Metrical Summaries · Venetus A & Escorialensis 4 N. Katherine Phillips Christopher W. Blackwell Casey Dué Mary Ebbott Neel Smith

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).

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Venetus A Metrical Summaries 1 Alpha urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA012RN-0013:0.158,0.098,0.390,0.023 + ἄλφα λιτὰς Χρύσου. λοιμὸν στρατοῦ· ἔχθος ἀνάκτων + Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army; enmity of the leaders. 2 Beta urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA024RN-0025:0.181,0.071,0.333,0.025 + βῆτα δ’ ὄνειρον ἔχει· ἀγορήν· καὶ νῆας ἀριθμεῖ· And Beta has a dream, an assembly, and enumerates the ships. 3 Gamma urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA042RN-0043:0.150,0.105,0.332,0.024 γάμμα δ’ ἄρ. ἀφ’ Ἑλένης. οἴοις μόθος ἐστὶν ἀκοίταις· And then Gamma is from the point of view of Helen; the pitch of battle is only for husbands. 4 Delta urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA051RN-0052:0.140,0.106,0.333,0.024 δέλτα θεῶν ἀγορην· ὅρκων χύσιν· ἄρεος ἀρχήν· Delta contains an assembly of the gods, many oaths, the onslaught of Ares. 5 Epsilon urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA062RN-0063:0.197,0.084,0.297,0.024 εἶ. βάλλει Κυθέρειαν. Ἄρηά τε. Τυδέος ὑιός: “E”: The son of Tydeus strikes Aphrodite and Ares. 6 Zeta urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA080VN-0583:0.396,0.086,0.414,0.029 ζῆτα· δ ὰρ. Ἀνδρομάχης τὲ καὶ Ἕκτορός ἐστ’ ὁαριστύς· And then Zeta is the fond discourse of both Andromache and Hektor. 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? 7 Eta urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA091RN-0263:0.240,0.086,0.397,0.026 ἦτα δ’· Αἴας πολέμιζε μόνῳ μόνος Ἕκτορι δίῳ· And Eta: Aias fights one-on-one with radiant Hektor. 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. 8 Theta urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA100VN-0603:0.305,0.104,0.407,0.028 θῆτα· θεῶν ἀγορή· Τρώων κράτος· Ἕκτορος εὖχος· Theta is an assembly of the gods, the power of the Trojans, the boast of Hektor. 9 Iota urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA111VN-0614:0.352,0.106,0.319,0.029 ἐξεσίη δ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπειθέος ἐστὶν ἰῶτα: And an embassy to implacable Achilleus, is Iota. 10 Kappa urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA126RN-0127:0.229,0.073,0.437,0.029 κάππα δ’ ὰρ ἀμφοτέρων σκοπιαζέμεν ἤλυθον ἄνδρες: And Kappa: men from both sides went forth to spy. 11 Lambda urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA137VN-0639:0.332,0.115,0.435,0.030 λάμβδα δ’. ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν βάλον Ἕκτορος ἄνδρες: And Lambda. Men of Hektor strike the best of the Danaans. 12 Mu urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA154VN-0656:0.360,0.096,0.361,0.024 μῦ Τρώων παλάμῃσι κατήριπε τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν· Mu. By the hands of the Trojans, the Achaians’ wall is hurled down. 13 Nu urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA164RN-0165:0.234,0.079,0.420,0.027 νῦ· δὲ. Ποσειδάων Δαναοῖς κράτος ώπασε λάθρῃ. And Nu. Poseidon gives power to the Danaans in secret. 14 Xi urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA180VN-0682:0.512,0.117,0.326,0.025 ξῖ. Κρονίδην ὕπνῳ. λεχέεσσί τε. ήπαφεν Ἥρη· Xi. Hera beguiles the Son of Kronos by sleep and the pleasures of the couch. 15 Omicron urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA191RN-0362:0.256,0.078,0.355,0.033 οὐ Κρονίδης κεχόλωτο Ποσειδάονι καὶ Ἥρῃ· “O”. The Son of Kronos is angered at Poseidon and Hera. 16 Pi urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA206RN-0377:0.261,0.076,0.403,0.034 πῖ· Πάτροκλον ἔπεφνεν ἀρήϊον Ἕκτορος αἰχμή· Pi. Hektor’s spear kills warlike Patroklos. 17 Rho urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA223VN-0725:0.365,0.106,0.358,0.024 ῥῶ. Δαναοὶ Τρῶές τε νέκυν πέρι χείρας ἔμιστον: Rho. The Danaans and Trojans clash over the corpse. 18 Sigma urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA239RN-0410:0.282,0.079,0.406,0.032 σίγμα· Θέτις Ἀχιλῆϊ παρ’ Ἡφαίστου φέρεν. ὅπλα: Sigma. Thetis brings arms from Hephaestus for Achilleus. 19 Tau urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA251VN-0753:0.498,0.112,0.357,0.025 ταῦ δ’. ἀπέληγε χόλοιο. καὶ ἔκθορε. διὸς Ἀχιλλεύς: And Tau. Radiant Achilleus sets aside anger and springs forth. 20 Upsilon urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA260RN-0431:0.207,0.073,0.327,0.029 ῦ. μακάρων ἔρις ὦρτο· φέρει δ’ ἐπὶ κάρτος Ἀχαιοῖς· “U”. Strife arises among the gods and brings strength to the Achaeans. 21 Phi urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA270RN-0440:0.224,0.066,0.382,0.031 φῖ. κρατερῷ καταχεύματ’ ἐδάμνατο Τρώας Ἀχιλλεύς· Phi. By an even greater downpouring, Achilleus overcomes the Trojans. 22 Chi urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA282RN-0452:0.217,0.081,0.362,0.026 χῖ δ’ ἄρα. τρὶς περι τεῖχος άγων. κτάνεν Ἕκτορ’ Ἀχιλλεύς: Chi. And leading him around the walls three times, Achilleus kills Hektor. 23 Psi urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA292VN-0794:0.490,0.110,0.345,0.025 ψῖ. Δαναοῖσιν ἀγῶνα διδοὺς. ἐτέλεσσεν Ἀχιλλεύς: Psi. Achilleus completes giving games for the Danaans. 24 Omega urn:cite:hmt:chsimg.VA310VN-0812:0.463,0.098,0.352,0.029 ὦ Πριάμῳ νέκυν υἷα. λαβὼν γέρα δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεύς “Ō”. Achilleus, having taken a ransom, gives Priam the corpse of his son.
E4 Metrical Summaries 1 Alpha urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.007r-547:0.074,0.184,0.359,0.032 ἄλφα λιτὰς Χρύσου· λοιμὸν στρατοῦ· ἔχθος ἀνάκτων. Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army; enmity of the leaders. 2 Beta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.015r-537:0.425,0.131,0.352,0.025 βῆτα δ’ ὄνειρον ἔχει· ἀγορήν· καὶ νῆας ἀριθμεῖ· And Beta has a dream, an assembly, and enumerates the ships. 3 Gamma urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.027r-525:0.413,0.120,0.344,0.028 γάμμα δ’ ἄρ’ ἀμφ’ Ἑλένηι· οἴοις μόθος ἐστὶν ἀκοίταις· And then Gamma is around Helen; the pitch of battle is only for husbands. 4 Delta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.033r-519:0.428,0.062,0.375,0.037 δέλτα θεῶν ἀγορὴ· ὅρκων χύσις· ἄρεος ἀρχή. Delta is an assembly of the gods, many oaths, the onslaught of Ares. 5 Epsilon urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.040r-512:0.405,0.136,0.353,0.024 εἶ· βάλλει Κυθέρειαν· Ἄρηά τε· Τυδέος ὑιός. “E”: The son of Tydeus strikes Aphrodite and Ares. 6 Zeta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.52r-500:0.377,0.126,0.347,0.028 ζῆτα· δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀνδρομάχης καὶ Ἕκτορός ἐστι ὀαριστύς. And then Zeta is the fond discourse of Andromache and Hektor. 7 Eta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.59r-493:0.409,0.136,0.338,0.031 ἦτα· δ’ Αἴας πολέμιζε μόνος μόνωι Ἕκτορι δίωι. And Eta: Aias fights one-on-one with radiant Hektor. 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. 8 Theta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.67r-486:0.412,0.139,0.342,0.020 θῆτα· θεῶν ἀγορήν· Τρώων κράτος· Ἕκτορος ἀρχή. Theta contains an assembly of the gods. The might of the Trojans. The onslaught of Hektor. 9 Iota urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.75r-477:0.432,0.127,0.339,0.027 ἐξεσίη δ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπειθέος ἐστὶν ἰῶτα. And a mission to implacable Achilleus, is Iota. 10 Kappa urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.85r-466:0.364,0.166,0.380,0.035 κάππα· δ’ ἄρ’ ἀμφοτέρων σκοπιάζεμεν ἤλυθον ἄνδρες. And Kappa: men from both sides went forth to spy. 11 Lambda urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.93r-458:0.394,0.169,0.438,0.034 λάβδα δ’ ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν βάλον Ἕκτορος ἄνδρες. And Lambda. Men of Hektor strike the best of the Danaans. 12 Mu urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.104r-446:0.360,0.182,0.354,0.036 μῦ Τρώων παλάμῃσι κατήριπε τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν· Mu. By the hands of the Trojans, the Achaians’ wall is hurled down. 13 Nu urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.111r-439:0.020,0.201,0.424,0.054 νῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων Δαναοῖς κράτος ώπασε λάθρῃ: And Nu. Poseidon gives power to the Danaans in secret. 14 Xi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.122r-428:0.056,0.200,0.358,0.039 ξῖ· Κρονίδην ὕπνῳ λεχέεσσί τε ἤπαφεν Ἥρη: Xi. Hera beguiles the Son of Kronos by sleep and the pleasures of the couch. 15 Omicron urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.127r-421:0.069,0.206,0.353,0.036 οὐ. Κρονίδης κεχόλωτο Ποσειδάονι καὶ Ἥρῃ: “O”. The Son of Kronos is angered at Poseidon and Hera. 16 Pi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.137r-410:0.088,0.125,0.440,0.049 πῖ· Πατρόκλον ἐπεφνεν ἀρήϊον· Ἕκτορος αἰχμή· Pi. Hektor’s spear kills warlike Patroklos. 16 Rho urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.148r-398:0.089,0.136,0.437,0.054 ῥῶ Δαναοὶ Τρῶές τε· νέκυν περὶ χείρας ἔμιστον: Rho. The Danaans and Trojans clash over the corpse. 18 Sigma urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.158r-387:0.425,0.129,0.362,0.037 σίγμα Θέτις Ἀχιλῆϊ παρ’ Ἡφαίστου φέρεν ὅπλα: Sigma. Thetis brings arms from Hephaestus for Achilleus. 19 Tau urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.166r-379:0.450,0.156,0.378,0.030 ταῦ δ’ ἀπέληγε χόλοιο καὶ ἔκθορε διὸς Ἀχιλλεύς: And Tau. Radiant Achilleus sets aside anger and springs forth. 20 Upsilon urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.172r-372:0.053,0.150,0.429,0.045 ῦ μακάρων ἔρις ὦρτο φέρει δ’ ἐπὶ κάρτος Ἀχαιοῖς: “U”. Strife arises among the gods and brings strength to the Achaeans. 21 Phi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.179r-365:0.337,0.147,0.358,0.034 φῖ κρατερῷ καταχεύματ’ ἐδάμματο Τρώας Ἀχιλλεύς· Phi. By an even greater downpouring, Achilleus overcomes the Trojans. 22 Xi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.188r-356:0.371,0.148,0.357,0.034 χῖ δ’ ἄρα τρὶς περι τεῖχος ἄγων, κτάνεν Ἕκτορ’ Ἀχιλλεύς: Chi. And leading him around the walls three times, Achilleus kills Hektor. 23 Psi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.194r-348:0.401,0.159,0.354,0.032 ψῖ Δαναοῖσιν ἀγῶνα διδοὺς ἐτέλεσσεν Ἀχιλλεύς: Psi. Achilleus completes giving games for the Danaans. 24 Omega urn:cite:fufolioimg:E4-Pages.206r-336:0.433,0.156,0.332,0.029 ὦ Πριάμῳ νέκυν υἷα λαβὼν γέρα δῶκεν Ἀχιλλεύς “Ō”. Achilleus, having taken a ransom, gives Priam the corpse of his son.
E3 Metrical Summaries 1 Alpha urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-001r:0.17498152,0.23558758,0.35421286,0.02660754 Ἄλφα λϊτὰς Χρῢσο‧ λοιμὸν στραοῦ.ἔχθος ἀνάκτων: Alpha contains prayers of Chrysēs; plague among the army; enmity of the leaders. 2 Beta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-018r:0.20140429,0.08896896,0.44161123,0.02245011 Βῆτα δ’ ὄμειρον ἔκει· ἀγορὴ· καὶ νῆας ἀριθμεῖ· And Beta has a dream, an assembly, and enumerates the ships. 3 Gamma urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-040r:0.26367332,0.23946785,0.16869919,0.01565965 Γάμμα δ’ἄμφ’ Ἑλένηι· οἴοις μόθος ἐστὶν ἀκοίταις· And then Gamma is from the point of view of Helen; the pitch of battle is only for husbands. 4 Delta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-050r:0.19789357,0.40077605,0.33924612,0.01995565 Δελτα θεῶν ἀορην· ὅρκων χύσιν· ἄρεος ἀρχήν· Delta contains an assembly of the gods, many oaths, the onslaught of Ares. 5 Epsilon urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-060bisv:0.38026608,0.09853104,0.38082040,0.01746120 εἶ βάλλει Κυθέρειαν· Ἄρηνά τε· Τυδέος ὑιός. "E": The son of Tydeus strikes Aphrodite and Ares 6 Zeta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-079v:0.456393200295639,0.379434589800443,0.473392461197339,0.0241130820399113 ζῆτα· δ’ ἄρ’ Ἀνδρομάχης καὶ Ἕκτορος ἐστὶ ὀαριστύς. And then Zeta is the fond discourse of Andromache and Hektor. 7 Eta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-089v:0.47339246,0.49320953,0.46175166,0.03450665 ἦτα δ’ Αἴας πολέμιζε μόνωι μόνος Ἕκτορι δίωι. And Eta: Aias fights one-on-one with radiant Hektor. 8 Theta urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-098r:0.0831485587583149,0.235033259423503,0.400776053215078,0.0278547671840355 θῆτα θεῶν ἀγορή· Τρώων κράτος· Ἕκτορος εὖχος· Theta is an assembly of the gods, the power of the Trojans, the boast of Hektor. 9 Iota urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-109v:0.447708795269771,0.316657427937916,0.41019955654102,0.0340909090909091 ἐξαισίη δ’ Ἀχιλῆος ἀπειθέος ἐστὶν ἰῶτα: And an embassy to implacable Achilleus, is Iota. 10 Kappa urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-124r:0.184959349593496,0.565687361419069,0.460088691796009,0.0261917960088692 κάππα δ’ ὰρ ἀμφοτέρων σκοπιαζέμεν ἤλυθον ἄνδρες: And Kappa: men from both sides went forth to spy. 11 Lambda urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-136v:0.464153732446415,0.313054323725055,0.430894308943089,0.024390243902439 λάβδα δ’ ἀριστῆας Δαναῶν βάλον Ἕκτορος ἄνδρες. And Lambda. Men of Hektor strike the best of the Danaans. 12 Mu urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-153r:0.230229120473023,0.0767738359201774,0.365853658536585,0.0227272727272727 μῦ Τρώων παλάμησϊ κατήρϊπε τεῖχος Ἀχαιῶν· Mu. By the hands of the Trojans, the Achaians’ wall is hurled down. 13 Nu urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-163r:0.223207686622321,0.223669623059867,0.445121951219512,0.025360310421286 νῦ δὲ Ποσειδάων Δαναοῖσι κράτος ώπασε λάθρῃ: And Nu. Poseidon gives power to the Danaans in secret. 14 Xi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-180v:0.442165558019217,0.295870288248337,0.418514412416851,0.0282705099778271 ξῖ Κρονίδην λεχέεσσι καὶ οὕ πνωι ἤπαφεν Ἥρη: Xi. The son of Cronos [sleeps] on a couch and Hera beguiles him with a scent 15 Omicron urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-190v:0.439578713968958,0.282150776053215,0.463968957871397,0.0415742793791574 οὐ Κρονίδης κεχόλωτο Ποσειδάονηι καὶ Ἥρῃ· “O”. The Son of Kronos is angered at Poseidon and Hera. 16 Pi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-206r:0.0968218773096822,0.341186252771619,0.421840354767184,0.0266075388026608 πῖ Πάτροκλον ἔπεφνεν ἀρήϊον. Ἕκτορος αἰχμή· Pi. Hektor’s spear kills warlike Patroklos. 17 Rho urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-224r:0.12139689578714,0.453021064301552,0.458240946045824,0.0310421286031042 ῥῶ· Δαναοὶ Τρῶες τε νέκυν πέρι χεῖρας ἔμιστον: Rho. The Danaans and Trojans clash over the corpse. 18 Sigma urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-240r:0.154656319290466,0.373337028824834,0.445676274944568,0.0340909090909091 σῖγμα δὲ τεύχεα τεοῦξε καμὼν ἥφαιστο ἀχιλλεῖ: Sigma. Hephaestus, toiling, armed Achilles with weapons. 19 Tau urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-252r:0.182926829268293,0.323725055432373,0.463414634146341,0.0324279379157428 ταῦ φιλίην ξυνέθεντο· πέπαυτο δὲ μήνιδος ἀρχή: Tau. They agree on a frienship. And the reign of rage ceased. 20 Upsilon urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-260r:0.175535846267554,0.230044345898004,0.486141906873614,0.0311807095343681 ῦ μακάρων ἐνοπὴ καὶ φύλλοπις οὐρανιώνων: “U” The battle cry of the blessed ones and the din of battle of the heavenly beings. φύλλοπις = φύλοπις 21 Phi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-270v:0.447893569844789,0.316934589800443,0.483370288248337,0.0353381374722838 φῖ μόθος ἰακίδαο. παρ ἠ ϊόνας ποταμοῖo: Phi.The battle of Aeacus’ son, across the banks of a river. 22 Chi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-283r:0.170916481892092,0.463968957871397,0.4490022172949,0.0346452328159645 χῖ Θέτιδος Γόνος ὠκὺς. ἀπώλεσεν Ἔκτορα δῖον: Chi.The swift son of Thetis kills god-like Hector. 23 Psi urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-294r:0.139320029563932,0.402161862527716,0.483370288248337,0.0365853658536585 ψῖ πατροκλον κλαῖε. καὶ ἐξετέλεσε εν ἀγῶνας: Psi. He was lamenting Patroclus. And he ended [the lamenting] with contests. 24 Omega urn:cite:fufolioimg:E3-Pages.E3-314r:0.237620103473762,0.217987804878049,0.435144124168514,0.0228658536585366 ὦ νέκυν ἔκτορα πατρὶ πόρεν Ἀχιλλεὺς ἔν δωρα: “Ō” Achilles offers the corpse of Hector to his father as a gift.