The passage is[659] (the τὴν referring to Ἄρκτον in v. 273)
τὴν γὰρ δή μιν ἄνωγε Καλυψὼ, δῖα θεάων,
ποντοπορευέμεναι ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς ἔχοντα.
The points upon which the signification of the last line must depend, seem to be as follows:
1. The meaning of the important Homeric word ἀριστερός.
2. The form of the phrase ἀριστερὰ χειρὸς, which is an ἅπαξ λεγόμενον in Homer.
3. The force of the preposition ἐπὶ, particularly with the accusative.
The second of these points may be speedily dismissed. For (1) the only question that can arise upon it would be, whether (assuming for the moment the sense of ἀριστερὸς) ‘the left of his hand’ means the left of the line described by the onward movement of his body, or the left of the direction in which his hand, that is, his right or steering hand, points while upon the helm; which would be the exact reverse of the former. But, though the latter interpretation would be grammatically accurate, it is too minute and subtle, as respects the sense, to agree with Homer’s methods of expression. And (2) some of the Scholiasts report another reading, νηὸς, instead of χειρὸς, which would present no point of doubt or suspicion under this head.
We have then two questions to consider; of which the first is the general use and treatment by Homer of the word ἀριστερός.
Senses of δεξιὸς and ἀριστερός.