Book 16 (Π)

a)*ndrot=hta, see note on 2.651. The word recurs only in Χ 363, 24.6. Here and in Ω there is some slight evidence for ἀδροτῆτα or ἁδροτῆτα. The for ner can be only another way of spelling ἀνδροτῆτα. Neither ἁδροτῆτα, ripeness, nor ἀρετῆτα, Bekker's conjecture, is at all likely. Still less can Clemm's λιποῦσα δροτῆτα ( = ἀνδροτῆτα, on the analogy of Hesych. δρώψ: ἄνθρωπος), with the forbidden caesura, be accepted. We have in fact no choice but to acquiesce in the ordinary reading. As to the meaning of the word Ar. pointed out (on 24.6) οὐδέποτε ἀνδροτῆτα εἴρηκε τὴν ἀνδρείαν, ἀλλ' ἠνορέην, and on this ground athetized 24.6-9. Schol. B shews what he thought the word did mean: ἀνδροτῆτα οὐ τὴν ἀνδρείαν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀνθρωπότητα, τὴν ἀνδρὸς φύσιν. ἀνδρείαν γὰρ οὐ καταλείπει, ἀρετὴν οὖσαν ἰδίαν. This is too metaphysical for Homer, but it is likely enough that between ἠνορέη and ἀ(ν)δροτής there may have been the vague difference of connotation which separates manliness from manhood; the former being specialized in the direction of physical courage, the latter retaining the vaguer sense.