Humanitext Reader

Homer · Iliad §2.502-2.577

Catalogue of Ships: Central Greece and the Northern Peloponnese

Passage 17 of 226 · Greek

Summary

The catalogue details the leaders, specific cities, and number of ships belonging to the contingents from the rest of Boeotia, Phocis, Locris, Euboea, Athens, Salamis, Argos, and Mycenae.

§2.502Κώπας Εὔτρησίν τε πολυτρήρωνά τε Θίσβην, §2.503οἵ τε Κορώνειαν καὶ ποιήενθʼ Ἁλίαρτον, §2.504οἵ τε Πλάταιαν ἔχον ἠδʼ οἳ Γλισᾶντʼ ἐνέμοντο, §2.505οἵ θʼ Ὑποθήβας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον, §2.506Ὀγχηστόν θʼ ἱερὸν Ποσιδήϊον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος, §2.507οἵ τε πολυστάφυλον Ἄρνην ἔχον, οἵ τε Μίδειαν §2.508Νῖσάν τε ζαθέην Ἀνθηδόνα τʼ ἐσχατόωσαν·
Copae, and Eutresis, and Thisbe, the haunt of many doves; and they who dwelt in Coroneia and grassy Haliartus, and they who held Plataea and they who dwelt in Glisas, and they who held Hypothebae, the well-built city, and sacred Onchestus, the bright grove of Poseidon; and they who held Arne, rich in vines, and they who held Midea, and sacred Nisa and Anthedon on the furthest border.
§2.509τῶν μὲν πεντήκοντα νέες κίον, ἐν δὲ ἑκάστῃ §2.510κοῦροι Βοιωτῶν ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι βαῖνον.
Of these there went fifty ships, and on each went a hundred and twenty youths of the Boeotians.
§2.511οἳ δʼ Ἀσπληδόνα ναῖον ἰδʼ Ὀρχομενὸν Μινύειον, §2.512τῶν ἦρχʼ Ἀσκάλαφος καὶ Ἰάλμενος υἷες Ἄρηος §2.513οὓς τέκεν Ἀστυόχη δόμῳ Ἄκτορος Ἀζεΐδαο, §2.514παρθένος αἰδοίη ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα §2.515Ἄρηϊ κρατερῷ· ὃ δέ οἱ παρελέξατο λάθρῃ·
And they who dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus of the Minyae, these were led by Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares, whom Astyoche bore in the palace of Actor, son of Azeus, a maiden reverent, when she had gone up to her upper chamber, to strong Ares, and he lay with her in secret.
§2.516τοῖς δὲ τριήκοντα γλαφυραὶ νέες ἐστιχόωντο.
And with these thirty hollow ships went in order.
§2.517αὐτὰρ Φωκήων Σχεδίος καὶ Ἐπίστροφος ἦρχον §2.518υἷες Ἰφίτου μεγαθύμου Ναυβολίδαο, §2.519οἳ Κυπάρισσον ἔχον Πυθῶνά τε πετρήεσσαν §2.520Κρῖσάν τε ζαθέην καὶ Δαυλίδα καὶ Πανοπῆα, §2.521οἵ τʼ Ἀνεμώρειαν καὶ Ὑάμπολιν ἀμφενέμοντο, §2.522οἵ τʼ ἄρα πὰρ ποταμὸν Κηφισὸν δῖον ἔναιον, §2.523οἵ τε Λίλαιαν ἔχον πηγῇς ἔπι Κηφισοῖο·
But of the Phocians, Schedius and Epistrophus were captains, sons of great-hearted Iphitus, son of Naubolus, who held Cyparissus, and rocky Pytho, and sacred Crisa, and Daulis, and Panopeus, and they who dwelt about Anemoreia and Hyampolis, and they who dwelt by the divine river Cephisus, and they who held Lilaea by the springs of Cephisus.
§2.524τοῖς δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
And with these followed forty black ships.
§2.525οἳ μὲν Φωκήων στίχας ἵστασαν ἀμφιέποντες, §2.526Βοιωτῶν δʼ ἔμπλην ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ θωρήσσοντο.
These indeed busied themselves in marshalling the ranks of the Phocians, and they were armed close by the Boeotians on their left.
§2.527Λοκρῶν δʼ ἡγεμόνευεν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς Αἴας §2.528μείων, οὔ τι τόσος γε ὅσος Τελαμώνιος Αἴας §2.529ἀλλὰ πολὺ μείων· ὀλίγος μὲν ἔην λινοθώρηξ, §2.530ἐγχείῃ δʼ ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς· §2.531οἳ Κῦνόν τʼ ἐνέμοντʼ Ὀπόεντά τε Καλλίαρόν τε §2.532Βῆσσάν τε Σκάρφην τε καὶ Αὐγειὰς ἐρατεινὰς §2.533Τάρφην τε Θρόνιον τε Βοαγρίου ἀμφὶ ῥέεθρα·
And of the Locrians the leader was swift Ajax, son of Oileus, the lesser, not by any means so great as Telamonian Ajax, but far less; small indeed he was, wearing a linen corselet, but with the spear he excelled all the Hellenes and Achaeans; they who dwelt in Cynus, and Opus, and Calliarus, and Bessa, and Scarpha, and lovely Augeiae, and Tarphe, and Thronium about the streams of Boagrius.
§2.534τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο §2.535Λοκρῶν, οἳ ναίουσι πέρην ἱερῆς Εὐβοίης.
And with him followed forty black ships of the Locrians, who dwell across from sacred Euboea.
§2.536οἳ δʼ Εὔβοιαν ἔχον μένεα πνείοντες Ἄβαντες §2.537Χαλκίδα τʼ Εἰρέτριάν τε πολυστάφυλόν θʼ Ἱστίαιαν §2.538Κήρινθόν τʼ ἔφαλον Δίου τʼ αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον, §2.539οἵ τε Κάρυστον ἔχον ἠδʼ οἳ Στύρα ναιετάασκον,
And they who held Euboea, the Abantes breathing fury, they of Chalcis, and Eretria, and Histiaea, rich in vines, and Cerinthus by the sea, and the steep city of Dium, and they who held Carystus, and they who dwelt in Styra.
§2.540τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ Ἐλεφήνωρ ὄζος Ἄρηος §2.541Χαλκωδοντιάδης μεγαθύμων ἀρχὸς Ἀβάντων.
Of these again Elephenor, scion of Ares, was leader, son of Chalcodon, captain of the great-hearted Abantes.
§2.542τῷ δʼ ἅμʼ Ἄβαντες ἕποντο θοοὶ ὄπιθεν κομόωντες §2.543αἰχμηταὶ μεμαῶτες ὀρεκτῇσιν μελίῃσι §2.544θώρηκας ῥήξειν δηΐων ἀμφὶ στήθεσσι·
And with him followed the swift Abantes, letting their hair grow long behind, spearmen eager with outstretched ashen spears to break the corselets about the breasts of the foemen.
§2.545τῷ δʼ ἅμα τεσσαράκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
And with him followed forty black ships.
§2.546οἳ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον §2.547δῆμον Ἐρεχθῆος μεγαλήτορος, ὅν ποτʼ Ἀθήνη §2.548θρέψε Διὸς θυγάτηρ, τέκε δὲ ζείδωρος ἄρουρα, §2.549κὰδ δʼ ἐν Ἀθήνῃς εἷσεν ἑῷ ἐν πίονι νηῷ· §2.550ἔνθα δέ μιν ταύροισι καὶ ἀρνειοῖς ἱλάονται §2.551κοῦροι Ἀθηναίων περιτελλομένων ἐνιαυτῶν·
And they who held Athens, the well-built city, the land of great-hearted Erechtheus, whom once Athena, daughter of Zeus, nurtured, but the grain-giving earth bore him, and she established him in Athens in her own rich temple; there do the youths of the Athenians propitiate him with bulls and rams as the years roll round.
§2.552τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευʼ υἱὸς Πετεῶο Μενεσθεύς.
These again were led by Menestheus, son of Peteos.
§2.553τῷ δʼ οὔ πώ τις ὁμοῖος ἐπιχθόνιος γένετʼ ἀνὴρ §2.554κοσμῆσαι ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας· §2.555Νέστωρ οἶος ἔριζεν· ὃ γὰρ προγενέστερος ἦεν·
To him there was no man like on the face of the earth for the marshalling of horses and shielded men; Nestor alone rivalled him, for he was the elder.
§2.556τῷ δʼ ἅμα πεντήκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
And with him followed fifty black ships.
§2.557Αἴας δʼ ἐκ Σαλαμῖνος ἄγεν δυοκαίδεκα νῆας, §2.558στῆσε δʼ ἄγων ἵνʼ Ἀθηναίων ἵσταντο φάλαγγες.
And Ajax led twelve ships from Salamis, and stationing them, led where the phalanxes of the Athenians stood.
§2.559οἳ δʼ Ἄργός τʼ εἶχον Τίρυνθά τε τειχιόεσσαν §2.560Ἑρμιόνην Ἀσίνην τε, βαθὺν κατὰ κόλπον ἐχούσας, §2.561Τροιζῆνʼ Ἠϊόνας τε καὶ ἀμπελόεντʼ Ἐπίδαυρον, §2.562οἵ τʼ ἔχον Αἴγιναν Μάσητά τε κοῦροι Ἀχαιῶν, §2.563τῶν αὖθʼ ἡγεμόνευε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης §2.564καὶ Σθένελος, Καπανῆος ἀγακλειτοῦ φίλος υἱός·
And they who held Argos, and Tiryns of the great walls, and Hermione and Asine that hold the deep gulf, and Troezen, and Eionae, and Epidaurus rich in vines, and they who held Aegina and Mases, youths of the Achaeans, these again were led by Diomedes, good at the war-cry, and Sthenelus, dear son of far-famed Capaneus.
§2.565τοῖσι δʼ ἅμʼ Εὐρύαλος τρίτατος κίεν ἰσόθεος φὼς §2.566Μηκιστέος υἱὸς Ταλαϊονίδαο ἄνακτος· §2.567συμπάντων δʼ ἡγεῖτο βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Διομήδης·
And with them went as a third leader Euryalus, a godlike man, son of king Mecisteus, son of Talaus; but over them all was leader Diomedes, good at the war-cry.
§2.568τοῖσι δʼ ἅμʼ ὀγδώκοντα μέλαιναι νῆες ἕποντο.
And with these followed eighty black ships.
§2.569οἳ δὲ Μυκήνας εἶχον ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον §2.570ἀφνειόν τε Κόρινθον ἐϋκτιμένας τε Κλεωνάς, §2.571Ὀρνειάς τʼ ἐνέμοντο Ἀραιθυρέην τʼ ἐρατεινὴν §2.572καὶ Σικυῶνʼ, ὅθʼ ἄρʼ Ἄδρηστος πρῶτʼ ἐμβασίλευεν, §2.573οἵ θʼ Ὑπερησίην τε καὶ αἰπεινὴν Γονόεσσαν §2.574Πελλήνην τʼ εἶχον ἠδʼ Αἴγιον ἀμφενέμοντο §2.575Αἰγιαλόν τʼ ἀνὰ πάντα καὶ ἀμφʼ Ἑλίκην εὐρεῖαν, §2.576τῶν ἑκατὸν νηῶν ἦρχε κρείων Ἀγαμέμνων §2.577Ἀτρεΐδης· ἅμα τῷ γε πολὺ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι
And they who held Mycenae, the well-built city, and wealthy Corinth, and well-built Cleonae, and they who dwelt in Orneiae, and lovely Araethyrea, and Sicyon, where Adrastus first was king, and they who held Hyperesia, and steep Gonoessa, and they who held Pellene, and they who dwelt about Aegium, and along all the Coast, and about wide Helice; of their hundred ships was leader lord Agamemnon, son of Atreus; and with him followed by far the most and best host.

Notes

  1. §2.513οὓς τέκεν Ἀστυόχη δόμῳ Ἄκτορος Ἀζεΐδαο, παρθένος αἰδοίη ὑπερώϊον εἰσαναβᾶσα / Ἄρηϊ κρατερῷ — The participle `εἰσαναβᾶσα` (having gone up) functions as an action prior to or situational to the main verb `τέκεν` (bore). The dative `Ἄρηϊ` (to/with Ares) is syntactically anticipated by the subsequent clause `παρελέξατο` (he lay with her), but stands in close context with her ascent to the god.
  2. §2.530ἐγχείῃ δʼ ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς — The verb `κέκαστο` (excelled, surpassed) takes the accusative of person (`Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς`) as its object of comparison and is accompanied by the dative of respect or means `ἐγχείῃ` (in/with the spear) indicating the field of excellence.
  3. §2.549κὰδ δʼ ἐν Ἀθήνῃς εἷσεν ἑῷ ἐν πίονι νηῷ — The phrase exhibits tmesis of the preposition `κατά` and the verb `ἷσεν` (seated, established), with the postpositive particle `δέ` placed in between. The double use of the preposition `ἐν` (`ἐν Ἀθήνῃς` and `ἐν πίονι νηῷ`) successively restricts the location from the general area (Athens) to the specific spot (her own rich temple).
  4. §2.553τῷ δʼ οὔ πώ τις ὁμοῖος ἐπιχθόνιος γένετʼ ἀνὴρ κοσμῆσαι ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἀσπιδιώτας — The dative `τῷ` is governed by the adjective `ὁμοῖος` (like, equal to), referring to Menestheus. The infinitive `κοσμῆσαι` (to marshal, to array) functions as an epexegetical infinitive, limiting or specifying the respect in which no earthly man was his equal.

Cite this passage

Homer, Iliad §2.502-2.577. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.502-2.577

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