[295] ἐξήλατον (so Zen.), hammered out, explained by ἤλασεν in the next line, for which Zen. read “ἐξέλασ᾽”: this very probably is right (as in Herod. i. 50, 68), and may have been altered to suit the reading of Ar., “ἑξήλατον”, explained to mean ‘in six layers.’ But this could only mean ‘six-hammered.’ Besides, the Homeric shield has only one layer of metal; whenever more layers are mentioned, they are always, as here, of leather (20.271-2 are undoubtedly spurious).