APPENDIX A
The Homeric Trial Scene.
[Greek: Keito d' ar' en messoisi dyô chrysoio talanta,
Tô domen, hos meta toisi dikên ithyntata eipoi.]
Il. XVIII. 507-8.
I would not return to so well-worn a theme, were it not that
editors like Dr Leaf (ad loc.) still state that there is nothing in the
language of the last line to hinder us from taking it either of the
litigant or of the judge.
Scholars have fixed their attention so closely on the words [Greek: dikên eipoi] that they have completely overlooked the qualifying [Greek: ithyntata]. In modern courts of law we do not expect to hear the straightest statement of a case from advocates, but rather from the judge. The ancient Greek would never dream of expecting a litigant to give a straight statement of his case. The following passages will show that [Greek: ithys, ithynein, euthynein, orthos] are always applied to a judge (the converse [Greek: skolios] being used of unjust judges). The metaphor is from the carpenter's rule (cf. [Greek: epi stathmên ithynein] Od. V. 245).
Pind. Pyth. IV. 152 [Greek: kai thronos, hô pote enkathizôn Krêtheïdas hippotais <g>euthyne</g> laois dikas].
Solon 3. 36 [Greek: <g>euthynôn</g> skolias dikas].
Il. XVI. 387 [Greek: hoi biê ein agorê <g>skolias</g> krinôsi themistas].
Hesiod Opp. 221 [Greek: skoliês de dikês krinôsi themistas].
Hes. Opp. 222 [Greek: (Dike) kakon anthrôpoisi pherousa
hoi te min exelasôsi kai ouk <g>itheian</g> eneiman].
Arist. Rhet. I. 1 [Greek: ou gar dei ton dikastên diastrephein eis orgên
proagontas ê phthonon ê eleon; homoion gar kan ei tis, hô mellei chrêsthai
<g>kanoni</g>, touton poiêseie <g>streblon</g>.]
Pind. Pyth. XI. 15 [Greek: orthodikan gas omphalon].
Aesch. Persae 764 [Greek: <g>euthyntêrion</g> skêptron].
