Aristotle and Aristarchus on the Meaning of κέρας‎ in the Iliad

Abstract

This chapter examines numerous texts—Homeric scholia and Eustathius’ commentary on Iliad 11.385, and Plutarch’s Whether Land or Sea Animals Are Cleverer 24—in which Aristotle and/or Aristarchus are said to offer an interpretation on the specific meaning in context (in the Iliad) of κέρας‎ (‘horn’). The two authors are treated together, because one reason that these Aristotle fragments have been neglected is that earlier scholars have argued that the references to Aristotle are in fact, in most cases, mistakes for Aristarchus. This conclusion is rejected in almost every instance. The Aristotle fragments, properly identified, provide further evidence for Aristotle’s views on metaphor in Homer.