05-31-2009, 02:02 AM
Two things. Firstly, Rex Warner translates "dorata epi ton dexion ômon echein" as "spears kept at the slope". This might be a "free" translation to facillitate your description. Secondly, the hoplites have just crossed a gully or ravine and are attacking a force which had taken a strong position on a hill. They are therefore atttacking uphill. It seems more logical to have the spears couched and angled up slope.
The spears are definitely "held" or "rested" but the word ômon literally translates as "ulna" (in the forearm). It is always translated (and used by Xenophon) to indicate shoulder.
The trick is the use of kathiesan and kathentas. This is to "let down" or "let drop/fall" (Thucydides describes the Peloponnesian ships "dropping" their oars - with disastrous results - in the face of Phormio's ships). Whilst I take the point (pardon the pun) of dropping the point, this description surely precludes the raising of the spear off the shoulder to lower the point? Particularly attacking uphill?
The spears are definitely "held" or "rested" but the word ômon literally translates as "ulna" (in the forearm). It is always translated (and used by Xenophon) to indicate shoulder.
The trick is the use of kathiesan and kathentas. This is to "let down" or "let drop/fall" (Thucydides describes the Peloponnesian ships "dropping" their oars - with disastrous results - in the face of Phormio's ships). Whilst I take the point (pardon the pun) of dropping the point, this description surely precludes the raising of the spear off the shoulder to lower the point? Particularly attacking uphill?
Paralus|Michael Park
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
