Hi there,
Now and then I see references to an ancient (false) etymology that explains Homer’s name as derived from “ὁ μὴ ὁρῶν” (the one who doesn’t see). Unfortunately, I could not find any ancient Greek passage using this “etymology”. Would you have any clue on where to find such a passage?
Thanks,
Tico
Isaac Comenus:
Ἐκλήθη δὲ κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα Ὅμηρος ὡς μὴ ὁρῶν τις· μήορός τις ἤτοι μὴ ὁρῶν ὡς εἴρηται. τοὺς γὰρ τυφλοὺς ὁμήρους ἐκάλουν. ἄλλοι δ’ ἐπικτήσασθαι τοῦτο τὸ ὄνομα τὸν Ὅμηρον λέγουσιν ἐκ τοῦ ὁμηρεῦσαι ὕστερον ἤτοι εἰς πρεσβείαν ἀποσταλῆναι παρὰ τῶν Ἰωνικῶν εἰς τοὺς Χίους.
Eustathius:
Ὅρα δὲ καί, ὡς ἐξ ἀποφάσεως πέπλεκται κύριον ὄνομα ὁ Οὐκαλέγων, ὡς εἴ τις εἴποι ὁ μηδενὸς ἀλέγων. οὕτω δὲ καὶ Ὀδυσσεύς που ἐξ ἀποφάσεως τὸν πλαστὸν Οὖτιν παρήγαγεν. εἰ δὲ καὶ τὸ Ὅμηρος ἐκ τοῦ μὴ ὁρᾶν παρῆκται κατά τινας, τῆς αὐτῆς ἂν εἴη ἀγωγῆς καὶ αὐτό.
Maybe there are other sources. I didn’t do a very thorough search. I think I’ve heard the Odysseus speculation before, but didn’t realize the source.
Searching for “μηορος”, I get a few other Eustathius entries, and the Etymologicum magnum:
Ὅμηρος: Παρὰ τὸ ὁρῶ καὶ τὸ μὴ ἀπαγορευτικὸν, μήορος· καὶ ἐν συγκοπῇ καὶ ὑπερθέσει, Ὅμηρος. Ἢ παρὰ τὸ πηρὸς, ὃ σημαίνει τὸν τυφλὸν, γίνεται ὅπηρος καὶ ὅμηρος· καὶ ὁμηρίδαι, γένος τί. <…>
LSJ article has more name speculation sources.