Abstract

ναξ and βασιλες are the two most important titles applied to the top stratum of Homeric aristocracy., usually translated as ′lord′ or ′master′, and βασιλες, usually translated as ′king′, often apply to the same individuals, and can at times appear to be very close in meaning, allowing translators to render ναξ as ′king′ and βασιλες as ′lord′. There are, however, significant differences between the two. As Lexikon des friihgriechischen Epos now conveniently summarizes for us, avat; can be divine or human, can be a master of a state, of gods, of men, of animals, or of his household, and can be used as an address in the vocative, whereas fiaoiXevs is only applied to humans in Homer, often in a political context, and is never used in the vocative