πατρῷα, instead of “πατρῴων”: cp. 1290 n. ἕδη, images of the gods ( O. T. 886“δαιμόνων ἕδη”, n.), placed in the πρόπυλα, here a statelier term for “πρόθυρον”, the porch or vestibule of the house. Cp. Vesp. 875 “ὦ δέσποτ᾽ ἄναξ, γεῖτον Ἀγυιεῦ τοὐμοῦ προθύρου προπύλαιε”. The gods of the entrance were esp. Apollo Agyieus (cp. 637 “προστατήριε”), and Hermes. It is these who, with Zeus, are invoked by the returning herald in Aesch. Ag. 509—515: cp. ib. 519 “σεμνοί τε θᾶκοι δαίμονές τ᾽ ἀντήλιοι”. προσκύσαντε: the worshipper stretched forth his right arm towards the image, presenting to it the flat of his hand, by bending back the wrist; then kissed his hand, and wafted a salute to the god. Orestes and Pylades perform this act of reverence before each “ἕδος” in the vestibule. Meanwhile, turning towards the statue of Apollo Lykeios which stands in front of the palace (645), Electra makes her prayer.
This text is part of:
Sophocles: The Plays and Fragments, with critical notes, commentary, and translation in English prose. Part VI: The Electra. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1894.
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