In later Greek, the expressions ἐνδέξια and ἐπιδέξια, with ἐπαριστερὰ, which seems to be the counterpart of both, the preposition ἐπὶ sometimes being divided from and sometimes united with its case, appear to be equivalent to our English phrases ‘on the right,’ and ‘on the left.’ But not so in Homer.
Illustrated from Il. ii. 353. Od. xxi. 141.
Let us now examine various places of the poems, where ἐνδέξια and ἐπὶ δεξιὰ (single or combined) cannot mean on the right, but may be rendered either (1) from the left, or (2) towards the right. Thus we have, Il. ii. 353,
ἀστράπτων ἐπιδέξι’, ἐναίσιμα σήματα φαίνων.
This means lightning on and from the left, so that the lightning passes, or seems to pass, towards the right. The analogy of this case to that of the star is very close; because it is rarely that lightning gives the semblance of motion: and this expression precisely exemplifies the observation, that these phrases often really imply a position of the subject exactly opposite to that which at first sight would be supposed.
Again, when Antinous bids the Suitors rise in turn for the trial of the bow, he says, Od. xxi. 141,
ὄρνυσθ’ ἑξείης ἐπιδέξια, πάντες ἑταῖροι·
and he goes to explain himself beyond dispute, by referring to the order observed by the cupbearer at the feast;
ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ χώρου, ὅθεν τέ περ οἰνοχοεύει. (142)