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[21] Αἰγάς may be either the town in Achaia or that in Euboia, both of which were noted for the worship of Poseidon (8.203). Others have supposed that it is a small island of that name between Chios and Tenos, the existence of which is by no means certain (cf. Hymn. Ap. 32). In any case the difficulty which has puzzled all critics remains the same; why does Poseidon go thither to get his chariot? Whichever site we assume to be meant, it will be farther from Samothrace than Troy, his ultimate goal. Hence most edd. have doubted the authenticity of this passage, whose gorgeous but somewhat florid imagery (27-29) is not like the oldest Epic style, though it has a strong resemblance to that of the “Διὸς ἀπάτη”: compare 14.347 ff. for the essentially ‘romantic’ sympathy of nature with its lords. So far as the difficulty of Aigai is concerned, it evidently might be removed by the excision of 11-16. In that case “ὄρεος” (17) would mean Olympos, where Poseidon was when we last heard of him (8.440), and his descent to Aigai for his chariot wherewith to cross the sea will be quite in order. The name “Αἰγαί” is evidently connected with “Αἰγαῖος” and “Αἰγαίων” as a name of Poseidon; see 1.404. ἔνθα δέ, so MSS.; G. Hermann “ἔνθα τε” (with Strabo only), followed by most edd., but needlessly; see 6.245, 6.249, 8.48, etc.

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

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