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 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 (philommeidês)
- golden (chrusê)
- Apollo
- far-shooting, who strikes from afar (hekêbolos or hekatêbolos)
- Ares
- man-slaying (androphonos)
- brazen (chalkeos)
- Athene
- bright-eyed, owl-eyed (glaukôpis)
- Eos (Dawn)
- rosy-fingered (rhododaktulos)
- early-rising (êrigeneia)
- 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 (amphiguêeis)
- Hera
- ox-eyed (boôpis)
- white-armed (leukôlenê)
- Menelaus
- son of Atreus
- fair-haired, blond (xanthos)
- good at the war-cry (boên agathos)
- Odysseus
- resourceful (polumêtis)
- much-enduring (polutlas)
- Paris (Alexandros)
- son of Priam
- lord of the fair-haired Helen (Helenês posis eukomoio)
- Patroklos
- son of Menoitios
- with the great heart (megathumos)
- Poseidon
- earth-shaker (enosichtôn)
- Sea (pontos)
- Thetis
- silver-footed (arguropeza)
- lovely-haired (eukomos)
- Zeus
- cloud-gatherer (nephelêgereta)
