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[674] The epithet δήϊος is applied to fire in the Il. only, five times in the gen., “πυρὸς δηΐοιο”, and four times in nom., “δήϊον πῦρ” always at the end of the line. This suggests that in this sense, consuming, the proper form is “δάϝιος” (“α^”), cf. “θεσπιδαὲς πῦρ”, and Alkman “χεῖμα πῦρ τε δάϝιον”. Schulze (Q. E. p. 86) distinguishes this from the sense hostile (used of war and enemies) where the regular scansion is “δήϊος” (-uu) (7.199, etc.) or “δῆιος” (-u). The latter contracted form is established for H. by the forms of the verb “δηιόειν” (“δηιώσαντες”, etc.), where “ηι” is necessarily monosyllabic and always in arsis. The only passage which seems to be opposed to this complete separation is 2.544 (q.v.), where “δηΐων” in the sense of foemen is apparently scanned uu-. This, however, may only shew that the two words had already been confused when the Catalogue was composed. I have therefore written “δήϊον πῦρ, πυρὸς δηΐοιο”, and “δηΐων” in 2.544, but “δήιους, δήιοισι”, etc., elsewhere.

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

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