# Homeric Greek, Lessons LXIX to LXXIII

Pharr III: The First Book Whole

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/grc/15. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/grc/15.json.

## Lesson LXIX: Iliad 490-499

### The genitive

English says the wave of the sea. Greek uses the genitive ending instead of a word for of.

ἀνεδύσετο κῦμα θαλάσσης: she rose up from the wave of the sea. Pharr labels θαλάσσης genitive singular.

παιδὸς ἑοῦ: of her son. Pharr labels παιδὸς genitive singular as well.

Some verbs take the genitive. Θέτις δ’ οὐ λήθετ’ ἐφετμέων: Thetis did not forget the charge. The word list says λήθ-ω takes the genitive, so ἐφετμέων is genitive.

### The Iliad: Thetis goes up to Olympus

The first lines describe someone who stays away. He would never go to the assembly that brings men glory, nor to war. He wasted his own heart there, longing for the war cry and the battle.

Then the twelfth dawn comes. The gods who live forever go back to Olympus together, and Zeus leads them. Thetis did not forget the charge of her son. She rose up from the wave of the sea. At early dawn she went up to great heaven and Olympus.

She found the wide-thundering son of Cronos sitting apart from the rest, on the highest peak of many-ridged Olympus.

Thetis moves in two steps. ἀνεδύσετο κῦμα θαλάσσης: she rose from the wave of the sea. Then ἀνέβη μέγαν οὐρανὸν: she went up to great heaven.

**1** οὔτε ποτ’ εἰς ἀγορὴν πωλέσκετο κυδιάνειραν  
he would never go to the assembly that glorifies men,

**2** οὔτε ποτ’ ἐς πόλεμον, ἀλλὰ φθινύθεσκε φίλον κῆρ  
nor ever to war, but would waste his own heart

**3** αὖθι μένων, ποθέεσκε δ’ αὐτήν τε πτόλεμόν τε.  
remaining there, yearning for the war cry and the battle.

**4** ἀλλ’ ὅτε δή ῥ’ ἐκ τοῖο δυωδεκάτη γένετ’ ἠώς,  
But when from that time the twelfth dawn had come,

**5** καὶ τότε δὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἴσαν θεοὶ αἰὲν ἐόντες  
then the gods who are forever went back to Olympus

**6** πάντες ἅμα, Ζεὺς δ’ ἦρχε. Θέτις δ’ οὐ λήθετ’ ἐφετμέων  
all together, and Zeus led the way; nor did Thetis forget the charge

**7** παιδὸς ἑοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἥ γ’ ἀνεδύσετο κῦμα θαλάσσης,  
of her son, but rose up from the wave of the sea.

**8** ἠερίη δ’ ἀνέβη μέγαν οὐρανὸν Οὔλυμπόν τε.  
and at early dawn she went up to great heaven and Olympus.

**9** εὗρεν δ’ εὐρύοπα Κρονίδην ἄτερ ἥμενον ἄλλων  
She found the wide-thundering son of Cronos sitting apart from the rest,

**10** ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ πολυδειράδος Οὐλύμποιο.  
upon the topmost peak of many-ridged Olympus;

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| πωλέσκετο | Go, attend, frequent, from πωλέομαι |
| κυδιάνειραν | Man-ennobling, bringing glory to men, from κυδιάνειρα |
| φθινύθεσκε | Destroy, waste away, pine, from φθινύθω |
| αὖθι | Here, there, in the same place |
| ποθέεσκε | Yearn, long for, desire, from ποθέω |
| αὐτήν | Battle-cry, war-whoop, from ἀυτή |
| ἦρχε | Begin, lead, rule, from ἄρχω |
| λήθετ’ | Forget, from λανθάνω |
| ἐφετμέων | Command, behest, request, from ἐφετμή |
| ἠερίη | Early, , from ἠέριος |
| εὐρύοπα | Wide-thundering |
| Κρονίδην | Son of Cronus, Zeus, from Κρονίδης |
| ἄτερ | Apart, away from, without |
| ἀκροτάτῃ | Sharp, high, utter, from ἄκρος |
| κορυφῇ | Peak, summit, crest |
| πολυδειράδος | Many-ridged, with many cliffs, from πολυδειράς |

## Lesson LXX: Iliad 500-516

### The imperative

The imperative is the verb form for a command or a request. A prayer to a god is a series of requests. Thetis uses the imperative many times.

τίμησόν μοι υἱόν: honor my son. τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ: grant me this desire. ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μιν τῖσον: but you, honor him yourself.

Pharr's note calls τίθει a present imperative, second person singular. It is a command to one person. ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι τίθει κράτος: give strength to the Trojans.

Later she asks again. νημερτὲς μὲν δή μοι ὑπόσχεο καὶ κατάνευσον: promise me now, unfailingly, and bow your head in assent. These are two commands joined by καὶ.

### The Iliad: Thetis begs Zeus

She sits down before Zeus and clasps his knees with her left hand. With her right hand she takes him beneath the chin. As a suppliant, she speaks to lord Zeus, son of Cronos.

If ever I gave you aid among the immortals, she says, in word or deed, grant me this. Honor my son, who is the most short-fated of all. Agamemnon has dishonored him and keeps his prize. Give strength to the Trojans until the Achaeans honor him.

Zeus says nothing to her and sits silent for a long time. She holds his knees fast and asks once more. Promise me, or refuse me, so that I may know how far I am the most dishonored of the gods.

She gives him two choices. ὑπόσχεο καὶ κατάνευσον: promise and bow your head. ἢ ἀπόειπ’: or refuse.

**11** καί ῥα πάροιθ’ αὐτοῖο καθέζετο καὶ λάβε γούνων  
and she sat down before him, and clasped his knees

**12** σκαιῇ, δεξιτερῇ δ’ ἄρ’ ὑπ’ ἀνθερεῶνος ἑλοῦσα  
with her left hand, and with her right she took him beneath the chin,

**13** λισσομένη προσέειπε Δία Κρονίωνα ἄνακτα·  
and in supplication spoke to lord Zeus, son of Cronos:

**14** “Ζεῦ πάτερ, εἴ ποτε δή σε μετ’ ἀθανάτοισιν ὄνησα  
"Father Zeus, if ever among the immortals I gave you aid,

**15** ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ, τόδε μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ·  
whether in word or deed, grant me now this desire:

**16** τίμησόν μοι υἱόν, ὃς ὠκυμορώτατος ἄλλων  
honor my son, who has become the most short-fated

**17** ἔπλετ’· ἀτάρ μιν νῦν γε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγαμέμνων  
of all others; yet now Agamemnon, lord of men,

**18** ἠτίμησεν· ἑλὼν γὰρ ἔχει γέρας, αὐτὸς ἀπούρας.  
has dishonored him; for he has seized his prize and keeps it, having taken it for himself.

**19** ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μιν τῖσον, Ὀλύμπιε μητίετα Ζεῦ·  
"But you, honor him yourself, Olympian, Zeus the counselor;

**20** τόφρα δ’ ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι τίθει κράτος, ὄφρ’ ἂν Ἀχαιοὶ  
and meanwhile give strength to the Trojans, until the Achaeans

**21** υἱὸν ἐμὸν τίσωσιν, ὀφέλλωσίν τέ ἑ τιμῇ.”  
honor my son, and increase him with glory."

**22** ὣς φάτο· τὴν δ’ οὔ τι προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,  
So she spoke; but Zeus the cloud-gatherer said nothing to her,

**23** ἀλλ’ ἀκέων δὴν ἧστο. Θέτις δ’ ὡς ἥψατο γούνων,  
but sat silent for a long while; and Thetis, just as she had clasped his knees,

**24** ὣς ἔχετ’ ἐμπεφυυῖα, καὶ εἴρετο δεύτερον αὖτις·  
so she held on, clinging fast, and asked him once more:

**25** “νημερτὲς μὲν δή μοι ὑπόσχεο καὶ κατάνευσον,  
"Promise me now, unfailingly, and bow your head in assent,

**26** ἢ ἀπόειπ’, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι ἔπι δέος, ὄφρ’ ἐὺ εἰδῶ,  
or else refuse me, since no fear touches you, that I may know well

**27** ὅσσον ἐγὼ μετὰ πᾶσιν ἀτιμοτάτη θεός εἰμι.”  
how far, among all the gods, I am the most dishonored."

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| σκαιῇ | Left, unlucky, from σκαιός |
| δεξιτερῇ | Right, lucky, from δεξιτερός |
| ἀνθερεῶνος | Beard, chin, from ἀνθερεών |
| τόφρα | So long, meanwhile |
| Τρώεσσι | The Trojans, from Τρώς |
| κράτος | Power, might, rule |
| νεφεληγερέτα | Cloud-gatherer, wrapped in clouds |
| ἥψατο | Touch, lay hold of, attack, from ἅπτω |
| ἐμπεφυυῖα | Grow into, cling very closely, from ἐμφύω |
| δεύτερον | Second, succeeding, later, from δεύτερος |
| νημερτὲς | Unerring, true, truthful, from νημερτής |
| ὑπόσχεο | Promise, from ὑπισχνέομαι |
| κατάνευσον | Nod, from κατανεύω |
| ἀπόειπ’ | Refuse, from ἀπεῖπον |
| δέος | Fear, dread, timidity |

## Lesson LXXI: Iliad 517-527

### The future

The future states what will happen. English uses will: I will go, you will see. Greek changes the form of the verb.

Zeus uses the future. εἰ δ’ ἄγε τοι κεφαλῇ κατανεύσομαι: come, then, I will bow my head to you. The word list gives κατανεύσω as the future of the verb nod.

ὅτε μ’ ἐχθοδοπῆσαι ἐφήσεις Ἥρῃ: since you will set me at odds with Hera. ἐφήσεις means you will set.

ταῦτα μελήσεται: these things will be my concern. The word list gives μελήσω as the future of μέλω, be a care. Both futures in the word list have σ before the ending.

### The Iliad: Zeus answers Thetis

Zeus, greatly troubled, answers her. This is a ruinous business, he says, since you will set me at odds with Hera. She provokes me with taunting words. She quarrels with me even without cause, and says I aid the Trojans in battle.

Go back now, he tells her, so that Hera notices nothing. I will see to these things. Come, I will bow my head to you, so that you may trust me.

That is the greatest sign among the immortals. Nothing of mine is revocable, deceitful or unfulfilled, once I have bowed my head to it.

οὐ γὰρ ἐμὸν παλινάγρετον οὐδ’ ἀπατηλὸν οὐδ’ ἀτελεύτητον has three denials. His nod is not revocable, not deceitful, and not unfulfilled.

**28** τὴν δὲ μέγ’ ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς·  
Then, greatly troubled, Zeus the cloud-gatherer answered her:

**29** “ἦ δὴ λοίγια ἔργ’, ὅτε μ’ ἐχθοδοπῆσαι ἐφήσεις  
"Truly this is a ruinous business, since you will set me at odds

**30** Ἥρῃ, ὅτ’ ἄν μ’ ἐρέθῃσιν ὀνειδείοις ἐπέεσσιν.  
with Hera, whenever she provokes me with her taunting words;

**31** ἡ δὲ καὶ αὔτως μ’ αἰὲν ἐν ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν  
and she, even without cause, forever among the immortal gods

**32** νεικεῖ, καί τέ μέ φησι μάχῃ Τρώεσσιν ἀρήγειν.  
quarrels with me, and says that I aid the Trojans in battle.

**33** ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν αὖτις ἀπόστιχε, μή τι νοήσῃ  
But go back now, so that Hera may notice nothing;

**34** Ἥρη· ἐμοὶ δέ κε ταῦτα μελήσεται, ὄφρα τελέσσω.  
and I myself will see to it that these things are accomplished.

**35** εἰ δ’ ἄγε τοι κεφαλῇ κατανεύσομαι, ὄφρα πεποίθῃς·  
Come, then, I will bow my head to you, that you may trust me;

**36** τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξ ἐμέθεν γε μετ’ ἀθανάτοισι μέγιστον  
for this, from me, is the greatest sign among the immortals,

**37** τέκμωρ· οὐ γὰρ ἐμὸν παλινάγρετον οὐδ’ ἀπατηλὸν  
that pledge; for nothing of mine is revocable, or deceitful,

**38** οὐδ’ ἀτελεύτητον, ὅ τι κεν κεφαλῇ κατανεύσω.”  
or unfulfilled, once I have bowed my head to it."

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| ὀχθήσας | Be vexed, be displeased, be worried, from ὀχθέω |
| λοίγια | Dreadful, accursed, horrible, from λοίγιος |
| ἐχθοδοπῆσαι | Engage in hostility with, be hateful, from ἐχθοδοπέω |
| ἐρέθῃσιν | Vex, enrage, tease, from ἐρέθω |
| ὀνειδείοις | Taunting, from ὀνείδειος |
| νεικεῖ | Struggle, contend, revile, from νεικέω |
| ἀπόστιχε | Depart, step off, march away, from ἀποστείχω |
| μελήσεται | Be a concern, be a care, from μέλω |
| κεφαλῇ | Head |
| τέκμωρ | Pledge, from τέκμαρ |
| παλινάγρετον | Revocable, to be taken back, from παλινάγρετος |
| ἀπατηλὸν | Deceitful, false, from ἀπατηλός |
| ἀτελεύτητον | Unaccomplished, from ἀτελεύτητος |

## Lesson LXXII: Iliad 528-535

### The dual τὼ

Pharr marks τὼ in this passage as nominative or accusative dual. It means the two.

τὼ γ’ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν: so the two of them, having so resolved, parted. The next words name the two: ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα εἰς ἅλα ἆλτο, she then leapt into the sea, and Ζεὺς δὲ, and Zeus.

### The Iliad: Zeus bows his head

So he spoke, and the son of Cronos bows his head, his dark brows lowering. His ambrosial locks sweep forward from his immortal head, and he makes great Olympus quake.

The two part. She leaps into the deep sea from gleaming Olympus, and Zeus goes to his own house. All the gods rise from their seats before their father. No one dares to stay seated as he approaches. All stand to face him.

ἡ μὲν and Ζεὺς δὲ form a pair. They set two actions side by side: she goes one way, and Zeus goes another.

**39** ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ’ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων·  
So he spoke, and the son of Cronos bowed his head, his dark brows lowering;

**40** ἀμβρόσιαι δ’ ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος  
and the god's ambrosial locks swept forward

**41** κρατὸς ἀπ’ ἀθανάτοιο, μέγαν δ’ ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον.  
from his immortal head; and he made great Olympus quake.

**42** τὼ γ’ ὣς βουλεύσαντε διέτμαγεν· ἡ μὲν ἔπειτα  
So the two of them, having so resolved, parted; she then

**43** εἰς ἅλα ἆλτο βαθεῖαν ἀπ’ αἰγλήεντος Ὀλύμπου,  
leapt into the deep sea from gleaming Olympus,

**44** Ζεὺς δὲ ἑὸν πρὸς δῶμα. θεοὶ δ’ ἅμα πάντες ἀνέσταν  
and Zeus went to his own house; and all the gods together rose up

**45** ἐξ ἑδέων, σφοῦ πατρὸς ἐναντίον· οὐδέ τις ἔτλη  
From their seats, before their father; and no one dared

**46** μεῖναι ἐπερχόμενον, ἀλλ’ ἀντίοι ἔσταν ἅπαντες.  
to remain seated as he approached, but all stood up to face him.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| κυανέῃσιν | Dark, black, dusky, from κυάνεος |
| ὀφρύσι | Brow, from ὀφρύς |
| νεῦσε | Nod, from νεύω |
| ἀμβρόσιαι | Ambrosial, immortal, divine, from ἀμβρόσιος |
| χαῖται | Hair, locks, tresses, from χαίτη |
| ἐπερρώσαντο | Flow down, fall down, from ἐπιρρώομαι |
| κρατὸς | Head, from κράς |
| ἐλέλιξεν | Made quake, from ἐλελίζω |
| βουλεύσαντε | Plan, counsel, advise, from βουλεύω |
| διέτμαγεν | Separate, part, divide, from διατμήγω |
| ἆλτο | Jump, leap, from ἅλλομαι |
| βαθεῖαν | Deep, profound, from βαθύς |
| αἰγλήεντος | Bright, shining, gleaming, from αἰγλήεις |
| ἑδέων | SEAT, abode, habitation, from ἕδος |
| σφοῦ | One’s own, their, from σφός |
| ἐναντίον | Before |
| ἐπερχόμενον | Come, attack, from ἐπέρχομαι |
| ἅπαντες | All, entire, whole, from ἅπας |

## Lesson LXXIII: Iliad 536-550

### The interrogative τίς and the relative ὃν

τίς is the interrogative pronoun: who, which or what. Pharr labels it nominative singular.

τίς δὴ αὖ τοι, δολομῆτα, θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς: which of the gods, crafty one, has plotted counsel with you now? θεῶν means of the gods. It names the group the question chooses from.

In Zeus's answer, ὃν appears twice. The English renders it whatever. ὃν δέ κ’ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλωμι νοῆσαι: whatever I wish to consider apart from the gods.

### The Iliad: Hera questions Zeus

Zeus sits down on his throne. Hera has seen that silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the old man of the sea, took counsel with him. At once she speaks to him with taunting words.

Which of the gods has plotted with you now? It is always dear to you, she says, to devise things in secret. Never yet have you willingly told me what you plan.

The father of men and gods answers. Hera, do not hope to know all my words. They will be hard for you, though you are my wife.

His answer has two halves, ὃν μέν and ὃν δέ. Whatever word is fitting to hear, no one will know it before you. But whatever I wish to consider apart from the gods, do not ask about each thing.

**47** ὣς ὁ μὲν ἔνθα καθέζετ’ ἐπὶ θρόνου· οὐδέ μιν Ἥρη  
So he sat down there upon his throne; and Hera did not

**48** ἠγνοίησεν ἰδοῦσ’, ὅτι οἱ συμφράσσατο βουλὰς  
fail to notice, having seen, that with him had taken counsel together,

**49** ἀργυρόπεζα Θέτις, θυγάτηρ ἁλίοιο γέροντος.  
silver-footed Thetis, daughter of the old man of the sea.

**50** αὐτίκα κερτομίοισι Δία Κρονίωνα προσηύδα·  
At once she addressed Zeus, son of Cronos, with taunting words:

**51** “τίς δὴ αὖ τοι, δολομῆτα, θεῶν συμφράσσατο βουλάς;  
"Which of the gods, crafty one, has plotted counsel with you now?

**52** αἰεί τοι φίλον ἐστὶν ἐμεῦ ἀπονόσφιν ἐόντα  
It is always dear to you, when you are apart from me,

**53** κρυπτάδια φρονέοντα δικαζέμεν· οὐδέ τί πώ μοι  
to devise things in secret and render your judgments; and never yet to me

**54** πρόφρων τέτληκας εἰπεῖν ἔπος, ὅττι νοήσῃς.”  
have you willingly brought yourself to tell whatever you contrive.

**55** τὴν δ’ ἠμείβετ’ ἔπειτα πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε·  
Then the father of men and gods answered her:

**56** “Ἥρη, μὴ δὴ πάντας ἐμοὺς ἐπιέλπεο μύθους  
"Hera, do not hope to know all

**57** εἰδήσειν· χαλεποί τοι ἔσοντ’ ἀλόχῳ περ ἐούσῃ.  
my words; they will be hard for you, though you are my wife.

**58** ἀλλ’ ὃν μέν κ’ ἐπιεικὲς ἀκουέμεν, οὔ τις ἔπειτα  
But whatever word is fitting to hear, no one then,

**59** οὔτε θεῶν πρότερος τόν γ’ εἴσεται οὔτ’ ἀνθρώπων·  
neither god nor man, will know it before you;

**60** ὃν δέ κ’ ἐγὼν ἀπάνευθε θεῶν ἐθέλωμι νοῆσαι,  
but whatever I wish to consider apart from the gods,

**61** μή τι σὺ ταῦτα ἕκαστα διείρεο μηδὲ μετάλλα.”  
do not ask about each of these things, nor inquire."

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| καθέζετ’ | Sat down, from καθέζετο |
| θρόνου | Throne, seat, armchair, from θρόνος |
| ἠγνοίησεν | Fail to notice, from ἀγνοέω |
| συμφράσσατο | Devise plans with, counsel together, from συμφράζομαι |
| ἀργυρόπεζα | Silvery footed, from ἀργυρόπεζος |
| ἁλίοιο | Of the sea, marine, from ἅλιος |
| κερτομίοισι | Biting, cutting, sharp, from κερτόμιος |
| αὖ | Anew, again, a second time |
| δολομῆτα | Deceiver, crafty-minded, from δολομήτης |
| ἀπονόσφιν | Apart, away, from ἀπονόσφι |
| κρυπτάδια | In secret, from κρυπτάδιος |
| φρονέοντα | Think, consider, plan, from φρονέω |
| δικαζέμεν | Judge, decide, from δικάζω |
| ἐπιέλπεο | Hope to know, from ἐπέλπομαι |
| χαλεποί | Hard, harsh, severe, from χαλεπός |
| ἀλόχῳ | Wife, spouse, from ἄλοχος |
| ἐπιεικὲς | Suitable, fitting, proper, from ἐπιεικής |
| πρότερος | Former, sooner, older |
| ἕκαστα | Each, every, from ἕκαστος |
| διείρεο | Inquire into, ask about item by item, from διείρομαι |
| μετάλλα | Inquire after, seek to know, search after, from μεταλλάω |