[261] χεῖρας νιψάμενος. For this as a necessary preliminary to a sacrifice compare Il.1. 313“οἱ δ᾽ ἀπελυμαίνοντο καὶ εἰς ἅλα λύματ᾽ ἔβαλλον”,
“ἔρδυν δ᾽ Ἀπόλλωνι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας”. So Priam washes his hands before a libation, Il.24. 302 foll.πολιῆς ἁλός. Grammarians seem uncertain whether to describe this as a local, material, or partitive genitive. Perhaps the latter suits the passage best. As analogous constructions compare “λούεσθαι ποταμοῖο” Il.6. 508, “πρῆσαι πυρός” Il.2. 415.Cp. “λούειν ἐκ ποταμοῦ” Od.6. 224.
