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[252] οἴματα, see note on 8.349; here Philetas read “ὄμματα. τοῦθηρητ̂ηρος”, the great hunter. Cf. 24.316 “μορφνὸν θηρητῆρ᾽ ὃν καὶ περκνὸν καλέουσιν”. The use of the article is late. Perhaps for this reason Ar. is said by Eust. to have read “μέλανός του”, a certain black hunter — which is so patently un-Homeric as to deserve no credence. In fact from a very imperfect schol. U it seems more likely that Ar. opposed this reading on the ground that “του” for “τευ” is not Homeric. Aristotle is said to have read “μελανόστου”, black-boned — “ἀγνοεῖδὲ ὡς οὐ δεῖἀπὸ τῶν ἀφανῶν ποιεῖσθαι τὰ ἐπίθετα”, Schol. T. It may be added that the contracted form is not Homeric, and the epithet is zoologically false. From Porphyrios on 24.315 it seems probable, however, that this theory is due not to Aristotle but to Demokritos. Others (perhaps Philetas) read “μελανόσσου”, blackeyed, which is better. But still more plausible is Abren's conj. “μελανόρσου”, black-tailed. This at once recalls the famous passage of Aischylos about the two eagles “ὁ κελαινὸς ὅ τ᾽ ἐξόπιν ἀργᾶις”. Aristotle himself distinguishes (H. A. ix. 32) the “γνήσιος” as the largest eagle, but the “μελαναίετος” or “λαγωφόνος” as the ‘swiftest and strongest.’ So also Porph. on 24.315 “εἴωθε δὲ καὶ ὁ Ἀρχίλοχος μελάμπυγον τοῦτον τὸν ἀετὸν καλεῖν, “μή τευ μελαμπύγου τύχηις”.” It seems, however, that it is not possible confidently to appropriate these epithets to any of the rather numerous species of eagles found in Greece (Thompson, Gloss. s.v. “ἀετός”).

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

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