[550] For βασιλ́ηϊον most editors adopt the vulg. “βαθυλήϊον”, in favour of which is the imitated passage Scut. Herc. 288 “αὐτὰρ ἔην βαθὺ λήϊον”, and 11.560 “κείρει τ᾽ εἰσελθὼν βαθὺ λήϊον”. Both readings are therefore equally possible and appropriate. “βασιλήϊον” obtains fresh significance if we suppose that the preceding scene gives the ploughing of the common field by the community, for we have here the contrast, the reaping of the royal demesne by hired labourers (“ἔριθοι”). The royal lands, including those given for great public services (6.194, 9.578), are apparently the only form of private property in land known to the Iliad, and the only ones therefore which could be cultivated in this way. So βασιλεύς in 556 is to be taken in its full sense, not merely as=owner; the σκ̂ηπτρον is, as usual, the badge of office, not a mere walking-stick (Ridgeway l.c.; but his statement that “σκῆπτρον” ‘is always a symbol of office’ is incorrect; see Od. 13.437, Od. 17.199, Od. 18.103). ἔριθοι (also 560) do not recur in H. except in the metaphorical “συνέριθος,” Od. 6.32. The word is generally taken to mean hired labourers: in later Greek, no doubt from its resemblance to “ἔριον”, it is used of wool-workers. It will be noticed that the Shield contains no mention of slaves.
