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Book Twelve
Omens do not occur dv£U 0EOO but, though it is clear that this omen was sent
by Zeus, there is absent any unambiguous statement to that effect. That
conceals the incongruity of Zeus at once warning the Trojans to desist and
urging them to attack, cf. 252-3. — Eagle and snake, the bird of Zeus and
the symbol of chthonic power, make up a powerful omen, probably a
favourite combination in the mantic art, to judge from the parody in
Aristophanes, Eq. 197-8.
200 opvis is ambiguously a bird, in apposition to OCIETOS in 201, or a
bird-omen, as is more likely. Omens are usually bird-omens in the epic, e.g.
8.247 an d 24.315 where the bird is also an eagle and where it is specifically
sent by Zeus (cf. Aios TEpas here at 209 and [Aios] Tepdeaai at 256). For a
detailed study of Homeric divination see H. Stockinger, Die Vorzeichen im
homerischen Epos (Munich 1959).
201 uyiTT6Tr|S is to be linked with 7T£TO|Jiai, 'fly', not TTITTTCO, as LSJ
suggest, see Shipp Studies 1 67: OyiireTns is from uyiTTETETns by haplology.
— sir 3 dpiCTTepd: to the left of the Trojans (Arn/A); we are looking at the
ominous eagle from their standpoint. Aaov EEpycov, only here and in the
repeated line 219, reflects the fundamental sense of EEpyco, 'bar the way'.
The eagle flew across the front of the army from right to left, i.e. from East to
West, as appears from 240, since the Trojans are facing North.
202 (poivrjevTa: like the snake at 2.308, SpdKcov ETTI VCOTOC 5acpoiv6s. noun
+ cpEpcov ovuxeo-ai ireAcopov is formular, cf. Od. 15.161. TrsAcopos is 'portentous'
rather than specifically 'huge', and connotes indeterminate menace,
like TEpocs at 209.
205 !6VCO9EIS: 'twisting itself backwards'; the word is used, e.g. 2.266, of
one 'doubled up' in pain.
208 691V (root ng w his) is an Aeolism, although that has no relevance
for the remarkable metrics: uu for — u. Wyatt, ML 231 rightly rejects
Schulze's insinuation that the aspirate could make position, but the metrics
remain unexplained. The CTTIXOI |i£ioupoi of the ancient metricians are a
statement of the problem, not its answer. Hipponax also makes the first
syllable long, represented by the spelling 611915, fr. 28.2 and 6 West, cf. for
the spelling OKXECO, Pind. 01. 2.67 (also OKyj] and OKXOS) for ox-, and
vuKxd£co = vuacjco Hsch. Compounds, O9I6EIS and O9i65£ipos, also lengthen
the first syllable, but for acceptable metrical reasons.
210 =13.725 (with £i |jf] for 5f| TOTE) . Opacruv "EKTOpa: the epithet is used
6x of Hektor, usually in the normal way, i.e. as a general characterization
without allusion to the immediate context, cf. 60 where there is no question
of Pouludamas' restraining an impetuous commander. Here Hektor is certainly
pressing his luck although Pouludamas is not made to say so. At
13.726, however, Pouludamas begins ""Eicrop, d[if)x«vos ECTCTI", as if picking
up the epithet.
340