[31] ἀορτήρ recurs only in Od., and not again in classical Greek. In Od. 13.348 (= Od. 17.198, Od. 18.109) it means the shoulderstrap of a wallet; in Od. 11.609 “ἀμφὶ περὶ στήθεσσιν ἀορτὴρ”
“χρύσεος ἦν τελαμών” it is apparently
identical with the “τελαμών”. It is not easy to
see how such a strap could have been of gold, or, as in 39 below, of silver;
in the case of Herakles in “λ” the adj. seems to
refer to the decoration there described with such admiration, and something
of the sort may be meant here. The plur. is possibly due to the two ends of
the baldric attached to the sheath. Van L. understands the word to mean the
attachments only, apart from the strap; but these seem too insignificant for
separate mention, and this explanation does not suit “λ”. But see App. B, ix. 4.
