Pearson 307
307
δέρμα is no doubt the hide of the oxen: cf. 337 ff., 366. It has been pointed out in the Introductory Note that Apollodorus represents the ox-hide as used for the construction of the strings. Sophocles clearly gave a different account, but the verses of the Homeric hymn (47 ff.), which he probably intended to follow, are unfortunately disputed :
πῆξε δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐν μέτροισι ταμὼν δόνακας καλάμοιο,
πειρήνας διὰ νῶτα διὰ ῥινοῖο χελώνης,
ἀμφὶ δὲ δέρμα τάνυσσε βοὸς πραπίδεσσιν ἑῇσι. On this Allen and Sikes write: 'the reeds were cut in different lengths, and fixed in the shell; they thus served as a framework for the ox-hide which was stretched over them, to form a sounding-board.' I see nothing in the mutilated text of Sophocles, which prevents us from supposing that he interpreted Homer in this way; but Robert (p. 557) insists that the fret or bridge (cf. fr. 36 n.), the yoke, and the
πήχεις were all denominated
δόνακες, and that the ox-hide was especially employed 'to cover the ends of the bridge so as to keep it fast and prevent displacement.' Schenkl, who lays stress on the interpretation of
κόλλοψ in Eustath. Od. p. 1915, 7, holds that fresh ox-hide was wrapped round the lower fret chiefly to prevent drying and cracking, and that this process described in 312 f.-
δέρμα καὶ στέγος φέρει, Viljoen. Wilamowitz suggests
κώστρακον to follow
δέρμα. was
Ichneutae. Alfred Chilton Pearson. ed. Alfred Chilton Pearson. . 2026-09-15.