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[679] ἔχεν is generally explained was holding on his way, as in 520, 557, 12.433, and often with “διέσχε”. But from the mention of “ἵπποι” in 684 (and cf. 749) it appears that Hector is regarded as being in his chariot. “ἔχεν” will then have its regular Homeric sense, was driving. A precisely similar question occurs in 326, and in both cases probably arises from a confusion of the original narrative, where the chariots can drive right up to the ships, with the later interpolation of the wall and all the incidents of the battle before it. The special harshness in this case is due to the mention of the wall (for the first time since 124) in the same line. But that must be taken as a sign of the unskilfulness of the interpolator of the passage.

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

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