Verse 98 — W. Leaf's commentary on Homer's Iliad 1 0

ἑλικώπιδα, with the masc. ἑλίκωπες (Ἀχαιοί), has been variously explained: (1) by the ancients black-eyed, but ἑλικός in such a sense has no better authority than the glossographers, weakly supported by a quotation from Kallimachos; (2) with round eyes, ἕλιξ = curved; but ἕλιξ rather means ‘twisted,’ and is not used of a circular curve; (3) rolling the eyes; (4) sparkling-eyed (root σελ- of σέλας: so Ameis). The choice lies between (3) and (4), of which the former seems preferable. The epithet well expresses a vivacious keen spirit, such as the Greeks were conscious of possessing; while, as applied to a woman, it will imply eagerness and youthful brightness. It is therefore needless to look beyond the familiar sense of Ϝελικ- for an interpretation. ἑλικοβλέφαρον Ἀφροδίτην in Hesiod Th. 16 must imply a loose use of βλέφαρον as = ὄμμα, cf. ἐγὼ σκοτώσω βλέφαρα καὶ δεδορκότα, Soph. Aj. 85 and elsewhere in Trag.