Homeric Epithets

Homeric Epithets

noun

1.any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality:

“Richard the Lion-Hearted” is an epithet of Richard I.

2.a characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as “man's best friend” for “dog.”.

3.a word, phrase, or expression used invectively as a term of abuse or contempt, to express hostility, etc.

Definition of: Homeric Epithet

A characteristic of Homer's style is the

use of epithets,

as in "rosy-fingered" dawn

or "swift-footed" Achilles.

Examples

Apollo

• Phoebus, i.e. the Bright or Pure,
• with unshorn hair; i.e., ever-young
• destroyer of mice
• distant deadly Archer
• rouser of armies
• son of Zeus
• god of the silver bow
• son of sleek-haired Leto

White Armed Hera

λευκωλενος ηρα

Godlike & Swift Footed Achilles

διος & ποδας ωκυς αχιλλευς

Agamemnon Son of Atreus

αγαμεμνων ατρειδης

Golden Mask of Agamemnon. Digital image. Artstor. N.p., 16th century BCE. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.

Definition: Epithet

Gregory Nagy

The Best of The Achaeans

I. A. Richards

The Wrath of Achilles

Deshays De Colleville, Jean-Baptiste-Henri, and Andre-Charlemagne Charron. Quarrel of Achilles and Agamemnon. Digital image. Artstor. N.p., 1770. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.

Nagy, Gregory. The Best of The Achaeans. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1999. Print.

Pinelli, Batolomeo. Achilles Sweats an Oath to Avenge the Dead Patroclus, Killed by Hector. Digital image. Artstor. N.p., 1808. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.

Richards, I. A. The Wrath of Achilles. New York.

W. W. Norton, 1950. Print.