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[760] This interesting simile has been satisfactorily explained by Blümner (Technologie i. 130). The ancient Greek loom was vertical, the threads of the warp (“μίτος”) being fastened to a beam and hanging down. Each thread was attached (probably by a loop) to one of two horizontal rods (“κανόνες”), all the even threads to one, the odd to another. On pulling each of these rods forward alternately an opening between the two sets of threads (odd and even) would be made, through which the shuttle carrying the spool (“πηνίον”) of the woof could be passed. Near as is the weaver's rod to a well-girt woman's breast when she deftly draws it with her hand as she pulls the spool past the warp, and holds it near her breast. “πηνίον: ἄτρακτος εἰς ὃν εἰλεῖται ἡ κροκή”, Hesych., the spool on which the woof is wound. It is probable that the shuttle, which is not expressly named, was only a long stick holding this spool at the end, and requiring to be pulled right through at every operation. This will be the “κερκίς” of Od. 5.62 (see M. and R.). It will easily be seen how close the weaver must have stood up to the warp and its rods in order to be able to reach for this purpose to both sides of the loom. Compare F. Maurer Reise durch Bosnien, quoted by Hehn p. 460; in Bosnia ‘weaving is carried on without any shuttle, the woof being pushed by means of a long wooden needle, like a netting needle, through the warp, and then pressed home by a stick.’ For παρέκ with acc. = past cf. 24.349 “σῆμα παρὲξ Ἴλοιο ἔλασσαν,” Od. 12.276 “παρὲξ τὴν νῆσον ἐλαύνετε νῆα”, and “παρεξελαύνειν” 344. γυναικὸς ἐυζώνοιο, the caesura is suspicious, though found sometimes before a word of five syllables, e.g. “μετὰ πέντε κασιγνήτηισιν” 10.317; see also Od. 1.241, Od. 4.684, Od. 18.140. Nauck reads “ἐυζώνοιο γυναικός”.

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

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