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[617] ὁρχηστ́ην, a taunt directed at Meriones' agility, and containing perhaps a special allusion to his Cretan origin; for Crete was celebrated for the sword-dance (see on 18.590). Compare Patroklos' banter in 745 “ἦ μάλ᾽ ἐλαφρὸς ἀνήρ, ὡς ῥεῖα κυβιστᾶι”. The thought of the war-dance is doubtless at the bottom of the expression, as in Hector's words “δήιωι μέλπεσθαἴ Αρηϊ” 7.241 (though these contain no disparagement'. See also 24.261 “ψευσταί τ᾽ ὀρχησταί τε, χοροιτυπίηισιν ἄριστοι”.

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

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