three-legged stand. (Cp. Pind. N. 10. 47“Ἀχαιῶν ὑψίβατοι πόλιες”, built on lofty sites.) The stand was the “τρίπους” proper, while the caldron was “λέβης”, but the former term is often used so as to include the latter: Aesch. fr. 1 “τὸν μὲν τρίπους ἐδέξατ̓, οἰκεῖος λέβης”, | “αἰεὶ φυλάσσων τὴν ὑπὲρ πυρὸς στάσιν”. The fire was kindled in a brazier under the “λέβης”, as may be seen on a vase in the British Museum, which represents Medea boiling a ram in a lebes or “χύτρα” (Smith's Dict. Ant., new ed., vol. I. p. 426). ἀμφίπυρον … θέσθε, place it so that the fire shall rise all round it from beneath: cp. Il. 18. 344“ἀμφὶ πυρὶ στῆσαι τρίποδα μέγαν”, and ib. 348 “γάστρην μὲν τρίποδος πῦρ ἄμφεπε”. Il. 23. 702“τρίποδ᾽ ἐμπυριβήτην.” λουτρῶν … ἐπίκαιρον: a genitive of relation; cp. Xen. Cyr. 4. 6. 9“γάμου ἤδη ὡραία”. So “οἰκεῖος” or “ἀλλότριός τινος. ” ὁσίων, i.e., prescribed by piety ( El. 433 n.). Cp. Ant. 1201“λούσαντες ἁγνὸν λουτρόν”: and ib. 901 (n.). The caldron used for this purpose is called “λοετροχόος τρίπους” in Il. 18. 346.After the washing of the dead, unguents were usually applied (as in the case of Patroclus, Il. 18. 350). Verg. Aen. 6. 218“Pars calidos latices et aëna undantia flammis | Expediunt, corpusque lavant frigentis et ungunt.”
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Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part VII: The Ajax. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1907.
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