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Iliad 1:83 plural pronoun

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 1:29 am
by Bert
ἐν στήθεσσιν ἑοῖσι.I am curious why the pronoun is plural. Pharr explains why sth/qessin is plural but not why ἑοι‐σι is too.
Isn't the number of a pronoun dictated by its antecedent?
The antecedent of ἑοῖσι is (I think) the singular βασιλεύς of verse 80

p.s. I am very glad that I have the opportunity to ask these questions.
Without this opportunity it would be difficult to muster the "stick-to-it- uvness that is needed.

THANK YOU

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:12 am
by annis
ἕος is an adjective, a possessive pronoun, like ἐμός, ἐμή, ἐμόν. So "in his chest." It's plural to agree with the noun.

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 10:42 pm
by Bert
I think I understand but just to make sure; If Pharr had used the 3rd person genitive of the personal pronoun, would it then have to be the singular form?

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 11:03 pm
by annis
Bert wrote:I think I understand but just to make sure; If Pharr had used the 3rd person genitive of the personal pronoun, would it then have to be the singular form?
Yep. Something like ἐν στήθεσσίν ἑο, I would think.