ἀγχίπολις Ἄρης. This reading (L's) agrees metrically with the antistrophe (981 “ἀρχαιογόνων”), if we suppose the 2nd and 3rd syllables of “ἀγχίπολις” to represent a resolved long syllable. Such a resolution is rare, but not unexampled: see on 797 f.. We could avoid it by reading, with Gleditsch, “ἀκταὶ Βοσπόριαι, ἵν᾽ ὁ Θρῃκῶν ἄξενος ι Σαλμυδησσὸς Ἄρης τ᾽ ἀγχίπολις”. But (a) this does not explain how “ἠδ᾽” came into the MSS.: and (b) it is evidently better to say, ‘where Ares saw,’ than, ‘where Salmydessus and Ares saw.’ The reference to the god's cruel joy would thus lose much of its force. If, on the other hand, ἀγχίπτολις is read, then Ἄρης has “α_”, and in 981 we must suppose the loss of a syllable after ἀρχαιογόνων. But such a loss is very improbable: that verse appears sound. Neither “ἄγχουρος” nor “ἀρχέπολις” has any likelihood.—Ares is ‘neighbour to the city’ of Salmydessus because his home is in Thrace (Il. 13.301, etc.). There may also be a special reference to some local shrine. ‘He saw the wound dealt’: i.e., it was a deed such as he loves to see.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part III: The Antigone. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1900.
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