Il 1, 436-7

Are you reading Homeric Greek? Whether you are a total beginner or an advanced Homerist, here you can meet kindred spirits. Besides Homer, use this board for all things early Greek poetry.
Post Reply
User avatar
Constantinus Philo
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1403
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2019 1:04 pm

Il 1, 436-7

Post by Constantinus Philo »

ἐκ δ᾽ εὐνὰς ἔβαλον, κατὰ δὲ πρυμνήσι᾽ ἔδησαν:
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης
and etc, here imperfects and aorists are used without apparent difference in meaning, Further, βῆ, τίθει etc.
Semper Fidelis

Vasile Stancu
Textkit Member
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 5:59 pm
Location: Timisoara, Romania

Re: Il 1, 436-7

Post by Vasile Stancu »

When I read this, I just imagine that the anchoring stones were already cast and the ship was tied to the shore using the dedicated ropes (by some of the soldiers), therefore the aorists, and when the ship was thus secured, all the others 'began the process' of getting off the ship and moving to the shore, hence the imperfect.

Post Reply