About the adjective “epaines” (book K, v. 491, when Circe describes Persephones), along with “dread” I also like the possibiliy to translate it with “praiseworthy” (see our notes): in the Latin tradition - and above all in Vergil - was quite common to call her “lovely” just to keep her quiet and to escape her fury. I’m wondering if it’s not the same case.
Nice suggestion, Pietro. Let me provide a little more information.
This adjective appears only in the feminine, and only as an epithet of Persephone in the archaic period. Here are some occurrences: Iliad 9.457; Odyssey 10.491, Hesiod Theogony 768.
It is also used of Hecate in Lucian Nec. 9 (Lucian was writing during the Second Sophistic–2nd c. CE) and in the Palantine Anthology. Both of these were likely alluding to Homer.
It is a fairly rare adjective, so it’s difficult to get a real handle on the precise meaning of it. If it is related to “epaineo” (approve, applaud, commend), you may be quite right. Similarly, the adverb “epainoumenws” means “praiseworthily”.
The “big” Liddell and Scott simply states “awesome” as a definition.
That’s very interesting! I must have missed that note when I was doing that section (and why I asked why she was called “dread” Persephone) I’d like to think that “praiseworthy” or “lovely” could be applied to Persephone for the mere fact that when she is brought back to Earth, the mortal realm has spring, which drives away what could be considered “dread” or “terrible”, which is winter. Of course, years in the underworld wouldn’t exactly make one’s disposition as bright as one might hope.
I just would like to add that also Circes has her own adjective meaning both dread and praiseworthy: “deinè deòs”, book 11, v. 8. Another kind of “epaines”?