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[20] Kinyras was the great legendary hero of Cyprus, who introduced the worship of Aphrodite to Paphos from Syria; in other words, he represents the prae-Hellenic Phoenician period in the island. He was, however, completely adopted into Hellenic mythology in Pindar's time, P. ii. 15, N. viii. 18; and in Tyrtaios (12. 6) he is coupled with Midas for his proverbial wealth. (See the abundant refs. in Roscher Lex. s.v.) His name is commonly derived from kinnõr, the Phoenician lyre, which he is said to have invented. Later mythographers tell that Agamemnon was wrecked in Cyprus on his way to Troy, and then received this gift; but that is clearly not the idea of the present passage, nor is anything about a visit to Cyprus mentioned in the epitome of the Kypria, where we might expect it. With the doubtful exception of the name “Κύπρις” (see on 5.330） this is the only mention of Cyprus in the Iliad, though it is more familiar in Probably Od. the island only came within the Greek horizon during the great migration period, after the beginning of the Epos; but there is nothing upon which any reasonably probable date can be founded.

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

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