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[466] βουφόνεον, a curious expression, murdered oxen; for the idea of murder is always conveyed by “φόνος” and its compounds. The curious ritual of the “βουφόνια” at Athens distinctly brought out this idea; every one concerned in the sacrifice was formally tried for murder, and finally the sacrificial axe was found guilty and thrown into the sea. See Paus.i. 24. 4 with Frazer's note. So “βουφόνε” applied to Hermes, Hymn. Merc. 436, clearly expresses in jest the same sense. In Aisch. Prom. 531 “βουφόνοις θοίναις” the ritual sense remains, though that of murder has vanished. It is strange that in the present passage even the connotation of sacrifice should have also disappeared, as sometimes in “ἱερεύειν” simply = kill, 6.174, etc. The verb appears to be “ἅπ. λεγ”. in Greek.

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

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hide References (3 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (3):
    • Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound, 531
    • Homer, Iliad, 6.174
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 1.24.4
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