7. Other Epithets for Beauty (1): ἠΰκομος
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Lowell Edmunds
Anstract
In two of Helen’s name-epithet formulas the epithet is ἠΰκομος. These two constitute the only example among epithets for Helen of the same epithet in lexically and syntactically (but not metrically) different formulas. In both of these formulas Helen’s hair is an aspect of her identity as the beautiful woman over whom the war is being fought. It is her beauty that strikes the old men on the wall of Troy, who say (3.156-58): οὐ νέμεσις Τρῶας καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς τοιῇδ’ ἀμφὶ γυναικὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄλγεα πάσχειν· αἰνῶς ἀθανάτῃσι θεῇς εἰς ὦπα ἔοικεν· It is not a matter for blame that the Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans long suffer woes over such a woman. In appearance she is terribly like the immortal goddesses. Then they say: Let her go (3.159-60). If Helen’s beauty were in fact the only reason for the struggle, the old men’s line of thought would make sense and she should be returned to Menelaus and the Achaeans. But the struggle is over Helen qua wife (ch. 1§§5-6), and neither of her husbands and neither Achaeans nor Trojans can agree to relinquish their claim to her. The struggle would go on even if she were not beautiful. The two name-epithet formulas to be discussed in this chapter reflect this logic of the war. In one of them, the formula is part of a periphrastic denomination of Paris (§1; for this kind of denomination: ch. 1§7). In the other, Achilles says that he is fighting Ἑλένης ἕνεκ’ ἠϋκόμοιο (9.339), a formula not attested elsewhere in Homer, except in a plus-verse, but found in other archaic verse (Appendix to this ch.).
Anstract
In two of Helen’s name-epithet formulas the epithet is ἠΰκομος. These two constitute the only example among epithets for Helen of the same epithet in lexically and syntactically (but not metrically) different formulas. In both of these formulas Helen’s hair is an aspect of her identity as the beautiful woman over whom the war is being fought. It is her beauty that strikes the old men on the wall of Troy, who say (3.156-58): οὐ νέμεσις Τρῶας καὶ ἐϋκνήμιδας Ἀχαιοὺς τοιῇδ’ ἀμφὶ γυναικὶ πολὺν χρόνον ἄλγεα πάσχειν· αἰνῶς ἀθανάτῃσι θεῇς εἰς ὦπα ἔοικεν· It is not a matter for blame that the Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans long suffer woes over such a woman. In appearance she is terribly like the immortal goddesses. Then they say: Let her go (3.159-60). If Helen’s beauty were in fact the only reason for the struggle, the old men’s line of thought would make sense and she should be returned to Menelaus and the Achaeans. But the struggle is over Helen qua wife (ch. 1§§5-6), and neither of her husbands and neither Achaeans nor Trojans can agree to relinquish their claim to her. The struggle would go on even if she were not beautiful. The two name-epithet formulas to be discussed in this chapter reflect this logic of the war. In one of them, the formula is part of a periphrastic denomination of Paris (§1; for this kind of denomination: ch. 1§7). In the other, Achilles says that he is fighting Ἑλένης ἕνεκ’ ἠϋκόμοιο (9.339), a formula not attested elsewhere in Homer, except in a plus-verse, but found in other archaic verse (Appendix to this ch.).
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- List of Tables XIII
- Introduction 1
- 1. Appellatives and Periphrastic Denominations 15
- 2. Epithets of Opprobrium 26
- 3. Ἀργείη 40
- 4. The Name Helen Unmodified 52
- 5. δῖα γυναικῶν “noble among women”: The Public Figure (1) 65
- 6. τανύπεπλος “long-robed”: The Public Figure (2) 73
- 7. Other Epithets for Beauty (1): ἠΰκομος 81
- 8. Other Epithets for Beauty (2): λευκώλενος 93
- 9. Epithets for Beauty (3): καλλίκομος, καλλιπάρῃος 103
- 10. Kinship Epithets 114
- 11. εὐπατέρεια 125
- 12. Reflections on Kinship Epithets and Epithets of Beauty 134
- 13. Conclusion 146
- Appendix 1: Helen’s Epithets in Homer in Order of Occurrence 151
- Appendix 2: The Name Helen without Epithets 153
- Appendix 3: The “On account of” Motif 155
- Appendix 4: Helen’s epithets in lyric 157
- Works Cited 159
- Index nominum et rerum 171
- Index locorum 173
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- Abbreviations XI
- List of Tables XIII
- Introduction 1
- 1. Appellatives and Periphrastic Denominations 15
- 2. Epithets of Opprobrium 26
- 3. Ἀργείη 40
- 4. The Name Helen Unmodified 52
- 5. δῖα γυναικῶν “noble among women”: The Public Figure (1) 65
- 6. τανύπεπλος “long-robed”: The Public Figure (2) 73
- 7. Other Epithets for Beauty (1): ἠΰκομος 81
- 8. Other Epithets for Beauty (2): λευκώλενος 93
- 9. Epithets for Beauty (3): καλλίκομος, καλλιπάρῃος 103
- 10. Kinship Epithets 114
- 11. εὐπατέρεια 125
- 12. Reflections on Kinship Epithets and Epithets of Beauty 134
- 13. Conclusion 146
- Appendix 1: Helen’s Epithets in Homer in Order of Occurrence 151
- Appendix 2: The Name Helen without Epithets 153
- Appendix 3: The “On account of” Motif 155
- Appendix 4: Helen’s epithets in lyric 157
- Works Cited 159
- Index nominum et rerum 171
- Index locorum 173
