Such then are the ordinary sources, as far as we know, of the territorial names of Homer.
The three aids which we have for judging of the meaning of the name Ἄργος are, the Homeric text, etymology, and the later tradition.
Etymology of the word Argos.
None of these in any manner connect the name Ἄργος either with an eponymist, or with a race of inhabitants, either mediately or immediately, as its root. We can only therefore look for its origin in something related to the physical features of the country, or countries, to which it was applied.
The word ἄργος itself is frequently found in Homer otherwise than as a proper name. It is used as an adjective in the following combinations:
1. κύνες ἀργοὶ Il. i. 50.
2. βόες ἀργοὶ Il. xxiii. 30.
3. ἀργὴν χῆνα Od. xv. 161.
So also we have the compounds ἀργὴς (κέραυνος) ἀργικέραυνος, ἀργεστὴς (Νότος), ἀργενναὶ (ὀΐες, ὀθόναι), ἀργινόεις (Κάμειρος), ἀργιόδοντες (ὕες), ἀργιπόδες (κύνες), Ποδάργης (horse of Achilles).
And it is usual to give to the word ἀργὸς[662] in these several forms the several senses of