- Source: Epithets in Homer
A characteristic of Homer's style is the use of epithets, as in "rosy-fingered" Dawn or "swift-footed" Achilles. Epithets are used because of the constraints of the dactylic hexameter (i.e., it is convenient to have a stockpile of metrically fitting phrases to add to a name) and because of the oral transmission of the poems; they are mnemonic aids to the singer and the audience alike.
Formulae in epic poetry from various Indo-European traditions may be traced to a common tradition. For example, the phrase for "everlasting glory" or "undying fame" can be found in the Homeric Greek as κλέος ἄφθιτον / kléos áphthiton and Vedic Sanskrit as श्रवो अक्षितम् / śrávo ákṣitam. These two phrases were, in terms of historical linguistics, equivalent in phonology, accentuation, and quantity (syllable length). In other words, they descend from a fragment of poetic diction (reconstructable as Proto-Indo-European *ḱléwos ń̥dʰgʷʰitom) which was handed down in parallel over many centuries, in continually diverging forms, by generations of singers whose ultimate ancestors shared an archetypal repertoire of poetic formulae and narrative themes.
In contrast to the more general term 'epithet' (ἐπίθετον), which is used in poetic contexts, for the ancient Greek religion, the epiclesis (epíklēsis (ἐπίκλησις; literally 'calling upon')) was used as the surname that was associated with a deity during religious invocations.
Epithets alter the meaning of each noun to which they are attached. They specify the existential nature of a noun; that is to say, Achilles is not called "swift-footed" only when he runs; it is a marker of a quality that does not change. Special epithets, such as patronymics, are used exclusively for particular subjects and distinguish them from others, while generic epithets are used of many subjects and speak less to their individual characters. In these examples, the epithet can be contradictory to the past state of the subject: in Odyssey VI.74, for instance, Nausicaa takes her "radiant clothing", ἐσθῆτα φαεινήν, to be washed; since it is dirty, it is unlikely to be radiant.
List
= General
=men
shining, divine (δῖος, dîos)
born from Zeus (διογενής, diogenḗs)
god-like (ἀντίθεος, antítheos; θεοειδής, theoeidḗs)
high-hearted
brilliant
leaders
lord of men (ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν, ánax andrôn)
women
white-armed (λευκώλενος, leukṓlenos)
lovely-haired (ἐυπλοκάμις, ἐυπλόκαμος, euplokámis, euplókamos)
ox eyed (βοῶπις, boôpis)
goddesses
of the golden distaff with (χρυσηλάκατος, khrusēlákatos)
day
the day of return (νόστιμον ἦμαρ, nóstimon êmar — nostalgia also comes from nóstos)
sea
loud-roaring (πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης)
grey
wine-colored (οἶνοψ)
lions
eating raw flesh (ὠμόφαγος)
mountain-bred (ὀρεσίτροφος)
fiery (αἴθων)
Nations
Albanes
swift (θοοί, thooí)
sporting long hair (ὄπιθεν κομόωντες, ópithen komóōntes)
Achaeans
hairy-headed (κάρη κομόωντες, kárē komóōntes)
bronzed-armored (χαλκο-χίτωνες, chalko-chítōnes)
strong-greaved (ἐυ-κνήμιδες, eü-knḗmides)
glancing-eyed (ἑλίκ-ωπες, helík-ōpes)
with hollow ships
Trojans
tamers of horses (ἱπποδάμοι, hippodámoi)
= Individuals
=Achilles
son of Peleus (Πηληϊάδης Pēlēïádēs)
swift-footed (πόδας ὠκύς pódas ōkús; ποδ-άρκης pod-arkēs; ποδ-ώκεος pod-ṓkeos)
breaking through men (ῥηξ-ήνωρ rhēx-ḗnōr)
lion-hearted (θῡμο-λέοντα thūmo-léonta)
like to the gods (θεοῖς ἐπιείκελος theoîs epieíkelos)
shepherd of the people (ποιμήν λαῶν poimḗn laôn)
Aeneas
Son of Anchises (Ἀγχῑσιάδης Anchīsiádēs)
Counselor of the Trojans (Τρώων βουληφόρος Trṓōn boulēphóros)
Lord of the Trojans (Τρώων ἀγός Trṓōn agós)
Great-hearted (Μεγάθυμος/Mεγαλήτωρ Megathymos/Megaletor)
King of men (Ἂναξ ἀνδρών Anax andron)
Great (Μέγας Megas)
Agamemnon
son of Atreus (Ἀτρείδης Atreídēs: also transliterated Atrīdēs)
wide-ruling lord (εὐρὺ κρείων eurù kreíōn)
the lord marshal
powerful
shepherd of the people (ποιμὴν λαῶν poimḗn laôn)
lord of men (ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν ánax andrôn)
brilliant
Aias/Ajax
Son of Telamon (Τελαμώνιος Telamṓnios)
swift
gigantic (πελώριος pelṓrios)
the mighty
Andromache
daughter of Eetion (θυγάτηρ Ἠετίωνος thugátēr Ēetíōnos)
white-armed
Aphrodite
laughter-loving (φιλομμειδής philommeidḗs)
daughter of Zeus (Διὸς θυγάτηρ Diòs thugátēr)
goddess of love
fair (δῖα dîa)
Apollo
Phoebus, i.e. the Bright or Pure, (Φοῖβος Phoebus)
with unshorn hair; i.e., ever-young (ἀ-κερσε-κόμης a-kerse-komēs)
destroyer of mice (Σμινθεύς Smintheus)
distant deadly Archer (ἑκηβόλος hekēbólos)
far-aiming lord (ἑκατηβελέτης ἄναξ hekatēbelétēs ánax)
rouser of armies
son of Zeus (Διὸς υἱός Diòs huiós)
of the silver bow (ἀργυρότοξος argyrótoxos)
famous with the bow (κλυτοτόξος klutotóxos)
whom the sleek-haired Leto has born (τὸν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ tòn ēǘkomos téke Lētṓ)
Ares
slayer of men (ἀνδρειφόντης andreiphóntēs)
sacker of cities
bronzen (χάλκεος khálkeos)
furious (θοῦρος thoûros)
destroyer of city walls (τειχεσιπλήτης teichesiplḗtēs)
of the glinting helmet
Ariadne
lovely-haired (καλλιπλόκαμος kalliplókamos)
Artemis
the archer-goddess
shooter of arrows (ἰοχέαιρα iokhéaira)
Athena
Pallas (Παλλάς Pallás)
gray-, bright-eyed (γλαυκ-ῶπις glauk-ôpis)
daughter of Zeus
third-born of the gods
whose shield is thunder
hope of soldiers
tireless one
Briseis
fair-cheeked (καλλιπάρῃος kalliparēios)
fair-haired (ἠΰκομος ēǘkomos)
Calypso
beautiful nymph
softly-braided nymph
divine
goddess most divinely made
daughter of Atlas
cunning goddess (δεινὴ θεός deinē theos)
Chryseis
beautiful-cheeked (καλλιπάρῃος kallipárēios)
Circe
enchantress
Cronus (Kronos)
crooked-counselling, devious-devising (ἀγκυλομήτης ankulomḗtēs)
all-powerful
Demeter
fair-haired
Diomedes
son of Tydeus
great spearman
master of the war cry
god-like
strong
breaker of horses
Hector
tall
shepherd of the people
of the glinting helmet, of the shining helm (κορυθ-αίολος koruth-aiolos)
man-killing
horse-taming
dear to Zeus
Helen
long-dressed
daughter of a noble house
Daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis
Hera
ox-eyed lady (βοῶπις πότνια boôpis pótnia)
Hephaestus
the famous craftsman
the famous lame god
of the strong arms
Hermes
messenger of the gods and conductor of men (διάκτορος diáktoros)
slayer of Argos (Ἀργειφόντης Argeiphóntēs)
son of Zeus
giant-killer
the strong one
keen eyes emissary
Ino
lovely-ankled (καλλίσφυρος)
Iris
wind-footed
Menelaus
red-haired, fair-haired, flaming-haired
master of the war-cry
son of Atreus (Ἀτρείδης Atreídes)
war-like
spear-famed
loved by Ares (ἀρηΐφιλος arēïphilos)
cherished by Zeus (διοτρεφές diotrephés)
Naubolos
great-hearted
Nestor
Godly Nestor
Gerenian charioteer
son of Neleus (Νηληιάδης Nēlēiádēs)
Pylos born king
sweet spoken
wise old
Odysseus
resourceful, man of many resources, of many turns, man of twists and turns (πολύ-τροπος polú-tropos)
much-enduring (πολύ-τλᾱς polú-tlās)
great-hearted (μεγαλ-ήτωρ megal-ḗtōr)
sacker of cities (πτολι-πόρθιος ptoli-pórthios)
wise
loved of Zeus
great glory of the Achaeans
master mariner
mastermind of war
hotheaded
man of action
the great teller of tales
man of exploits
man of pain
that kingly man
the hero
Raider of Cities
the great tactician
cunning (πολύ-μητις polú-mētis)
Onchestos
sacred
Pandaros
son of Lykaon
Patroclus
son of Menoitius (Μενοιτιάδης Menoitiádēs)
Zeus-born, sprung from Zeus (διογενές)
dear to Zeus (Ζεύς φίλος)
great-hearted (μεγαλήτωρ megalḗtōr)
horseman (ἱπποκέλευθε or ἱππεύς)
peerless (ἀμύμονος)
peer to gods in counsel (θεόφιν μήστωρ ἀτάλαντος)
gentle (ἐνηείης)
hero (ἥρωϊ)
Paris
Alexandros
magnificent
Penelope
cautious, careful, circumspect, discreet, wise, self-obsessed
Poseidon
Earth-shaker (ἐννοσίγαιος ennosí-gaios or ἐνοσί-χθων enosí-chthōn)
earth-moving, earth-carrying (γαιή-οχος gaiḗ-ochos)
Sarpedon
leader of the Lycians
Suitors
swaggering
haughty
Telemachus
poised
thoughtful
Thetis
silver-footed
Thersites
of the endless speech
Tydeus
driver of horses
Zeus
mighty
son of Kronos (Κρονίδης Kronídēs)
wide-seeing
cloud-gatherer (νεφελη-γερέτᾱ nephelē-gerétā)
father of gods and men (πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε patḕr andrôn te theôn te, Iliad 11.182)
of the dazzling bolt (ἀργι-κέραυνος argi-kéraunos)
loud-thundering (ἐρί-γδουπος ἐρί-δουπος erí-gdoupos, erí-doupos)
delighting in thunder (τερπι-κέραυνος terpi-kéraunos)
aegis-holding (αἰγί-οχος aigí-ochos)
who marshals the thunderheads
Shared
Paris, Hector, Polites
son of Priam (Πριαμίδης Priamídēs)
Antilochus, Pisistratus
son of Nestor (Νεστορίδης Nestorídēs)
Agamemnon, Menelaus
son of Atreus (Ἀτρείδης Atreídēs)
Hector, Agamemnon, Atreus, Diomedes, Nestor
breaker of horses, horse-tamer (ἱππό-δαμος hippó-damos)
Agamemnon, Achilles, Diomedes
best of the Achaeans
Hector, Ares
manslaughtering
Diomedes, Menelaus
master of the war-cry
Athena, Zeus
aegis-holding (αἰγί-οχος aigí-ochos)
See also
List of kennings – kennings in Icelandic, Old Norse, and Old English
Makurakotoba – epithets in classical Japanese
Notes
Sources
Parry, Milman. "L'Épithète traditionnelle dans Homère: Essai sur un problème de style homérique." Paris: Société d'Éditions "Les Belles Lettres", 1928.
Parry, Milman, ed. Adam Parry. "The Making of Homeric Verse: The Collected Papers of Milman Parry." Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1971.
Edwards, Mark. "Homer and the Oral Tradition: The Formula (part one)." Oral Tradition 1 (1986) 171-230.
Edwards, Mark. "Homer and the Oral Tradition: The Formula (part two)." Oral Tradition 3 (1988) 11-60.
Reece, Steve. "Greek Epic Formulae," in Giorgios Giannakis (ed.), Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics (Leiden: Brill, 2014) 613-615. Greek_Epic_Formulas
Reece, Steve. "Epithets," in Margalit Finkelberg (ed.), Homeric Encyclopedia (Oxford: Blackwell, 2011) 257-259. Epithets
V.J. Howe, "Epithets in Homer." Available online at https://www.angelfire.com/art/archictecture/articles/008.htm. (Retrieved October 16, 2007.)
Fagles, Robert. "The Odyssey." Penguin Books, 1996.
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Hades
- Epithets in Homer
- Epithet
- Homer
- Circe (novel)
- Antoine Meillet
- Animal epithet
- Aeneas
- List of Classical Greek phrases
- Iliad
- Index of ancient Greece-related articles
