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Book Ten
conversational tone. The feature is an important difference between this
Book's use of direct speech and the more stylized structures of the Iliad
proper. For Danek, Dolonie 177-203, the difference, taken with other differences
in the handling of typical epic themes and topoi, is conclusive evidence
that this Book was not created by the poet of the Iliad.
142 XP £l< k TCXKW IKEI: cf. Od. 2.28, 5.189.
145 = 16.22, likewise after a whole-verse vocative expression.
147 = 327. The verse is ejected by edd. (Leaf, Ameis-Hentze) as being
interpolated from 327, where it is essential, in order to give ETTEOIKE in the
preceding verse an unnecessary infinitive construction. However, the other
councillors are given more or less plausible reasons for being summoned and
Odysseus deserves a better reason for his disturbed rest than the ocxos of 145.
It is not of much consequence that the question of flight or fight has been
resolved in book 9.
149 In what sense can a shield be TTOIKIAOS? Presumably because it was
blazoned or elaborately chased like that of Akhilleus (book 18), or heavily
metallic like that of Agamemnon (11.32-40). In either case the polish of
such a shield would nullify the alleged advantage of the special helmets
(257-71). TTOIKIAOS is evidently Tormular', a remnant of the frequent TEUXECC
TTOIKIACC XO^KCO. — Odysseus, implausibly, takes only a shield, as Diomedes
at 178 takes only a spear. But the poet seems to remember these details when
the two arm at 254-71 and provides both heroes with helmets, then
Diomedes with sword and shield only, and Odysseus with bow and sword
only.
150 TOV 8' EKixocvov (not in Od.) is the verse-end equivalent of TOV 8'
eOpov, etc., the usual formula (11 x //., 1 x Od.) that marks the beginning
of a visit.
153 The accupcoTTjp (only here) is the spike at the butt of the spear shaft
rather than the butt (oupiocxos). The weapons depicted on the Warrior
Vase from Mycenae illustrate the device.
153-4 X°^ K OS I Ac5c|i