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[60] κέδρος. The Homeric “κέδρος” is not the cedar of Lebanon, but a variety of juniper, probably the Spanish juniper (J. oxycedrus), which grows freely on the shores of the Mediterranean.

εὐκέατος. Düntzer would connect this word with “κηώεις”, but it should rather be referred to “κεάζω”, meaning either ‘easily split’ (Virgil's ‘fissile lignum’), or, more likely, ‘deftly split,’ i. e. ready-made into billets for burning, “σχῖζαι”.

θύον is a tree with resinous wood, probably the arbor vitae. Cp. Athen. 5. 207 E “τὸ δὲ τὴν κέδρον καὶ τὸ θύον καὶ τὴν κυπάρισσον εὐώδη εἶναι ἱστορία ἐστὶ περὶ φυτῶν”, which seems conclusive against the idea of “θύον” being a compound like incense. See Pliny, Hist. 13. 16‘inter pauca nitidioris vitae instrumenta haec arbor (citrus) est; quapropter insistendum ei paullum videtur. Nota etiam Homero fuit; Thyon Graece vocatur, ab aliis thya. Hanc itaque inter odores uri tradit in deliciis Circes [probably a reminiscence of Virg. Aen.7. 10 foll.], quam deam volebat intellegi, magno errore eorum qui odoramenta in eo vocabulo accipiunt, cum praesertim eodem versu cedrum laricemque una tradat uri, in quo manifestum est de arboribus tantum locutum.’ But the citrus emits no scent in burning, so that it is better to regard “θύον” as one of the resinous trees; pine, cypress, or juniper.

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

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 7.10
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 13.16
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