Abstract
One frequently encounters the word "friend" in Homer. All the dictionaries say that this word, which is purely social, does not mean "friend" but "comrade." The original means companion, comrade-in-arms, associate. Thus, it says that Nestor is "lining up his friends" (i.e., his army).1 Idomeneus promises Agamemnon to remain his "friend," although in meaning he is an "ally."2 In the Odyssey Antinous says: "Give me a fast ship and twelve friends,"3 where the meaning is "friends," of course, not "comrades-in arms." The term has even more nuances in the scene of selecting a companion for Diomedes: Agamemnon suggests that Diomedes select a friend for himself for the imminent attack.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callSimilar Papers
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
