06-23-2012, 07:36 AM
I am currently making a thorough study of the Iliad from the original and among others, I came across this very interesting piece :
"ὀλίγος μὲν ἔην λινοθώρηξ, ἐγχείῃ δ’ ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς·", Homerus, Ilias, B.2, l.529
The text is about Ajax the Oilean who had a lesser linothorax than Ajax the Telamonian and bested all Hellenes (Panhellenas) and Achaeans in the art of the spear.
I really didn't expect to see the word Hellenes in a more generalized sense. I knew, as most do, that in Homer the Hellenes were the people of a relatively small region where Achilles reigned but this particular usage is obviously broader both because of the prefix (pan- (all)) and because of the context.
Thought I shared, maybe some will find this piece of information interesting...
"ὀλίγος μὲν ἔην λινοθώρηξ, ἐγχείῃ δ’ ἐκέκαστο Πανέλληνας καὶ Ἀχαιούς·", Homerus, Ilias, B.2, l.529
The text is about Ajax the Oilean who had a lesser linothorax than Ajax the Telamonian and bested all Hellenes (Panhellenas) and Achaeans in the art of the spear.
I really didn't expect to see the word Hellenes in a more generalized sense. I knew, as most do, that in Homer the Hellenes were the people of a relatively small region where Achilles reigned but this particular usage is obviously broader both because of the prefix (pan- (all)) and because of the context.
Thought I shared, maybe some will find this piece of information interesting...
