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[521] Compare the account of the sacrificial slaughter in Od. 3.442-54 (“πέλεκυς δ᾽ ἀπέκοψε τένοντας αὐχενίους”, 449), where the blow on the neck is first given, and afterwards the throat is cut. In other descriptions only the last part is mentioned (“αὐέρυσαν” 1.459, 2.422), probably as alone being ritually important; the preliminary blow is given merely for obvious reasons of convenience in the case of the ox, and has no significance.

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

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