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[753] ἀμιχθαλόεσσαν, an epithet recurring in the same phrase in Hymn. Ap. 36 “Ἴμβρός τ᾽ εὐκτιμένη καὶ Λῆμνος ἀμιχθαλόεσσα” . The meaning of the word is doubtful. It is referred (1) to “μίγνυμι”, as = “ἀπρόσμικτος”, inhospitable, either from its inhospitable shores (with which idea the scholia evidently derive -“αλο”- from “ἅλς”), or because of the evil repute of its inhabitants the Sinties — 1.593; (2) to “ὀ-μίχ-λη”, misty, perhaps from the smoke of its ‘Lemnian fire’ — see note on 1.593. In view of this derivation the variant “ὀμιχθαλόεσσαν” deserves notice. The difficulties in the way of either alternative are obvious; of the two the latter is preferable. In favour of the former is quoted Soph. Phil. 2, where the island is “βροτοῖς ἄστιπτος οὐδ᾽ οἰκουμένη”, but this does not suit the Homeric view, cf. Od. 8. 283 “Λῆμνον ἐυκτίμενον πτολίεθρον” , and Il. 5. 467, 8.230. Perhaps after all the explanation of the scholia, “ἀμιχθαλόεσσαν, κατὰ Κυπρίους εὐδαίμονα”, may contain the truth, though we have no means of testing the correctness of the statement, and there is no obvious etymology for such a sense. Antimachos read “μιχθαλόεσσαν”, which violates the rule about position at the end of the fourth foot (App. N).

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

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hide References (6 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (6):
    • Homer, Iliad, 1.593
    • Homer, Iliad, 5.467
    • Homer, Iliad, 8.230
    • Homer, Odyssey, 8.283
    • Homeric Hymns, Hymn 3 to Apollo, 36
    • Sophocles, Philoctetes, 2
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