e. And φοινικόεις in Il. xxiii. 716. This word is also applied to a cloak, Il. x. 133.
f. A dragon or serpent, borne by an eagle, is φοινήεις, apparently because dappled or streaked with his own blood, Il. xii. 200-6, 218-21.
g. Ships are φοινικοπάρηοι, Od. xi. 123, and xxiii. 272: this word is apparently synonymous with μιλτοπάρηοι.
h. The serpent is δάφοινος ἐπὶ νῶτα, Il. ii. 308. And we have the δάφοινον δέρμα λέοντος, Il. x. 23.
On the whole, we trace here not less than three senses: that in which φοίνιξ is applied to the horse, which appears to be the equivalent of ξανθὸς, the more prevailing word: next, that of the tawny and dull-coloured lion’s hide: then that of the brighter but yet deep colour of blood, which is freely called πορφύρεος. So that φοίνιξ merely renders other words, and does not at all assist to make up deficiencies in the Homeric vocabulary for the expression of colour.
Considered as an epithet of colour, the word δάφοινος, meaning blood-red, is inappropriate to the dragon or serpent, and further serves to illustrate that vagueness, of which the signs multiply as we proceed.
6. πόλιος is applied in Homer as follows:
a. To human hair in connection with old age, Il. xxii. 74 et alibi.
b. To the sea, Il. i. 350 et passim. It remains to inquire, whether this refers to the sea, or to the foam upon it.
c. To iron, Il. ix. 366. xx. 261. Od. xxi. 3, 81. xxiv. 167.