A Reading Course in Homeric Greek
“ὦ φίλοι, ἐν γὰρ νηῒ θοῇ βρῶσίς τε πόσις τε 320
ἔστιν, τῶν δὲ βοῶν ἀπεχώμεθα, μή τι πάθωμεν·
δεινοῦ γὰρ θεοῦ αἵδε βόες καὶ ἴφια μῆλα,
Ἠελίου, ὃς πάντ’ ἐφορᾷ καὶ πάντ’ ἐπακούει.”ἀγέλη, -ης [f.] herd
ἀπο-κτείνω, -κτενέω, -κτεῖνα or -κτάνον I slay
ἀπ-ομνύω I swear (not to do something)
ἄστρον, -ου [n.] star, constellation
ἀτασθαλίη, -ης [f.] recklessness, criminal folly
[always pl.]
εἰσ-ερύω, — , -ἔρυσ(σ)α I draw (into) [+ acc.]
ἐξ-απο-βαίνω I come out of, I disembark
ἐπ-ακούω I hearἐπισταμένως [adv.] skillfully, expertly
ἐφ-οράω I look upon
ζᾱής, -ές fiercely-blowing
θόωκος, -ου [m.] seat, abode
καρτερός = κρατερός
νήδυμος, -ον sweet, refreshing
ὁρμίζω, — , ὅρμισα I moor, I make fast
τρίχα [adv.] in the third (part)- NOTES
297 βιάζετε : Although Odysseus addresses Eurylochus, he speaks to the companions as a
group through him; thus he uses the plural. μοῦνον : Odysseus was forced to yield because
he was alone in his opinion.
300f. μή ... ἀποκτάνῃ : In Homer, the subjunctive with μή can be used in a clause expressing
anxiety (“that no body ... will kill [as I fear may happen]...”).
307 τετύκοντο : aor. mid. of τεύχω (“prepared”).
308 ἕντο : 3 pl. aor. mid. ἵημι.
312 μετὰ δ’ ἄστρα βεβήκει : “and the stars had passed over the meridian,” i.e., near morning.
313 ἔπι : adv., with ὦρσεν.
314 σὺν : adv.
315 ὀρώρει : plpf. of ὄρνυμι; it is intransitive with imperfect force.
319 θέμενος : 2 aor. ptc. of τίθημι. See §472 in Book 1.
321 τῶν δὲ βοῶν : gen. of separation after ἀπεχώμεθα. See §18 in Book 1.300 ἀτασθαλίῃσι κακῇσιν : Thrinacia will test Odysseus’ ability to contain his
own desire as well as that of his companions, according to Tiresias (11. 104-
111). However, what Odysseus fears here, ἀτασθαλίη κακή, is not desire, but
rather a wickedness committed by conscious and deliberate choice, as shown
by Margalit Finkelberg (“Patterns of Human Error in Homer,” JHS 115 [1995],
15-28). Finkelberg argues that an action committed by ἀτασθαλίη is always
preceded by warnings against it, as have been the companions’ slaughter and
eating of the cattle. On the companions’ ἀτασθαλίη see also Odyssey 1. 7.