[552] Πετεῶο, gen. of “Πετεώς”, as 14.489 “Πηνελέωο”. The three following lines were rejected by Zenodotos, as was 558 by Aristarchos also, in obedience to the persistent tradition, evidently founded on truth (see Prolegomena), that they were an Athenian ‘interpolation.’ They must, however, be regarded as an integral portion of our (Attic) text. Herodotos mentions them (vii. 161), and Aischines (Ktes. 185) quotes the inscription set up by the Athenians in honour of the victory over the Persians at the Strymon, beginning —
“ ἔκ ποτε τῆσδε πόληος ἅμ᾽ Ἀτρείδηισι Μενεσθεὺςἡγεῖτο ζάθεον Τρωϊκὸν ἂμ πεδίον,
ὅν ποθ᾽ Ὅμηρος ἔφη Δαναῶν πύκα χαλκοχιτώνων
κοσμητῆρα μάχης ἔξοχον ἄνδρα μολεῖν
”. There can be little doubt that they have ousted an older version of this part of the Catalogue, in which the various independent demes of Attica, especially Eleusis, were mentioned by name. The praise given to Menestheus in no way corresponds to the rest of the Iliad. In 4.326-48 Agamemnon depreciates him, and he is named again only 12.331, 12.373, 13.195, 13.690, 15.331, always among secondary heroes. There seems to have been no genuine Attic legend about him at all.
