ὀπάων and ὀπάζω: A Study in the Epic Treatment of Heroic Relationships

“In the Iliad, the relationship of Mērionēs and Idomeneus plays a peripheral role as compared to the central relationship of Akhilleus and Patroklos. As we shall see, the behavior of Mērionēs and Idomeneus towards one another is a variation on the theme of the heroic relationship of Akhilleus and Patroklos. The Iliad also describes the relations of gods and men. The antagonism of Akhilleus and Apollo is set against the backdrop of gods who aid heroes by granting kudos to them.

I aim to provide insight into the Homeric Epos by examining some of this backdrop, principally through a consideration of two words, opazō and opaōn. The phrase *kudos opazein, commonly translated as ‘to grant glory’, expresses a notion of kudosdifferent from that supplied by Benveniste. Defining kudos as a magic talisman of supremacy, he writes, “the effect of the kudos is temporary.” I hope to show that, with opazō and certain other verbs, the effect of kudos is not temporary, but abiding.”

– From the Introduction