Harshing Zeus' Μέλω: Reassessing The Sympathy of Zeus at Iliad 20.21

American Journal of Philology 143 (3):359-384 (2022)
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Abstract

Abstract:The dominant interpretation of Zeus' words at Iliad 20.21, which regards μέλουσί μοι ὀλλύμενοί περ as an expression of sympathy for dying warriors, poses a number of serious contextual and lexical problems. This article argues that Il. 20.21 is not an expression of compassion, but attention. Zeus is not concerned for dying warriors, but attentive to them, as indeed his deadly βουλή (Il. 20.20) requires him to be. The interpretation of Il. 20.21 has relevance to questions of great significance for the interpretation of the Iliad, including Zeus' relationship to humans and the meaning of the Διὸς βουλή.

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10.1353/ajp.2022.0015

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