Iliad 1.29: ἔπεισιν

Greek Learning Greek
1

Hi all,

I’ve been working through book 1 of the Iliad using Pharr’s Homeric Greek. I’m struggling with the following line.

τὴν δ᾽ ἐγὼ οὐ λύσω: πρίν μιν καὶ γῆρας ἔπεισιν

It looks to me like ἔπεισιν is 3rd person plural here, based on the forms of εἰμί, but the subject γῆρας is singular. Would someone be able to point me in the right direction here?

2

ἔπεισιν is actually 3rd per. sing., so ‘before (then) even old age will come/comes to her’.

Nice screen name! :slight_smile:

3

Yes, the verb ἔπειμι from ἐπὶ + εἶμι (go) rather than ἔπειμι from ἐπὶ + εἰμί (be).

He is: ἐστί, they are: εἰσί

He goes: εἶσι, they go: ἴασι

4

Thankyou both, very helpful.