Epithets In Homer

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 kus)
    • god-like (dios)
  • Aias
    • son of Telamon
    • bulwark of the Achaeans (herkos Achain)
  • Agamemnon
    • son of Atreus
    • leader of men (anax andrn)
  • Aphrodite
    • laughter-loving (philommeids)
    • golden (chrus)
  • Apollo
    • far-shooting, who strikes from afar (hekbolos or hekatbolos)
  • Ares
    • man-slaying (androphonos)
    • brazen (chalkeos)
  • Athena
    • bright-eyed, owl-eyed (glaukpis)
  • Eos (Dawn)
    • rosy-fingered (rhododaktulos)
    • early-rising (rigeneia)
    • 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 (amphigueis)
  • Hera
    • ox-eyed (bopis)
    • white-armed (leuklen)
  • Menelaus
    • son of Atreus
    • fair-haired, blond (xanthos)
    • good at the war-cry (bon agathos)
  • Odysseus
    • resourceful (polumtis)
    • much-enduring (polutlas)
  • Paris (Alexandros)
    • son of Priam
    • lord of the fair-haired Helen (Helens posis eukomoio)
  • Patroklos
    • son of Menoitios
    • with the great heart (megathumos)
  • Poseidon
    • earth-shaker (enosichtn)
  • Sea (pontos)
    • wine-colored (oinops)
  • Thetis
    • silver-footed (arguropeza)
    • lovely-haired (eukomos)
  • Zeus
**cloud-gatherer (nephelgereta)

 

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