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[81] ἱερὸς στρατός, perhaps a trace of the original sense of “ἱερός”, viz. ‘strong.’ The theories as to this word put forward by W. Schulze (Quaest. Ep. p. 207 ff.) and Mr. Mulvany (Journ. of Philology, xlix. 131) are somewhat too elaborate.

88-89. ὅτε κεν … ζώννυνται. In Homer “ὅτε κεν” usually refers to a particular future event: but there are some exceptions to the rule, see H. G. § 289, 2, b. In any case, however, “ὅτε κεν” must take the subjunctive. The form ζώννυνται has sometimes been explained as a subj. (as by Curtius, Verb. ii. 67); but this is against all analogy. The proper subj. would be “ζωννύονται”, and possibly that form should be read here. The synizesis is violent (cp. the usual scanning of “Ἐνυαλίῳ ἀνδρειφόντῃ”): but the fact that the form “ζωννύονται” cannot otherwise be brought into the hexameter is a partial excuse.

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

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