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[178] ἱρῶν μηνίσας, like “εἴ ταρ ὅ γ᾽ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται ἠδ᾽ ἑκατόμβης” 1.65, q.v. The exact connexion of the clause “χαλεπὴ .. μῆνις” is not clear; it may mean the wrath of a god weighs heavy upon men, or it may go with the preceding, and the wrath of the god be heavy upon us. The former will give a reason why, if this enemy be a god, it is not well to provoke him further, the latter will explain why a god should condescend to such slaughter. But Ameis-Hentze read, with Ar., “ἐπιμῆνις”, taking “ἐπι-” to indicate wrath aimed in a particular direction; on the ground that in all other cases where “ἔπι” = “ἔπεστι” it is used of the actual presence of something with a distinct relation to some person. This is a strong argument against taking the clause as a general reflexion; but it leaves untouched the alternative of taking it closely with the preceding “εἰ”-clause, and perhaps this is the most probable explanation, as “ἐπιμῆνις” is a compound which can hardly be supported by analogy.

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

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