- Source
- Homer. Homeri Opera, Volumes 1-2. Monro, D. B. (David Binning), editor; Allen, Thomas W. (Thomas William), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908-1920.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:23.761-23.829
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-03
The footrace concludes as Odysseus, aided by Athena, defeats Ajax, while Antilochus receives an extra prize from Achilles. Next, Achilles prepares the armed duel between Ajax and Diomedes, followed by the iron-throwing contest.
στήθεός ἐστι κανών, ὅν τʼ εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ1
by her chest is the weaving rod, which she pulls very well with her hands,
πηνίον ἐξέλκουσα παρὲκ μίτον, ἀγχόθι δʼ ἴσχει
drawing the bobbin past the warp-thread, and holds it close to her
στήθεος· ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς θέεν ἐγγύθεν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν
chest; so Odysseus ran close to him, and from behind
ἴχνια τύπτε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι·2
he struck his footprints with his feet before the dust could spread over them;
κὰδ δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆς χέʼ ἀϋτμένα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς
and noble Odysseus poured his breath upon Ajax’s head
αἰεὶ ῥίμφα θέων· ἴαχον δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ
as he ever ran swiftly; and all the Achaeans shouted
νίκης ἱεμένῳ, μάλα δὲ σπεύδοντι κέλευον.
to him as he strove for victory, and urged him on as he made great haste.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον, αὐτίκʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς
But when they were now completing the last part of the course, straightway Odysseus
εὔχετʼ Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ὃν κατὰ θυμόν·
prayed to flashing-eyed Athena in his heart:
κλῦθι θεά, ἀγαθή μοι ἐπίρροθος ἐλθὲ ποδοῖιν.
“Hear me, Goddess, come as a good helper to my feet.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη,
So he spoke in prayer; and Pallas Athena heard him,
γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.3
and she made his limbs light, his feet and his hands above.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλον ἐπαΐξασθαι ἄεθλον,
But when they were just about to rush upon the prize,
ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὄλισθε θέων, βλάψεν γὰρ Ἀθήνη,
there Ajax slipped as he ran, for Athena tripped him,
τῇ ῥα βοῶν κέχυτʼ ὄνθος ἀποκταμένων ἐριμύκων,
where the dung of bellowing slaughtered bulls was scattered,
οὓς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πέφνεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς·
which swift-footed Achilles had slain in honor of Patroclus;
ἐν δʼ ὄνθου βοέου πλῆτο στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε·
and Ajax’s mouth and nostrils were filled with the bull’s dung.
κρητῆρʼ αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς,
So much-enduring noble Odysseus lifted and took the mixing bowl,
ὡς ἦλθε φθάμενος· ὃ δὲ βοῦν ἕλε φαίδιμος Αἴας.
since he came first; and illustrious Ajax took the ox.
στῆ δὲ κέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο
He stood holding the horn of the wild ox in his hands,
ὄνθον ἀποπτύων, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
spitting out the dung, and spoke among the Argives:
ὢ πόποι ἦ μʼ ἔβλαψε θεὰ πόδας, ἣ τὸ πάρος περ
“Ah, surely the Goddess tripped my feet, she who ever
μήτηρ ὣς Ὀδυσῆϊ παρίσταται ἠδʼ ἐπαρήγει.
stands by Odysseus like a mother and helps him.”
ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.
So he spoke, and they all laughed merrily at him.
Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἄρα δὴ λοισθήϊον ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλον
And then Antilochus took the last prize,
μειδιόων, καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
smiling, and spoke a word among the Argives:
εἰδόσιν ὔμμʼ ἐρέω πᾶσιν φίλοι, ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν
“I will tell you all, my friends, who already know, how even now
ἀθάνατοι τιμῶσι παλαιοτέρους ἀνθρώπους.
the immortals honor the older men.
Αἴας μὲν γὰρ ἐμεῖʼ ὀλίγον προγενέστερός ἐστιν,
For Ajax is but a little older than I,
οὗτος δὲ προτέρης γενεῆς προτέρων τʼ ἀνθρώπων·
but this man is of an earlier generation and of earlier men;
ὠμογέροντα δέ μίν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀργαλέον δὲ
they say he is a vigorous old man; and it is hard for
ποσσὶν ἐριδήσασθαι Ἀχαιοῖς, εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεῖ.
the Achaeans to compete with him in speed, except for Achilles.”
ὣς φάτο, κύδηνεν δὲ ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.
So he spoke, and gave glory to swift-footed Achilles.
τὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν·
And Achilles answered him with words and spoke:
Ἀντίλοχʼ οὐ μέν τοι μέλεος εἰρήσεται αἶνος,
“Antilochus, your praise shall not be spoken in vain,
ἀλλά τοι ἡμιτάλαντον ἐγὼ χρυσοῦ ἐπιθήσω.
but I will add half a talent of gold to your prize.”
ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.
So saying, he placed it in his hands, and he received it gladly.
αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος
Then the son of Peleus brought a far-shadowing spear
θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων, κατὰ δʼ ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν
and set it in the ring, and a shield and a helmet,
τεύχεα Σαρπήδοντος, ἅ μιν Πάτροκλος ἀπηύρα.
the armor of Sarpedon, which Patroclus had stripped from him.
στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν·
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives:
ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω,4
“We invite two men, whoever are the best, to contend for these,
τεύχεα ἑσσαμένω ταμεσίχροα χαλκὸν ἑλόντε
clothed in armor and taking flesh-cutting bronze,
ἀλλήλων προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου πειρηθῆναι.
to make trial of each other before the crowd.
ὁππότερός κε φθῇσιν ὀρεξάμενος χρόα καλόν,
Whichever of the two shall first reach the other’s fair flesh,
ψαύσῃ δʼ ἐνδίνων διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα,
and touch the inner parts through the armor and draw black blood,
τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ δώσω τόδε φάσγανον ἀργυρόηλον
to him I will give this silver-studded sword,
καλὸν Θρηΐκιον, τὸ μὲν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων·
beautiful and Thracian, which I took from Asteropaeus;
τεύχεα δʼ ἀμφότεροι ξυνήϊα ταῦτα φερέσθων·
and let both carry away these arms to be shared between them;
καί σφιν δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν παραθήσομεν ἐν κλισίῃσιν.
and we shall set a fine feast for them in our tents.”
ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας,
So he spoke, and then arose great Telamonian Ajax,
ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.
and up rose the son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes.
οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν,
When they had armed themselves on either side of the crowd,
ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι
both went into the midst, eager to fight,
δεινὸν δερκομένω· θάμβος δʼ ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
glaring terribly; and amazement held all the Achaeans.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
But when they had come near, advancing against each other,
τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν.
three times they rushed on, and three times they lunged from close range.
ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην
Then Ajax thrust at the shield, equal on all sides,
νύξʼ, οὐδὲ χρόʼ ἵκανεν· ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ·
but did not reach the flesh; for the breastplate inside protected him.
Τυδεΐδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο
But the son of Tydeus then, over the great shield,
αἰὲν ἐπʼ αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.
was ever reaching at the neck with the point of his shining spear.
καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Αἴαντι περιδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ
And then the Achaeans, fearing greatly for Ajax,
παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν ἀέθλια ἶσʼ ἀνελέσθαι.
ordered them to cease and to take equal prizes.
αὐτὰρ Τυδεΐδῃ δῶκεν μέγα φάσγανον ἥρως
But the hero gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus,
σὺν κολεῷ τε φέρων καὶ ἐϋτμήτῳ τελαμῶνι.
bringing it with its scabbard and well-cut strap.
αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης θῆκεν σόλον αὐτοχόωνον
Then the son of Peleus set forth a raw-cast iron block,
ὃν πρὶν μὲν ῥίπτασκε μέγα σθένος Ἠετίωνος·
which in former times the great strength of Eetion used to throw;
ἀλλʼ ἤτοι τὸν ἔπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
but swift-footed noble Achilles had slain him,
τὸν δʼ ἄγετʼ ἐν νήεσσι5 σὺν ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσι.
and carried it away in his ships with his other possessions.
- 23.761ὅν τʼ εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ
The relative pronoun ὅn refers to the antecedent κανών, and the subjunctive τανύσσῃ is used in a simile clause introduced by ὡς ὅτε to express a general, habitual action. The subject ('a woman') is understood from the preceding line's γυναικός.
- 23.764πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι
The conjunction πάρος ('before') is followed by the infinitive. The accusative κόνιν is the subject of the passive infinitive ἀμφιχυθῆναι ('to be poured over' or 'to cover'), indicating that Odysseus stepped in Ajax's footprints before the dust could cover them.
- 23.772πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν
The accusatives πόδας and χεῖρας are accusatives of specification, limiting the verb ἔθηκεν and the adjective ἐλαφρά. The adverb ὕπερθεν ('above') modifies χεῖρας, indicating that her favor extended from the feet up to the hands of the upper body.
- 23.802ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω
The accusative ἄνδρε δύω and its appositive ὥ περ ἀρίστω (dual form) serve as the direct object of the verb κελεύομεν and at the same time the subject of the infinitive πειρηθῆναι in line 804, forming an accusative with infinitive construction.
- 23.829τὸν δʼ ἄγετʼ ἐν νήεσσι
The demonstrative pronoun τὸν functions projectively ('and this'), referring back to the iron block (σόλον) introduced by the relative pronoun ὅν in line 827. The imperfect ἄγετο expresses the past action of Achilles transporting it to Troy.