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[306] ἐίσας, a form found only in the fem. with cases of “νηῦς, ἀσπίς, δαίς”: in Od. only with “φρένας”, and once besides 2.765. In the last passage it clearly means “ἴσας”, and with “νηῦς” and “ἀσπίς” this gives a good sense, ‘even,’ i.e. trim of the ship, well-balanced of the shield. (To take “πάντοσ᾽ ἐίση” as ‘equal in all directions,’ i.e. circular, is intolerably mathematical and prosaic. That the ponderous Mykenean shield should be ‘well-balanced on every side’ was a matter of life and death to the wearer.) With “δαίς” it cannot mean strictly, if we push the word, equally divided (see on 7.320), but a banquet where some receive a larger portion in virtue of their dignity may yet be ‘fair.’ Still this account of the word has not satisfied all commentators; anciently it was often explained to mean ‘good’ (“εἶσον: ἀγαθόν”, Hesych.); recently it has been proposed to refer it to root “ϝικ”, ‘seemly’ (the form “ἔισσος” is found in Doric), or “ϝιδ”, ‘conspicuous’ (?). All this seems needless.

The Iliad, edited, with apparatus criticus, prolegomena, notes, and appendices. Walter Leaf. London. Macmillan. 1900.

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