The Homer Multitext · Casey Dué & Mary Ebbott, Editors · Christopher Blackwell & Neel Smith, Project Architects · Douglas
Frame, Leonard Muellner, & Gregory Nagy, Associate Editors · A Publication of the Center for Hellenic Studies of Harvard University, G. Nagy, Director, with support from the University of Houston’s High Performance Computing Group. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants No. 0916148 & No. 0916421. Any
opinions, findings and conclusions or recomendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Metrical Summaries · Venetus A & Escorialensis 4Iliad
N. Katie Phillips,
Christopher W. Blackwell,
Casey Dué,
Mary Ebbott,
Neel Smith,
edd.
This is a side-by-side comparison of three versions on an interesting “text” that
appears on several Byzantine manuscripts of the Homeric Iliad. As
each of the twenty-four poetic books begins, some of these manuscripts will
include a one-line summary of the contents of that book. These summaries are
themselves in Greek, and in the same poetic meter, dactylic hexameter, as the
epic poem. This document compares the 24 one-line metrical summaries in the 10th
century manuscript Marcianus Graecus Z.454 (= 822), the “Venetus A”, with those
of the 11th century manuscripts Escorialensis ω.I.12 (509 = Allen E4) and
Escorialensis υ.I.1 (291 = Allen E3).
Venetus A: 1 Alpha Text:
+ἄλφαλιτὰςΧρύσου.λοιμὸνστρατοῦ·ἔχθοςἀνάκτων+ Translation: Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army;
enmity of the leaders.
Escorialensis
4: 1 Alpha Text:
ἄλφαλιτὰςΧρύσου·λοιμὸνστρατοῦ·ἔχθοςἀνάκτων. Translation: Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army;
enmity of the leaders.
Escorialensis
3: 1 Alpha Text:
Ἄλφα λϊτὰς Χρῢσο‧λοιμὸνστραοῦ.ἔχθοςἀνάκτων: Translation: Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army;
enmity of the leaders.
Venetus A: 2 Beta Text:
+βῆταδ’ὄνειρονἔχει·ἀγορήν·καὶνῆαςἀριθμεῖ· Translation: And Beta has a dream, an assembly, and enumerates the
ships.
Escorialensis
4: 2 Beta Text:
βῆταδ’ὄνειρονἔχει·ἀγορήν·καὶνῆαςἀριθμεῖ· Translation: And Beta has a dream, an assembly, and enumerates the
ships.
Escorialensis
3: 2 Beta Text:
Βῆτα δ’ ὄμειρον ἔκει· ἀγορὴ·καὶνῆαςἀριθμεῖ· Translation: And Beta has a dream, an assembly, and enumerates the
ships.
Venetus A: 3 Gamma Text:
γάμμα δ’ ἄρ. ἀφ’Ἑλένης.οἴοιςμόθοςἐστὶνἀκοίταις· Translation: And then Gamma is from the point of view of Helen; the
pitch of battle is only for husbands.
Escorialensis
4: 3 Gamma Text:
γάμμα δ’ ἄρ’ ἀμφ’Ἑλένηι·οἴοιςμόθοςἐστὶνἀκοίταις· Translation: And then Gamma is around Helen; the pitch of battle is
only for husbands.
Escorialensis
3: 3 Gamma Text:
Γάμμα δ’ἄμφ’ Ἑλένηι·οἴοιςμόθοςἐστὶνἀκοίταις· Translation: And then Gamma is from the point of view of Helen; the
pitch of battle is only for husbands.
Venetus A: 4 Delta Text:
δέλτα θεῶν ἀγορην·ὅρκωνχύσιν·ἄρεοςἀρχήν· Translation: Delta contains an assembly of the gods, many oaths, the
onslaught of Ares.
Escorialensis
4: 4 Delta Text:
δέλτα θεῶν ἀγορὴ·ὅρκωνχύσις·ἄρεοςἀρχή. Translation: Delta is an assembly of the gods, many oaths, the
onslaught of Ares.
Escorialensis
3: 4 Delta Text:
Δελταθεῶνἀορην·ὅρκωνχύσιν·ἄρεοςἀρχήν· Translation: Delta contains an assembly of the gods, many oaths, the
onslaught of Ares.
Venetus A: 5 Epsilon Text:
εἶ. βάλλει Κυθέρειαν. Ἄρηά τε. Τυδέος ὑιός: Translation: “E”: The son of Tydeus strikes Aphrodite and Ares.
Escorialensis
4: 5 Epsilon Text:
εἶ· βάλλει Κυθέρειαν· Ἄρηά τε· Τυδέος ὑιός. Translation: “E”: The son of Tydeus strikes Aphrodite and Ares.
Escorialensis
3: 5 Epsilon Text:
εἶβάλλειΚυθέρειαν·Ἄρηνάτε·Τυδέοςὑιός. Translation: "E": The son of Tydeus strikes Aphrodite and Ares
Venetus A: 6 Zeta Text:
ζῆτα· δὰρ.ἈνδρομάχηςτὲκαὶἝκτορόςἐστ’ὁαριστύς· Translation: And then Zeta is the fond discourse of both Andromache and
Hektor.Note: While there seems to be space in “ὁ αριστύς”, we are
satisfied that this is meant to be one word; the scribe is meticulous
about providing a breathing at the beginning of a word, and the alpha
clearly has none. But why does ὁαριστύς have a rough breathing? Did the
scribe, unfamiliar with this exclusively epic word, guess wrong at the
(no longer pronounced in the 10th century) breathing?
Escorialensis
4: 6 Zeta Text:
ζῆτα· δ’ἄρ’ἈνδρομάχηςκαὶἝκτορόςἐστιὀαριστύς. Translation: And then Zeta is the fond discourse of Andromache and
Hektor.
Escorialensis
3: 6 Zeta Text:
ζῆτα· δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀνδρομάχης καὶ Ἕκτορος ἐστὶ ὀαριστύς. Translation: And then Zeta is the fond discourse of Andromache and
Hektor.
Venetus A: 7 Eta Text:
ἦταδ’· Αἴας πολέμιζε μόνῳμόνοςἝκτοριδίῳ· Translation: And Eta: Aias fights one-on-one with radiant
Hektor.Note: Between E4 and the Venetus A, the words translated here
“one-on-one” are reverse: μόνος μόνωι (in E4) versus μόνωι μόνος (in the
Venetus A). The two versions are equally correct, grammatically and
metrically.
Escorialensis
4: 7 Eta Text:
ἦτα·δ’ Αἴας πολέμιζε μόνοςμόνωιἝκτοριδίωι. Translation: And Eta: Aias fights one-on-one with radiant
Hektor.Note: Between E4 and the Venetus A, the words translated here
“one-on-one” are reverse: μόνος μόνωι (in E4) versus μόνωι μόνος (in the
Venetus A). The two versions are equally correct, grammatically and
metrically.
Escorialensis
3: 7 Eta Text:
ἦταδ’ΑἴαςπολέμιζεμόνωιμόνοςἝκτοριδίωι. Translation: And Eta: Aias fights one-on-one with radiant
Hektor.
Venetus A: 8 Theta Text:
θῆτα· θεῶν ἀγορή·Τρώωνκράτος·Ἕκτοροςεὖχος· Translation: Theta is an assembly of the gods, the power of the
Trojans, the boast of Hektor.
Escorialensis
4: 8 Theta Text:
θῆτα· θεῶν ἀγορήν·Τρώωνκράτος·Ἕκτοροςἀρχή. Translation: Theta contains an assembly of the gods. The might of the
Trojans. The onslaught of Hektor.
Escorialensis
3: 8 Theta Text:
θῆταθεῶνἀγορή·Τρώωνκράτος·Ἕκτοροςεὖχος· Translation: Theta is an assembly of the gods, the power of the
Trojans, the boast of Hektor.
Venetus A: 9 Iota Text:
ἐξεσίη δ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπειθέος ἐστὶν ἰῶτα: Translation: And an embassy to implacable Achilleus, is Iota.
Escorialensis
4: 9 Iota Text:
ἐξεσίη δ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπειθέος ἐστὶν ἰῶτα. Translation: And a mission to implacable Achilleus, is Iota.
Escorialensis
3: 9 Iota Text:
ἐξαισίηδ’Ἀχιλῆοςἀπειθέοςἐστὶνἰῶτα: Translation: And an embassy to implacable Achilleus, is Iota.
Venetus A: 10 Kappa Text:
κάππαδ’ὰρἀμφοτέρωνσκοπιαζέμενἤλυθονἄνδρες: Translation: And Kappa: men from both sides went forth to spy.
Escorialensis
4: 10 Kappa Text:
κάππα·δ’ἄρ’ἀμφοτέρωνσκοπιάζεμενἤλυθονἄνδρες. Translation: And Kappa: men from both sides went forth to spy.
Escorialensis
3: 10 Kappa Text:
κάππαδ’ὰρἀμφοτέρωνσκοπιαζέμενἤλυθονἄνδρες: Translation: And Kappa: men from both sides went forth to spy.
Venetus A: 11 Lambda Text:
λάμβδαδ’.ἀριστῆαςΔαναῶνβάλονἝκτοροςἄνδρες: Translation: And Lambda. Men of Hektor strike the best of the Danaans.
Escorialensis
4: 11 Lambda Text:
λάβδαδ’ἀριστῆαςΔαναῶνβάλονἝκτοροςἄνδρες. Translation: And Lambda. Men of Hektor strike the best of the Danaans.
Escorialensis
3: 11 Lambda Text:
λάβδα δ’ ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν βάλον Ἕκτορος ἄνδρες. Translation: And Lambda. Men of Hektor strike the best of the
Danaans.
Venetus A: 12 Mu Text:
μῦ Τρώων παλάμῃσι κατήριπε τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν· Translation: Mu. By the hands of the Trojans, the Achaians’ wall is
hurled down.
Escorialensis
4: 12 Mu Text:
μῦ Τρώων παλάμῃσι κατήριπε τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν· Translation: Mu. By the hands of the Trojans, the Achaians’ wall is
hurled down.
Escorialensis
3: 12 Mu Text:
μῦ Τρώων παλάμησϊ κατήρϊπε τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν· Translation: Mu. By the hands of the Trojans, the Achaians’ wall is
hurled down.
Venetus A: 13 Nu Text:
νῦ·δὲ.ΠοσειδάωνΔαναοῖςκράτοςώπασελάθρῃ. Translation: And Nu. Poseidon gives power to the Danaans in
secret.
Escorialensis
4: 13 Nu Text:
νῦδὲΠοσειδάωνΔαναοῖςκράτοςώπασελάθρῃ: Translation: And Nu. Poseidon gives power to the Danaans in
secret.
Escorialensis
3: 13 Nu Text:
νῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων Δαναοῖσικράτοςώπασελάθρῃ: Translation: And Nu. Poseidon gives power to the Danaans in
secret.
Venetus A: 14 Xi Text:
ξῖ. Κρονίδην ὕπνῳ.λεχέεσσίτε.ήπαφενἭρη· Translation: Xi. Hera beguiles the Son of Kronos by sleep and the
pleasures of the couch.
Escorialensis
4: 14 Xi Text:
ξῖ· Κρονίδην ὕπνῳλεχέεσσίτεἤπαφενἭρη: Translation: Xi. Hera beguiles the Son of Kronos by sleep and the
pleasures of the couch.
Escorialensis
3: 14 Xi Text:
ξῖΚρονίδηνλεχέεσσικαὶοὕπνωιἤπαφενἭρη: Translation: Xi. The son of Cronos [sleeps] on a couch and Hera
beguiles him with a scent
Venetus A: 15 Omicron Text:
οὐΚρονίδηςκεχόλωτοΠοσειδάονικαὶἭρῃ· Translation: “O”. The Son of Kronos is angered at Poseidon and
Hera.
Escorialensis
4: 15 Omicron Text:
οὐ.ΚρονίδηςκεχόλωτοΠοσειδάονικαὶἭρῃ: Translation: “O”. The Son of Kronos is angered at Poseidon and
Hera.
Escorialensis
3: 15 Omicron Text:
οὐΚρονίδηςκεχόλωτοΠοσειδάονηι καὶ Ἥρῃ· Translation: “O”. The Son of Kronos is angered at Poseidon and
Hera.
Venetus A: 19 Tau Text:
ταῦ δ’.ἀπέληγεχόλοιο.καὶἔκθορε.διὸςἈχιλλεύς: Translation: And Tau. Radiant Achilleus sets aside anger and springs
forth.
Escorialensis
4: 19 Tau Text:
ταῦ δ’ἀπέληγεχόλοιοκαὶἔκθορεδιὸςἈχιλλεύς: Translation: And Tau. Radiant Achilleus sets aside anger and springs
forth.
Escorialensis
3: 19 Tau Text:
ταῦ φιλίηνξυνέθεντο·πέπαυτοδὲμήνιδοςἀρχή: Translation: Tau. They agree on a frienship. And the reign of rage
ceased.
Venetus A: 20 Upsilon Text:
ῦ.μακάρωνἔριςὦρτο·φέρειδ’ἐπὶκάρτοςἈχαιοῖς· Translation: “U”. Strife arises among the gods and brings strength to
the Achaeans.
Escorialensis
4: 20 Upsilon Text:
ῦμακάρωνἔριςὦρτοφέρειδ’ἐπὶκάρτοςἈχαιοῖς: Translation: “U”. Strife arises among the gods and brings strength to
the Achaeans.
Escorialensis
3: 20 Upsilon Text:
ῦ μακάρων ἐνοπὴκαὶ φύλλοπιςοὐρανιώνων: Translation: “U” The battle cry of the blessed ones and the din of
battle of the heavenly beings.Note: φύλλοπις = φύλοπις
Venetus A: 21 Phi Text:
φῖ.κρατερῷκαταχεύματ’ἐδάμνατοΤρώαςἈχιλλεύς· Translation: Phi. By an even greater downpouring, Achilleus overcomes
the Trojans.
Escorialensis
4: 21 Phi Text:
φῖκρατερῷκαταχεύματ’ἐδάμματοΤρώαςἈχιλλεύς· Translation: Phi. By an even greater downpouring, Achilleus overcomes
the Trojans.
Escorialensis
3: 21 Phi Text:
φῖ μόθοςἰακίδαο.παρἠϊόναςποταμοῖo: Translation: Phi.The battle of Aeacus’ son, across the banks of a
river.
Venetus A: 22 Chi Text:
χῖ δ’ ἄρα.τρὶςπεριτεῖχοςάγων.κτάνενἝκτορ’Ἀχιλλεύς: Translation: Chi. And leading him around the walls three times,
Achilleus kills Hektor.
Escorialensis
4: 22 Xi Text:
χῖ δ’ ἄρατρὶςπεριτεῖχοςἄγων,κτάνενἝκτορ’Ἀχιλλεύς: Translation: Chi. And leading him around the walls three times,
Achilleus kills Hektor.
Escorialensis
3: 22 Chi Text:
χῖ ΘέτιδοςΓόνοςὠκὺς.ἀπώλεσενἜκτοραδῖον: Translation: Chi.The swift son of Thetis kills god-like Hector.
Venetus A: 23 Psi Text:
ψῖ.Δαναοῖσινἀγῶναδιδοὺς.ἐτέλεσσενἈχιλλεύς: Translation: Psi. Achilleus completes giving games for the
Danaans.
Escorialensis
4: 23 Psi Text:
ψῖΔαναοῖσινἀγῶναδιδοὺςἐτέλεσσενἈχιλλεύς: Translation: Psi. Achilleus completes giving games for the
Danaans.
Escorialensis
3: 23 Psi Text:
ψῖ πατροκλον κλαῖε.καὶἐξετέλεσεενἀγῶνας: Translation: Psi. He was lamenting Patroclus. And he ended [the
lamenting] with contests.
Venetus A: 24 Omega Text:
ὦ Πριάμῳ νέκυν υἷα.λαβὼνγέραδῶκενἈχιλλεύς Translation: “Ō”. Achilleus, having taken a ransom, gives Priam the
corpse of his son.
Escorialensis
4: 24 Omega Text:
ὦ Πριάμῳ νέκυν υἷαλαβὼνγέραδῶκενἈχιλλεύς Translation: “Ō”. Achilleus, having taken a ransom, gives Priam the
corpse of his son.
Escorialensis
3: 24 Omega Text:
ὦ νέκυνἔκτοραπατρὶπόρενἈχιλλεὺςἔνδωρα: Translation: “Ō” Achilles offers the corpse of Hector to his father as
a gift.
Text:
+ ἄλφα λιτὰς Χρύσου. λοιμὸν στρατοῦ· ἔχθος ἀνάκτων
+ Translation: Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army;
enmity of the leaders.
Text:
ἄλφα λιτὰς Χρύσου· λοιμὸν στρατοῦ· ἔχθος ἀνάκτων. Translation: Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army;
enmity of the leaders.
Text:
Ἄλφα λϊτὰς Χρῢσο‧ λοιμὸν στραοῦ.ἔχθος ἀνάκτων: Translation: Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army;
enmity of the leaders.