Scholia in Iliadem 21.194b1.1-2 (ed. Erbse)

Greek Learning Greek
1

Hello Friends,

This one is short but tricky for me.

Ἀχ 398. This scholium surmizes that, because Acheloios is generally considered the oldest of the rivers, he is referred to by Homer as “King.”

Scholia in Iliadem 21.194b1.1-2 (ed. Erbse)= cod. Townl. (Brit. Mus. Burney 88) b1

<κρείων> Ἀχελώϊος: πρεσβύτερον τῶν ἄλλων ἥγηνται
τὸν Ἀχελῷον· διὸ καὶ κρείοντα αὐτόν φησιν

Molinari:

King Acheloios: they regard Acheloios as oldest of all the others, and for this reason he [Homer] says he [Acheloios] is king.

Themata: Royal Epithet; Status

Is “they regard” the correct translation for ἥγηνται? Also, “he is king” for κρείοντα αὐτόν?

Thanks for all the help. I have a lot of entries in this section.

Nick

2

πρεσβύτερον is comparative; and may only mean ‘more important” than the rest.
ἥγηνται is perfect tense, “they have regarded”
“which is why he (Homer) says he’s actually the lord.”
And the scholium doesn’t surmize, it states.

3

I believe that the perfect form for ἥγηνται is normal, and that it wouldn’t have any noticeable perfect “have believed” English significance.

Here, for example, in Herodotus 2.40 it isn’t talking about the Egyptian history of belief. It’s talking about what they believe now and shows up right next to a present verb:

…τὴν δ᾽ ὦν μεγίστην τε δαίμονα ἥγηνται εἶναι καὶ μεγίστην οἱ ὁρτὴν ἀνάγουσι…

4

Yes that’s right. I just wanted to make sure the form was understood.
If you can keep him straight Joel there’ll be no need for me to intervene.

5

Thank you for this courteous explanation, Michael!