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Book Twelve
paralleled in the epic but is clearly related to such expressions as cruv 5'
ep&AovTo lidxeciOai at 377, etc. ovupdAAeiv |idxT|v and analogous expressions
are common in tragedy.
182-94 With these succinct statements of the exploits of the Lapithai cf.
16.306-50, although that is an altogether more vigorous passage. Victim
and wound are named, but without pathetic anecdotes. Aristeiai may degenerate
into mere lists, cf. the laconic notice of Hektor's exploits at 11.289-
309. This is the big moment for the Lapithai in the Iliad] they have not been
heard of since the Catalogue (except for one verse at 6.29) and will not be
met again until the Funeral Games of Patroklos. The casualties of book 11
bring these lesser figures (and Menestheus among the leaders, 3316°.) to the
fore.
182 "Ev6 5 au marks the resumption of the narrative after a digression, cf.
4.in. Unfortunately for the authenticity of 175-81 the digression might as
easily have been Asios' protest to Zeus as the poet's comments on the battle.
183-94 The victims of the two Lapithai have the usual Greek names of
minor Trojans. For Antimakhos see 1 i.i23n., and for Iamenos and Orestes
i39n. above.
183—6 The 'bronze-cheeked' helmet, the 'bronze' helm, and the 'bronze'
spear-point is tired, or rather routine style. The parallel verses, 20.397-400,
have aixiitl ie|Jevr|, but that was Akhilleus' spear in a more impassioned
episode. Some MSS have isuevri here by contamination with 20.399. Verses
185-6 = 11.97-8 (see n. adloc). It is to be remarked that Pap. 121 replaces
the head wound (184-7) w ith a single verse 183a, ending ]7T£pr|(T6V, but of
uncertain suppletion (= 13.652?).
186 5duacj(7£ 5E gives a pleasing but probably unintentional jingle after
AduacTov at 183.
187 For the aural echo of this line at 11.422 see n. ad loc.
189 The hit Korrd ^coaT^pa is presumably fatal. Aias (5.615) and
Menelaos (17.578) inflicted lethal wounds through this inadequate protection
of the abdomen, the former passage describing the result: vaocipr) 5 J Iv
yaoTpi Tidyri 5OAIXOCJKIOV eyx°S- On the other hand his ^Goorfip saved
Agamemnon at 11.236, in spite of Iphidamas' putting weight behind the
spear.
190-198 Parts of these verses, preceded by two plus-verses 189a and b,
are preserved in Pap. 121 and 432 (see 11.26511.).
192 6 8 J UTTTIOS ou5ei ipeicrOrj (or ou6as epeicre, as Aristarchus preferred):
for the reading see 1 i.i44n. Antiphates is thrown on his back by the force
of the blow, a result that would follow more naturally from a spear-thrust,
as is the case in book 11. The Homeric sword seems to be normally used as
a hacking weapon, e.g. 11.146; see Lorimer, HM 271.
194 'Brought them to the ground' is a grim formular periphrasis
338