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[477] διιπετέος literally, ‘fallen from Zeus,’ that is, ‘rain-fed,’ as Eustath. interprets “ὑετῷ πληρουμένου”, which, he says, best suits the Nile (“Αἴγυπτος”), inasmuch as “ἐκ τῶν ἐν Αἰθιοπίᾳ γιγνομένων θέρους σφοδρῶν ὑετῶν πληροῦται, ὡς καὶ Ἀριστοτέλης καὶ Εὔδοξός φασι”. The same epithet is applied to the Spercheios, Il.17. 263; cp. Il.16. 174; 21.326. The name “Νεῖλος” first occurs in Hesiod. Theog.337“Τηθύς τ᾽ Ὠκεανῷ ποταμοὺς τέκε δινήεντας”

“Νεῖλόν τ᾽ Ἄλφειόν τε”. Diodorus, Hist.1. 19, speaking of the river says, “ἀρχαιότατον μὲν ὄνομα σχεῖν Ὠκεάνην . . ἔπειτα δὲ διὰ τὸ γενόμενον ἔκρηγμά φασιν Ἀετὸν ὀνομασθῆναι υ^στερον δὲ Αἴγυπτον ἀπὸ τοῦ βασιλεύσαντος τῆς χώρας”. Strabo 1. 2, 30, remarks, “ὁ ποιητὴς τοίνυν διιπετέας καλεῖ τοὺς ποταμοὺς οὐ τοὺς χειμάρρους μόνους ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας κοινῶς, ὅτι πληροῦνται πάντες ἀπὸ τῶν ὀμβρίων ὑδάτων”. Others have attempted to interpret the word as meaning ‘that flows under the clear sky.’ Compare “ἔνδιος”. Some of the old grammarians gave “διαυγής” as an equivalent for “διιπετής”, the Etym. Mag. 274. 15 quoting from “ευριπ. λαμπρότερος ἢ πρὶν καὶ διιπετέστερος”.

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

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