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[396] τένοντε, the ‘Achilles tendons,’ so called from this passage. I owe to Prof. Macalister A. the following note. ‘Vesalius [16th cent.] says of it [the tendon] cui Homerus Achillem in Hectoris crure funem traiecisse, illumque ad currum religatum circum Troiae moenia traxisse cecinit. This is the first reference to the tendo Achillis.’ The statement that the name refers to Achilles' vulnerable point in the heel is therefore incorrect. The belt given by Hector to Aias does not play the part here which it did in the tragedians; see note on 7.305. As to the dragging, Schol. A has an interesting note, which looks as though it contained some truth; “ὁ δὲ Καλλίμαχός φησιν ὅτι πάτριόν ἐστι Θεσσαλοῖς τοὺς τῶν φιλτάτων φονέας σύρειν περὶ τοὺς τῶν φονευθέντων τάφους. Σίμωνα γάρ φησι, Θεσσαλὸν τὸ γένος, Εὐρυδάμαντα τὸν Μειδίου ἀποκτείναντα Θράσυλλον τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἄρξασθαι τοῦ νόμου πρῶτον: τοῦτον γὰρ ἐξάψαι τοῦ δίφρου τὸν φονέα καὶ περὶ τὸν τοῦ τετελευτηκότος τάφον ἕλκειν: ὅθεν καὶ τὸν Ἀχιλλέα ὡς Θεσσαλὸν πατρίωι ἔθει τοῦτο ποιῆσαι καὶ δῆσαι τὸν Ἕκτορα”. This is confirmed by Porph. on 24.15, who quotes from Aristotle “καὶ νῦν ἐν τῆι Θετταλίαι περιέλκουσι περὶ τοὺς τάφους”. Similarly Ap. Rhod.i. 1059 “τρὶς περὶ χαλκείοις σὺν τεύχεσι δινηθέντες τύμβωι ἐνεκτερέϊξαν” .

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

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    • Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 1.1059
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