HYMN TO SELENE

ON this hymn see Introduction to xxxi, and on the mythology of Selene see Roscher Selene und Verwandtes 1890, with Nachtrge 1895, and his art. in Lex. ii. 3119 f.

a)ei/dein and e)/spete seem incompatible; but the parallel with xxxi. 1 (ὑμνεῖν ἄρχεο) suggests that ἔσπετε may be used irregularly for follow, i.e. go on to sing. The sense would be very appropriate, if the two hymns were not only the work of one poet, but were recited on the same occasion, as might well be the case; cf. Aristot. Eth. Nic. iii. 1. 2 ἕπεται διελθεῖν. Ebeling's translation dicite ut canam does violence to the Greek. Most editors accept Bothe's εὐειδῆ, but this would not be corrupted to ἀείδειν. If there is any corruption, ἀϊδίην may be suggested: if the alternative form ἀειδίην were written, ἀείδειν would easily result as a metrical correction. ἀΐδιος is of two terminations in Scut. 310, xxix. 3, but of three Orph. h. x. 21, lxxxiv. 6. ἔσπετε, at all events, is sound; for its regular use cf. xxxiii. 1, Il. 2.484 etc.

tanusi/pteron: the epithet seems to imply lateness of composition. There appears to be no other example of a winged Selene in literature, and the type is very uncertain in art; Roscher (Lex. ii. 3140) doubtfully identifies a winged goddess on a gem (MllerWieseler ii. 16, 176a) as Selene-Nike. The attribution of wings to Selene is rather due to a confusion with Eos than with Nike. Even when she drives a car, Eos is regularly represented as winged.