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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2009
Professor Scott in his paper on ‘Eurynome and Eurycleia’ (in the April number of the Classical Quarterly) was inclined to believe, although he did not press the point, that Eurynome and Actoris were one and the same servant, the name Actoris being a patronymic. This explanation was offered also by Hayman, who compares Actorion (A 750), but it has been ignored by Wilamowitz (Hom. Unters. 84 sq.) and by van Leeuwen-Mendes da Costa, who reject ψ 226 sqq. It is an ingenious attempt to solve a small Homeric problem, and would be convincing but for two reasons, of which the first has to do with the poet's manner and the second with the circumstances of the recognition scene in ψ
page 2 note 1 Rothe (Widersprüche, 27 sq.) has sufficiently answered the objections of Wilamowitz to this passage (Hom. Unters. 75 sq.).
page 2 note 2 Also that she should serve chance arrivals and late-comers (α 139, ρ 94, 259), where she is very likely the unnamed ϒαμ⋯η.
page 2 note 3 Of course when their work in the Hall is done they card wool and spin under Penelope's direction, σ 314 sqq., cf, δ683.
page 3 note 1 We may infer that Eurynome has first lighted Penelope to her hyperoon, and then has returned to do what she can for the comfort of the begger.
