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[826] σόλον αὐτοχόωνον is most naturally taken to be a mass of iron just as it came from the smelting furnace (pigiron). Others have regarded it as implying ‘naturally fused,’ i.e. meteoric iron. This cannot be disproved, but such a mass would be highly unsuitable for the making of farm-implements. It is curious that the oldest find of iron in prehistoric Hissarlik consisted of two ‘lumps’ discovered by Schliemann in 1890 — much too small, however, to serve for a diskos; he conjectured that one, with a square hole, had been the handle of a staff (Schuchh. p. 332). αὐτοχόωνος seems to be a mistaken instance of ‘Epic diectasis’ for “αὐτόχωνος” = “αὐτοχόανος” like “ἀστυβοώτης” 24.701. Schulze would read “αὐτοχόανος”, with lengthening of the “α” by metrical necessity.

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

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