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[214] This line is certainly to be condemned, as Hermes and Hephaistos never take any prominent part against Troy; their names are clearly taken from the position given them in the Theomachy (see 20.33-36). So Ar., “τὰ τῶν θεῶν ὀνόματα μετενήνοχέ τις ἀπὸ τῆς θεομαχίας συναθροίσας τῶν ἐναντιουμένων τοῖς βαρβάροις θεοῖς, οὐκέτι ἐπιστήσας ὡς οὔτε τῶι Ἑρμῆι οὔτε τῶι Ἡφαίστωι ἔμελεν ἰδίαι τὰ τῆς πορθήσεως, ἀλλ᾽ ἕνεκα τῆς ἀντικαταστάσεως” (‘pairing off’) “μόνον παρείληφεν αὐτούς”. It may be added that the form Ἑρμείω is not Epic. This difficulty is evaded by the variant “Ἡφαίστου τε καὶ Ἑρμείαο ἄνακτος”, which, however, looks like a learned conjecture. The cause of the interpolation was evidently the omission of the name of Hera as one whose consent was needed; and this is certainly curious.

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

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