20170117—dogs

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0135%3Abook%3D2%3Acard%3D1

αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ᾽ ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τ᾽ ἐγένοντο,

βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν εἰς ἀγορήν, παλάμῃ δ᾽ ἔχε χάλκεον ἔγχος,

οὐκ οἶος, ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο. (Od. 2.9-11)

Now when they were assembled and met together, Telemachus went his way, holding in his hand a spear of bronze—not alone, for along with two swift dogs followed...

ὁμηγερής assembled

ἀγορά assembly

παλάμη palm of the hand

χάλκεος of copper

ἔγχος spear, lance

κύων dog

《奧德賽》第二卷登場，Telemachus思量一晚，一大早就召開緊急大會，這三行文字說著Telemachus出場之景，這年輕小夥子，站代替不在家的父親為「王」，主持大會，但是聲勢有些薄弱，手握銅茅，沒有其他隨扈或是家族成員相伴，只有兩隻狗相隨。「not alone」 (οὐκ οἶος)，語帶反諷，明明勢單力薄，此刻能保護這個家園的是忠貞的狗，除此之外，似乎找不到任何出力點。另一方面，也可看到古希臘文化中，狗是人類最好的陪伴；除了這兩隻狗，《奧德賽》第十七卷還會提到奧德修斯的狗Argos。

In Greek mythology, Argos was Odysseus' faithful dog. He waited for his master's return to Ithaca for over a decade while most presumed Odysseus dead. He was the first to recognize the King returning from the Trojan War, even though Odysseus was disguised as a beggar to discover what was going on in his palace during his absence. It was said that as soon as Argos recognized his master, he dropped his ears and did his best to wag his tail. Having fulfilled his destiny of faith by laying his eyes upon his master once more, he released a final wimper and died.