#also the fact that many of his epithets start with πολυ- (poly-)

[lyculuscaelus]

Thinking about the double meanings in Odysseus’s epithets. Specifically, about πολύτροπος (polytropos) and πολύαινος (polyainos) these two.

Thinking about how πολύτροπος could mean both “much-turned, much-traveled” and “of many devices”, since the word τρόπος (tropos) has the meaning of either “turn of direction” or “turn of mind” (or “trope”). So polytropos is referring to both Odysseus’s wanderings and his resourcefulness at the same time. (What a great epithet to start a poem.)

Thinking about how πολύαινος could mean both “much-praised” and “of many tales”, since the word αἶνος (ainos) has the meaning of either “praise” or “tale, story”. So polyainos is referring to both Odysseus’s fame in Achaea and his life of many tales (or even further, his telling of many tales). There’s more. What if πολύαινος is interpreted as πολυ- (poly-) + αἰνός (ainos)? The word αἰνός means either “dreadful, dire” or “overwhelming, unendurable” in Homeric context. This way polyainos could be translated as either “much-dreaded” or “much-overwhelmed, beyond endurance”, which is referring to Odysseus’s dreadful figure (to some) and his sufferings (or comically, his overwhelming charm personality which is beyond endurance) respectively. (Or this might just be me reading too much into the epithet itself)

And I’m perfectly normal about this fresh old man why do you ask