Scanning Line 1.8

Greek Homeric Greek and Early Greek Poetry
1

Hi,
I think that I have scanned this line correctly:

τίς τ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι χυνέηκε μάξεσθαι

    • | - u u | - u u | - u u | - u u | - -

But I would want to know why μα in μάξεσθαι is long, since it is followed by a double consonant, or I am completely wrong.

2

Hi Tancredo,

I think you’ve got the xi ξ and chi χ transposed.

The last two words are ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι.

I think the first syllable of the last word scans short.

Cordially,

Paul

3

Hi Paul,

Sorry for the letters but it was my first time with SPIONIC.

And I should have said ..why ma is short (according with my scansion), since it is followed by a double consonant… I do not know if there is another rule which prevails over the one I mentioned.

4

Ah. To the Greeks the aspirated consonants (θ, φ, χ) are single consonant sounds (unlike ζ, ξ, ψ). Even though we usually transcribe them th, ph, ch, they scan singly.

5

Thanks!

In my mind it was a double consonant because of the transcription.
I have to think as a Greek.