The Meaning of AΠTEPOΣ

Abstract

Towards the conclusion of his interesting remarks (C.Q. XXX, 1–3) on the meaning of the Homeric phrase, τῇ δ' ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μ⋯θος, Professor J. A. K. Thomson writes, ‘When a classical author uses the word ἄπτερος it means “wingless” or “featherless” and nothing else,’ and he accordingly rejects Headlam's interpretation of ἄπτερος φ⋯τις at Aesch. Ag. 288 together with the same scholar's proposal to read at P. V. 707 ἄπτερος for the unmetrical αἰπνἰδιος (Headlam did actually propose either ἄπτερος or ⋯πτ⋯ρως but preferred the former.) It may be true that the phrase, ⋯πτ⋯ρῳ τάχει, which Headlam adduced in his note on the Agam. passage in support of his rendering, is not by itself convincing, but there are other considerations which Professor Thomson has, I imagine, overlooked. What follows is not an attempt to demonstrate that ἄπτερος does mean ‘wing-swift’ in Aeschylus, but only to suggest that there is evidence to show that the word could bear that meaning in classical Greek authors, and that Headlam's interpretation and emendation should therefore not be rejected out of hand.