ὣς ἄρα μιν εἰπόντ᾽ ἔλασεν μέγα κῦμα κατ᾽ ἄκρης

δεινὸν ἐπεσσύμενον, περὶ δὲ σχεδίην ἐλέλιξε.

τῆλε δ᾽ ἀπὸ σχεδίης αὐτὸς πέσε, πηδάλιον δὲ315

ἐκ χειρῶν προέηκε· μέσον δέ οἱ ἱστὸν ἔαξεν

δεινὴ μισγομένων ἀνέμων ἐλθοῦσα θύελλα,

τηλοῦ δὲ σπεῖρον καὶ ἐπίκριον ἔμπεσε πόντῳ.

τὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑπόβρυχα θῆκε πολὺν χρόνον, οὐδ᾽ ἐδυνάσθη

αἶψα μάλ᾽ ἀνσχεθέειν μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ὁρμῆς·320

εἵματα γάρ ῥ᾽ ἐβάρυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.

ὀψὲ δὲ δή ῥ᾽ ἀνέδυ, στόματος δ᾽ ἐξέπτυσεν ἅλμην

πικρήν, ἥ οἱ πολλὴ ἀπὸ κρατὸς κελάρυζεν.

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ὣς σχεδίης ἐπελήθετο, τειρόμενός περ,

ἀλλὰ μεθορμηθεὶς ἐνὶ κύμασιν ἐλλάβετ᾽ αὐτῆς,325

ἐν μέσσῃ δὲ καθῖζε τέλος θανάτου ἀλεείνων.

τὴν δ᾽ ἐφόρει μέγα κῦμα κατὰ ῥόον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα.

ὡς δ᾽ ὅτ᾽ ὀπωρινὸς Βορέης φορέῃσιν ἀκάνθας

ἂμ πεδίον, πυκιναὶ δὲ πρὸς ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται,

ὣς τὴν ἂμ πέλαγος ἄνεμοι φέρον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα·330

ἄλλοτε μέν τε Νότος Βορέῃ προβάλεσκε φέρεσθαι,

ἄλλοτε δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ Εὖρος Ζεφύρῳ εἴξασκε διώκειν.

τὸν δὲ ἴδεν Κάδμου θυγάτηρ, καλλίσφυρος Ἰνώ,

Λευκοθέη, ἣ πρὶν μὲν ἔην βροτὸς αὐδήεσσα,

νῦν δ᾽ ἁλὸς ἐν πελάγεσσι θεῶν ἒξ ἔμμορε τιμῆς.335

ἥ ῥ᾽ Ὀδυσῆ᾽ ἐλέησεν ἀλώμενον, ἄλγε᾽ ἔχοντα,

αἰθυίῃ δ᾽ ἐικυῖα ποτῇ ἀνεδύσετο λίμνης,

ἷζε δ᾽ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου εἶπέ τε μῦθον·

"κάμμορε, τίπτε τοι ὧδε Ποσειδάων ἐνοσίχθων

ὠδύσατ᾽ ἐκπάγλως, ὅτι τοι κακὰ πολλὰ φυτεύει;340

οὐ μὲν δή σε καταφθίσει μάλα περ μενεαίνων.

ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρξαι, δοκέεις δέ μοι οὐκ ἀπινύσσειν·

εἵματα ταῦτ᾽ ἀποδὺς σχεδίην ἀνέμοισι φέρεσθαι

κάλλιπ᾽, ἀτὰρ χείρεσσι νέων ἐπιμαίεο νόστου

γαίης Φαιήκων, ὅθι τοι μοῖρ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀλύξαι.345

τῆ δέ, τόδε κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τανύσσαι

ἄμβροτον· οὐδέ τί τοι παθέειν δέος οὐδ᾽ ἀπολέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν χείρεσσιν ἐφάψεαι ἠπείροιο,

ἂψ ἀπολυσάμενος βαλέειν εἰς οἴνοπα πόντον

πολλὸν ἀπ᾽ ἠπείρου, αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἀπονόσφι τραπέσθαι."350

ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασα θεὰ κρήδεμνον ἔδωκεν,

αὐτὴ δ᾽ ἂψ ἐς πόντον ἐδύσετο κυμαίνοντα

αἰθυίῃ ἐικυῖα· μέλαν δέ ἑ κῦμα κάλυψεν.

αὐτὰρ ὁ μερμήριξε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,

ὀχθήσας δ᾽ ἄρα εἶπε πρὸς ὃν μεγαλήτορα θυμόν·355

"ὤ μοι ἐγώ, μή τίς μοι ὑφαίνῃσιν δόλον αὖτε

ἀθανάτων, ὅ τέ με σχεδίης ἀποβῆναι ἀνώγει.

ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ οὔ πω πείσομ᾽, ἐπεὶ ἑκὰς ὀφθαλμοῖσιν

γαῖαν ἐγὼν ἰδόμην, ὅθι μοι φάτο φύξιμον εἶναι.

ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔρξω, δοκέει δέ μοι εἶναι ἄριστον:360

ὄφρ᾽ ἂν μέν κεν δούρατ᾽ ἐν ἁρμονίῃσιν ἀρήρῃ,

τόφρ᾽ αὐτοῦ μενέω καὶ τλήσομαι ἄλγεα πάσχων·

αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν δή μοι σχεδίην διὰ κῦμα τινάξῃ,

νήξομ᾽, ἐπεὶ οὐ μέν τι πάρα προνοῆσαι ἄμεινον."

    Odysseus nearly drowns in the storm. Taking pity on him, Ino offers Odysseus a magic veil that will enable him to swim safely to shore. Suspecting the gods of another trick, Odysseus clings to what remains of his boat. 

    Poseidon’s revenge continues. The hero, who was steering a straight course (ἰθύνετο, 270), is flung into the sea while the boat spins in circles; Calypso’s helpful following breeze is replaced by a maelstrom of winds clashing from all directions; Odysseus, who has been charting a course by looking up at the stars, is driven under the waves. We learn that the weight dragging him under the water has a specific source:

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    τὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑπόβρυχα θῆκε πολὺν χρόνον, οὐδ᾽ ἐδυνάσθη
    αἶψα μάλ᾽ ἀνσχεθέειν μεγάλου ὑπὸ κύματος ὁρμῆς·
    εἵματα γάρ ῥ᾽ ἐβάρυνε, τά οἱ πόρε δῖα Καλυψώ.

    The storm held him underwater for a long time, nor could he
    rise up from under the force of the great wave,
    for the clothing that Calypso gave him was weighing him down.

    Odyssey 5.319–21

    The unease we may have felt about the nymph’s enveloping presence at Odysseus’s departure returns here. Calypso’s power to “cover up” is carried by the clothing, dragging the hero down into the amorphous deep. Escaping the pull of Calypso’s undertow will be harder than her friendly farewell might have suggested.

    Resurfacing, Odysseus crawls back onto what is left of his boat, now without rudder or sails, and waits for death. At this bleak moment, another friendly nymph appears:

    τὸν δὲ ἴδεν Κάδμου θυγάτηρ, καλλίσφυρος Ἰνώ,
    Λευκοθέη, ἣ πρὶν μὲν ἔην βροτὸς αὐδήεσσα,
    νῦν δ᾽ ἁλὸς ἐν πελάγεσσι θεῶν ἒξ ἔμμορε τιμῆς.
    ἥ ῥ᾽ Ὀδυσῆ᾽ ἐλέησεν ἀλώμενον, ἄλγε᾽ ἔχοντα,
    αἰθυίῃ δ᾽ ἐικυῖα ποτῇ ἀνεδύσετο λίμνης,
    ἷζε δ᾽ ἐπὶ σχεδίης πολυδέσμου εἶπέ τε μῦθον·

    The daughter of Cadmos saw him, Ino with lovely ankles,
    called Leukothea, who once spoke with a human voice,
    but now has divine status in the waves of the sea.
    She pitied Odysseus as he drifted, suffering hardship,
    rose from the sea in the likeness of a sea bird,
    and landing on the raft, spoke a word:

    Odyssey 5.333–38

    Another link between the Calypso episode and Menelaus’s escape from Egypt surfaces here, as Ino recalls Eidothea, the nymph who appears to help Menelaus (4.360–434). Menelaus learns from Eidothea that to make his way back home, he must capture and confine her father Proteus, imposing order on the potentially endless proliferation of natural shapes the old man can assume. To do so is to mimic the fundamentally masculine role in the creation of civilization, imposing limit and order on the raw power of nature. Ino’s intervention draws on the same reservoir of ideas about power and gender, as the helpful nymph offers Odysseus a way to escape Calypso’s feminine power and survive:

    "τῆ δέ, τόδε κρήδεμνον ὑπὸ στέρνοιο τανύσσαι
    ἄμβροτον· οὐδέ τί τοι παθέειν δέος οὐδ᾽ ἀπολέσθαι."

    "Here, stretch this veil over your chest; it is divine;
    you have no need to suffer or to die."

    Odyssey 5.346–47

    When the Ino urges Odysseus to take off the clothes Calypso gave him and wrap himself in her veil, she is making a more significant sacrifice than might be evident at a first glance. The κρήδεμνον, “veil” or “head binder,” appears frequently in Homeric poetry as a symbol of a woman’s modesty, in the case of married women, or chastity for unmarried women. When a woman goes out in public, she is expected to cover her face with a veil. To take it off is to make herself vulnerable to unwanted male attention; to voluntarily remove a veil in public can be seen as a gesture of abandonment, despair, or wantonness. Both Hecuba and Andromache tear off their veils when they see Achilles abusing the corpse of Hector (Il. 22.406, 469). Their gesture is a recognition of their coming violation—and that of the city of Troy, since the plural of κρήδεμνον is also used to describe the battlements of a city (cf., 13.388, Homeric Hymn to Demeter 150)—at the hands of the Greeks, now that their defender is dead. In Book 6 of the Odyssey, the Phaeacian princess Nausicaa and her servants put themselves at risk when they take off their veils to play catch on the beach (6.99–100), an act that carries a tellingly ambiguous meaning for Nausicaa herself.

    What Ino suggests here, if we read the symbols carefully, is a kind of surrender of her modesty as a woman to protect Odysseus from death in the amorphous, feminine water. She makes herself vulnerable—note that she immediately seeks the cover of the ocean once she gives him the veil (351–53)—so that he can survive to finish his masculine heroic mission.

    With the appearance of Ino, the web of associations that links the episodes of Calypso, Circe, and Menelaus in Egypt is enriched yet further, as Ino’s offer to Odysseus parallels not only Eidothea’s to Menelaus but also Odysseus’s interaction with Circe. This latter exchange, seemingly quite different in tone and content from that of Odysseus and Ino, shares with it a similar dynamic. Both are essentially gendered power negotiations, in which a nymph’s surrender, tinged with sexual overtones, enables the hero to preserve his masculine power.

    Odysseus, true to his suspicious nature, does not trust Ino. He decides to delay relying solely on the nymph’s assurances, clinging to the remnants of his boat as long as they hold together. Though the poet’s associative narrative pattern suggests parallels between Menelaus and Odysseus as each struggles to return home, we now reach a definitive difference: Menelaus gives his trust readily to his rescuing nymph, but Odysseus, both here and when Calypso first offers him her help in escaping her island, holds back. Poseidon will soon obviate any further resistance.

     

    Further Reading

    Nagler. M. 1974. Spontaneity and Tradition: The Oral Art of Homer, 64–76. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.

    Van Nortwick, T. 2008. The Unknown Odysseus: Alternate Worlds in Homer’s Odyssey, 20–21. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

     

    313  κατ᾽ ἄκρης: “from above,” “over his head” (Autenrieth ἄκρη).

    314  δεινὸν: adverbial.

    314  ἐπεσσύμενον: neut. nom. sing. pf. pass. ptc. > ἐπισεύω, modifying κῦμα  (LSJ ἐπισεύω II.2).

    316  μέσον: “in half.”

    316  ἔαξεν: 3rd sing. aor. act. indic. > ἄγνυμι.

    317  ἔλθουσα: “coming upon it.”

    319  τὸν … θῆκε: “held him.” The pronoun τὸν refers to Odysseus, the subject of the verb is still κῦμα.

    319  ἐδυνάσθη: 3rd sing. aor. indic. > δύναμαι. The subject is now Odysseus.

    320  ἀνσχεθέειν: “to come to the surface,” aor. infin. > ἀνέχω ( = ἀνασχεῖν), complementary infinitive with ἐδυνάσθη.

    320  ὑπὸ: “out from under,” with ὁρμῆς. 

    320  μεγάλου … κύματος: possessive genitive modifying ὁρμῆς.

    321  ἐβάρυνε: singular verb with neuter plural subject εἵματα.

    322  στόματος: “out of his mouth,” governed by the ἐξ- in ἐξέπτυσεν.

    324  ἐπελήθετο: 3rd sing. aor. mid./pass. dep. indic. > ἐπιλανθάνω, with genitive object.

    325  μεθορμηθεὶς: masc. nom. sing. aor. pass. ptc. > μεθορμάομαι.

    325  αὐτῆς: the object of ἐλλάβετο, which takes a partitive genitive. Refers to the raft (σχεδίη).

    326  τέλος: “at last,” adverbial.

    328  ὡς δ᾽ ὅτ(ε): “as when …,” introducing a simile.

    328  ἀκάνθας: Stanford says this refers not to the down of the thistles blown around in the air, but “thorny thistle stalks which gather into balls and are blown about by the wind over flat land in dry seasons in Greece, Russia, and Asia.” Imagine something like tumbleweed.

    329  ἂμ: = ἀνά (and in line 330).

    329  πρὸς ἀλλήλῃσιν ἔχονται: “cling to each other.”

    330  ὡς: “so…,” marking the end of the simile.

    330  φέρον: unaugmented impf.

    331  Βορέῃ προβάλεσκε φέρεσθαι: “was tossing it (the raft) to be carried by Boreas.” Understand σχεδίην as the object of the verb. φέρεσθαι is an infinitive of purpose, and Βορέῃ a dative of agent with the passive infinitive.

    332  Ζεφύρῳ εἴξασκε διώκειν: “was yielding to Zephyrus to chase it.” Understand σχεδίην as the object of the infinitive of purpose διώκειν.

    334  πρὶν: “before,” paired with νῦν in line 335.

    335  θεῶν ἒξ: “from the gods,” anastrophe (the proposition εκ takes an accent when in anastrophe).

    335  ἔμμορε τιμῆς: “obtained her share of honor” (LSJ μείρομαι). See Ino in Smith’s Classical Dictionary.

    336  ἀλώμενον: masc. acc. sing. ptc. > ἀλάομαι.

    337  ποτῇ: “in flight.”

    340  ὠδύσατ(ο): “hate.” The verb ὀδύσσομαι only appears in the aorist. Homer connects the name Odysseus with this verb.

    342  ὧδ᾽ ἔρξαι: “do this,” “do as I say,” aor. infin. > ἔρδω, used as an imperative.

    343  ἀνέμοισι φέρεσθαι: dative of agent with passive infinitive; infinitive of purpose.

    344  χείρεσσι νέων: “swimming,” lit., “swimming with your hands” > νέω.

    344  ἐπιμαίεο: 2nd sing. pres. imperat. > ἐπιμαίομαι, with a genitive object.

    345  γαίης: genitive of place where (Smyth 1448).

    346  τῆ: “here!” followed by an imperative.

    346  τανύσσαι: aor. infin. > τανύω, used as imperative.

    347  οὐδέ τί τοι … δέος: “there is no reason at all for you to fear,” with complementary infinitives.

    348  ἐπὴν … ἐφάψεαι: general temporal clause, ἐπήν (ἐπεὶ ἄν ) + subj. 

    348  ἐφάψεαι: 2nd sing. aor. mid. short-vowel subj. > ἐφάπτω, with genitive.

    349  βαλέειν: aor. infin., used as an imperative. Understand the κρήδεμνον as the object.

    350  πολλὸν: “a long way.”

    350  αὐτὸς: “you yourself.”

    350  τραπέσθαι: infin., used as an imperat.

    356  μή … ὑφαίνῃσιν: a Homeric clause of fearing (μή + subj.), a type of prohibitive subjunctive (Smyth 1802). Understand an introductory phrase like “I am afraid (that/lest) …,” or translate like a regular prohibitive subjunctive, “may some god not …” 

    356  ὑφαίνῃσιν: 3rd sing. pres. act. subj.

    356  μοι: dative of disadvantage (Smyth 1481).

    357  ἀθανάτων: partitive genitive with τις, “someone of the gods,” forming the subject of the verb ὑφαίνῃσιν.

    357  σχεδίης: “from the raft,” governed by the ἀπό in ἀποβῆναι.

    359  ἰδόμην: 1st sing. aor. mid. indic. > *εἴδω.

    359  ὅθι μοι φάτο φύξιμον εἶναι: “where she said it was possible for me to flee.” An impersonal construction (φύξιμον ἐστί, “it is possible to flee”) in indirect discourse introduced by φάτο (ἔφατο).

    360  echoing line 342.

    361  ὄφρ᾽ ἂν μέν κεν …: “as long as …,” indefinite temporal clause with subjunctive (Smyth 2399). On the ἄν (Ion.) and κεν (Ael.) together, see Monro 362 (final paragraph before 363).

    362  τόφρ᾽: “so long …,” correlative with ὄφρα, followed by the future tense.

    362  μενέω: 1st sing. fut. act. indic. > μένω.

    363  ἐπὴν: “whenever …,” ἐπεὶ ἄν, introducing a general temporal clause with the verb in the subjunctive (διὰ … τινάξῃ).

    363  διὰ … τινάξῃ: "shook to pieces," tmesis (LSJ διατινάσσω).

    364  νήξομ᾽: νήξομαι.

    364  τι … ἄμεινον: “anything better.”

    364  οὐ … πάρα: “it is not possible,” πάρα = πάρεστι (LSJ πάρειμι III.1).

    ἄρα: now, then, next, thus

    μιν: (accusative singular third person pronoun) him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

    κῦμα –ατος τό: wave

    ἄκρη -ης ἡ: promontory, cape; κατ' ἄκρης from over head

    ἐπισεύω ἐπισεύσω ἐπέσσυα: to put in motion against, set upon

    σχεδία –ας ἡ: a raft, float

    ἐλελίζω ἐλελίξω ἠλέλιξα: to whirl round

    τῆλε: at a distance, far off, far away315

    σχεδία –ας ἡ: a raft, float

    πηδάλιον –ου τό: a rudder

    προίημι προήσω προῆκα προεῖκα προεῖμαι προείθην: to send ahead; to shoot

    οὗ, οἷ, ἕ and encl. οὑ, οἱ, ἑ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

    ἱστός –οῦ ὁ: mast, beam; loom

    ἀγνύω/ἄγνυμι ἄξω ἔαξα ἔαγα: to break, smash

    ἄνεμος –ου ὁ: wind

    θύελλα –ης ἡ: storm, eruption

    τηλοῦ: afar, far off

    σπεῖρον –ου τό: a piece of cloth; the sail

    ἐπίκριον –ου τό: the yard-arm

    ἐμπίπτω ἐμπεσοῦμαι ἐμέπεσον ἐμπέπτωκα ––– –––: fall on, attack, light upon

    πόντος –ου ὁ: sea, open sea

    ἄρα: now, then, next, thus

    ὑπόβρυχα: under water

    αἶψα: rapidly, speedily, suddenly320

    ἀνέχω ἀνέξω (or ἀνσχήσω) ἀνέσχον ἀνέσχηκα ––– –––: raise up

    κῦμα –ατος τό: wave

    ὁρμή –ῆς ἡ: a violent movement onwards, an assault, attack, onset; effort

    εἷμα –ατος τό: clothing

    ἄρα: now, then, next, thus

    βαρύνω βαρυνῶ ἐβάρυνα ––– βεβάρυμμαι ἐβαρύνθην: to weigh down, oppress by weight, depress

    οὗ, οἷ, ἕ and encl. οὑ, οἱ, ἑ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

    πόρω ––– ἔπορον ––– ––– –––: to offer, furnish, supply, give; (pf. pass. 3 sing.) it is fated

    δῖος –α –ον: divine, godlike, shining

    Καλυψώ –οῦς ἡ: Calypso, a goddess, daughter of Atlas

    ὀψέ: late; too late; at last

    ἄρα: now, then, next, thus

    ἀναδύνω ἀναδύσω ἀνέδυσα ἀναδέδυκα ἀναδέδυμαι ἀνεδύθην: to come to the top of water

    ἐκπτύω ἐκπτύσω ἐξέπτυσα ἐξέπτυκα: to spit out of

    ἅλμη –ης ἡ: sea-water, brine

    πικρός –ά –όν: pointed, sharp, keen

    οὗ, οἷ, ἕ and encl. οὑ, οἱ, ἑ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

    κράς –ατός τό: head, top, highest point

    κελαρύζω κελαρύξομαι ἐκελάρυξα: to trickle

    σχεδία –ας ἡ: a raft, float

    ἐπιλήθω ἐπιλήσω ἐπελησα ἐπιλέληκα ἐπιλέλησμαι ἐπελήσθην: to cause to forget

    τείρω ––– ––– ––– ––– –––: to wear down, exhaust, weaken

    μεθορμάομαι μεθορμήσομαι μεθωρμησάμην – μεθώρμημαι μεθωρμήθην: to rush in pursuit of, make a dash at325

    κῦμα –ατος τό: wave

    καθίζω (Ion. κατίζω) καθιῶ (Ion. κατίσω) καθῖσα/ἐκάθισα (or κατῖσα) κεκάθικα: to sit down; to set, place

    ἀλεείνω – – – – –: to avoid, shun

    φορέω φορέσω/φορήσω ἐφόρεσα/ἐφόρησα πεφόρηκα πεφόρημαι ἐφορήθην: to bear, carry

    κῦμα –ατος τό: wave

    ῥόος –ου ὁ: a stream, flow, current

    ὀπωρινός –ή –όν: at the time of late summer

    Βορέης Βορέαο ὁ: Boreas, North Wind

    φορέω φορέσω/φορήσω ἐφόρεσα/ἐφόρησα πεφόρηκα πεφόρημαι ἐφορήθην: to bear, carry

    ἄκανθα –ης ἡ: a thorn, prickle

    πεδίον –ου τό: plain

    πυκ(ι)νός –ή –όν: thick, bushy, dense; prudent, wise, smart, shrewd

    πέλαγος –ους τό: the sea330

    ἄνεμος –ου ὁ: wind

    ἄλλοτε: at another time, at other times

    Νότος –ου ὁ: the South Wind

    Βορέης Βορέαο ὁ: Boreas, North Wind

    προβάλλω προβαλῶ προέβαλον προβέβληκα προβέβλημαι προεβλήθην: to throw before, throw

    ἄλλοτε: at another time, at other times

    αὖτε: in turn, moreover, still, again, on the other hand

    Εὖρος –ου ὁ: the East wind

    Ζέφυρος –ου ὁ: Zephyrus, the west wind

    εἴκω εἴκξω εἶξα ––– ––– –––: to yield (+ dat.)

    Κάδμος –ου ὁ: Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, father of Ino

    καλλίσφυρος –ον: beautiful-ankled

    Ἰνώ –οῦς ἡ: Ino, daughter of Cadmus, worshipped as a sea-goddess by the name of Leucothea

    Λευκοθέα –ας ἡ: the white goddess

    βροτός –οῦ ὁ: mortal

    αὐδήεις –εσσα –εν: speaking with human voice

    ἅλς ἁλός ὁ: salt (m.); sea (f.)335

    πέλαγος –ους τό: the sea

    μείρομαι μορήσω ἔμμορον μεμόρηκα: to receive as one's portion

    ἄρα: now, then, next, thus

    Ὀδυσσεύς –έως ὁ: Odysseus, king of Ithaca, hero of the Odyssey

    ἐλεέω ἐλεήσω ἠλέησα – ἠλέημαι ἠλεήθην: have pity on, show mercy to

    ἀλάομαι ἀλήσομαι ἀλάλημαι ἠλήθην: to wander, stray

    ἄλγος –ους τό: pain

    αἴθυια –ας ἡ: a gull

    ποτή –ῆς ἡ: flight

    ἀναδύνω ἀναδύσω ἀνέδυσα ἀναδέδυκα ἀναδέδυμαι ἀνεδύθην: to come to the top of water

    λίμνη (λίμνα) –ης ἡ: pool, swamp

    ἵζω εἵσομαι εἷσα/ἵζησα ἵζηκα: to take a seat, sit down; cause to take a seat

    σχεδία –ας ἡ: a raft, float

    πολύδεσμος –ον: fastened with many bonds

    μῦθος –ου ὁ: spoken thing, speech, plan, story

    κάμμορος –ον: ill-fated

    τίπτε: why? (τί ποτε)

    Ποσειδῶν (or Ποσειδάων) –ῶνος ὁ: Poseidon

    ἐνοσίχθων –ονος ὁ: earth-shaker (epithet of Poseidon)

    ὀδύσσομαι ὀδύσομαι ὀδυσάμην: to be wroth against, to hate340

    ἔκπαγλος –ον: terrible, fearful

    φυτεύω φυτεύσω ἐφύτευσα πεφύτευκα πεφύτευμαι ἐφυτεύθην: to plant

    καταφθίω καταφθίσω κατέφθισα κατέφθικα κατέφθιμαι: to ruin, destroy; (pass.) to perish, die

    μενεαίνω – – – – –: to be eager, desire; to be enraged at (+dat)

    ἔρδω ἔρξω ἔρξα ἔοργα ––– –––: to do

    ἀπινύσσω – – – – : to lack understanding, be senseless

    εἷμα –ατος τό: clothing

    ἀποδύνω ἀποδύσω ἀπέδυσα ἀποδέδυκα ἀποδέδυμαι ἀπεδύθην: strip off

    σχεδία –ας ἡ: a raft, float

    ἄνεμος –ου ὁ: wind

    καταλείπω καλλείψω κάλλιπον καταλέλοιπα καταλέλειμμαι κατελείφθην: to leave behind

    ἀτάρ (or αὐτάρ): but, yet, consequently

    νέω νεύσομαι ἔνευσα νένευκα: to swim; to spin

    ἐπιμαίομαι ἐπιμάσσομαι ἐπεμασσάμην: to strive for (+gen); to touch

    νόστος –ου ὁ: return (home)

    γαίη –ης ἡ: land, region, district345

    Φαίαξ –ακος ὁ: a Phaeacian

    ὅθι: where

    μοῖρα –ας ἡ: part, portion, lot, fate

    ἀλύσκω ἀλύξω ἤλυξα ––– ––– –––: to flee from, shun, avoid, forsake

    τῆ: here! there! (interjection)

    κρήδεμνον –ου τό: a veil

    στέρνον –ου τό: chest

    τανύω τανύσω ἐτάνυσα – τετάνυσμαι ἐτανύσθην: to stretch, extend, lie (in a geographical sense); to set up; to strain

    ἄμβροτος –ον: immortal, divine

    δέος –ους τό: fear

    ἀτάρ (or αὐτάρ): but, yet, consequently

    ἐπήν = ἐπεὶ ἄν: when, after

    ἐφάπτω ἐφάψω ἐφῆψα ––– ἐφῆμμαι ἐφήφθην: to touch, fasten onto

    ἤπειρος –ου ἡ: land, mainland, continent350

    ἄψ: back

    ἀπολύω ἀπολύσω ἀπέλυσα ἀπολέλυκα ἀπολέλυμαι ἀπελύθην: to loose from

    οἶνοψ –οπος: wine-coloured, wine-dark

    πόντος –ου ὁ: sea, open sea

    ἤπειρος –ου ἡ: land, mainland, continent

    ἀπονόσφι: aside, far apart (adv.); away from (+ gen.)

    ἄρα: now, then, next, thus

    φωνέω φωνήσω ἐφώνησα πεφώνηκα πεφώνημαι ἐφωνήθην: make a sound, speak

    θεά –ᾶς ἡ: goddess

    κρήδεμνον –ου τό: a veil

    ἄψ: back

    πόντος –ου ὁ: sea, open sea

    δὐω δύσω έδυσα/ἔδυν δέδυκα δέδυμαι εδύθην: plunge in, go into, sink

    κυμαίνω κυμανῶ ἐκύμανα: to rise in waves

    αἴθυια –ας ἡ: a gull

    μέλας μέλαινα μέλαν: black, dark, obscure

    οὗ, οἷ, ἕ and encl. οὑ, οἱ, ἑ: him, her, it; himself, herself, itself

    κῦμα –ατος τό: wave

    καλύπτω καλύψω ἐκάλυψα κεκάλυμμαι ἐκαλύφθην: to cover, enclose

    ἀτάρ (or αὐτάρ): but, yet, consequently

    μερμηρίζω μερμηρίξω ἐμερμήριξα: to ponder, wonder, stress over, debate, have it in mind

    πολύτλας –αντος: having borne much, much-enduring

    δῖος –α –ον: divine, godlike, shining

    Ὀδυσσεύς –έως ὁ: Odysseus, king of Ithaca, hero of the Odyssey

    ὀχθέω ὀχθήσω ὤχθησα: to be sorely angered, to be vexed in spirit355

    ἄρα: now, then, next, thus

    ἑός ἑή ἑόν: his, her, own

    μεγαλήτωρ –ορος: great - hearted, proud

    ὑφαίνω ὑφανῶ ὕφανα/ὕφηνα ὕφαγκα ὕφασμαι ὑφάνθην: to weave

    δόλος –ου ὁ: scheme, plot, deception, trickery

    αὖτε: in turn, moreover, still, again, on the other hand

    ἀθάνατος –ον: immortal, deathless; (plur.) the gods

    σχεδία –ας ἡ: a raft, float

    ἀποβαίνω ἀποβήσομαι ἀποέβην ἀποβέβηκα ––– –––: to leave, go away

    ἀνώγω: to command, order

    πω: [+neg](adv.) never yet, in no way, not at all

    ἑκάς: far, afar, far off

    γαίη –ης ἡ: land, region, district

    ὅθι: where

    φύξιμος –ον: offering a chance of escape

    ἔρδω ἔρξω ἔρξα ἔοργα ––– –––: to do360

    ὄφρα: while; until; so that; ὄφρα … τόφρα, while … for so long

    δόρυ δόρατος τό: spear; timber, beam (of a ship)

    ἁρμονία –ας ἡ: a fastening

    ἀραρίσκω/ἄρω ἄρσω ἦρσα ἄραρα/ἄρηρα ἀρήρεμαι ἤρθην: fit on or together, join, fit with

    τόφρα: at that very moment, so long; tόφρα … ὄφρα, as long as … until

    αὐτοῦ: at the very place, here, there

    τλάω τλήσομαι ἔτλην τέτληκα –––– ––––: to tolerate, endure, resist; to dare; to have the courage (+ infin.); (part.) τετληώς

    ἄλγος –ους τό: pain

    ἀτάρ (or αὐτάρ): but, yet, consequently

    ἐπήν = ἐπεὶ ἄν: when, after

    σχεδία –ας ἡ: a raft, float

    κῦμα –ατος τό: wave

    τινάσσω τινάξω ἐτίναξα ––– τετίναγμαι ἐτινάχθην: to shake

    νήχω νήξομαι ἐνηξάμην: to swim

    προνοέω προνοήσω προενόησα προνενόηκα προνενόημαι προενοήθην: to perceive before, foresee

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    Suggested Citation

    Thomas Van Nortwick and Rob Hardy, Homer: Odyssey 5–12. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2024. ISBN: 978-1-947822-17-7 https://dcc.dickinson.edu/homer-odyssey/v-313-364