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[62] οὔλιος, deadly, a by-form of “οὖλος” not recurring in Homer. We find, however, “οὔλιος Ἄρης” twice in the Scut. Herc., and so Pindar (O. ix. 76, xiii. 23, P. xii. 8), and Soph. Aj. 933.The deadly star must be Seirios, see 22.30 “κακὸν δέ τε σῆμα τέτυκται, καί τε φέρει πολλὸν πυρετὸν δειλοῖσι βροτοῖσιν”. The comparison of Hector to Seirios may imply therefore both brightness and terror; though it may be observed that the season when ‘the dog-star brings fever’ is when it rises with the sun and is therefore invisible. It was perhaps this which gave rise to a curious variant mentioned by Aristonikos, “αὔλιος, ὅ ἐστιν ἑσπέριος, πρὸς ὃν αὐλίζεται τὰ ζῶια”. He quotes Kallimachos, “αὔλιος ὃς δυθμὴν εἶσι μετ᾽ ἠελίου”, and so Apoll. Rhod. iv. 1629 “ἀνὰ δ᾽ ἤλυθεν ἀστὴρ αὔλιος, ὅς τ᾽ ἀνέπαυσεν ὀϊζυροὺς ἀροτῆρας” . Cf. also “ἐπιφάτνιος: ὁ ἑωσφόρος ἀστήρ”, Hesych. It has even been proposed to translate “οὔλιος” as = “οὖλος” in the sense ‘hairy,’ i.e. a comet; but this would require an epithet implying length of hair, whereas “οὖλος” signifies curliness.

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

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hide References (3 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (3):
    • Homer, Iliad, 22.30
    • Sophocles, Ajax, 933
    • Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 4.1629
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