Epithets in Homer Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Epithets in Homer. A characteristic of Homer's style is the use of recurring epithets, such as the rosy-fingered dawn or swift-footed Achilles. These epithets were metric stop-gaps as well as mnemonic devices for the aoidos (bard), both signs of the deep oral tradition that preceded the written codification of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

A name plus an epithet constitute a formula which exactly fits the metric structure of the verse. The use of formulas is characteristic of ancient epic poetry.

List of epithets in Homer

• Achilles
  • son of Peleus
  • swift-footed (podas ôkus)
  • god-like (dios)
• Aias
  • son of Telamon
  • bulwark of the Achaeans (herkos Achaiôn)
• Agamemnon
  • son of Atreus
  • leader of men (anax andrôn)
• Aphrodite
  • laughter-loving (philommeidęs)
  • golden (chrusę)
• Apollo
  • far-shooting, who strikes from afar (hekębolos or hekatębolos)
• Ares
  • man-slaying (androphonos)
  • brazen (chalkeos)
• Athene
  • bright-eyed, owl-eyed (glaukôpis)
• Eos (Dawn)
  • rosy-fingered (rhododaktulos)
  • early-rising (ęrigeneia)
  • golden-throned (chrusothronos)
  • fair-throned (euthronos)
• Hector
  • son of Priam
  • helmet-flashing (koruthaiolos)
  • glorious (phaidimos)
• Helen
  • Argive (from Argos)
  • lovely-haired (eukomos)
  • born from Zeus (Dios ekgegauia)
• Hephaistos
  • with the two strong arms (amphiguęeis)
• Hera
  • ox-eyed (boôpis)
  • white-armed (leukôlenę)
• Menelaus
  • son of Atreus
  • fair-haired, blond (xanthos)
  • good at the war-cry (boęn agathos)
• Odysseus
  • resourceful (polumętis)
  • much-enduring (polutlas)
• Paris (Alexandros)
  • son of Priam
  • lord of the fair-haired Helen (Helenęs posis eukomoio)
• Patroklos
  • son of Menoitios
  • with the great heart (megathumos)
• Poseidon
  • earth-shaker (enosichtôn)
• Sea (pontos)
  • wine-colored (oinops)
• Thetis
  • silver-footed (arguropeza)
  • lovely-haired (eukomos)
• Zeus
  • cloud-gatherer (nephelęgereta)

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